ABOUT THE AMAZING CHARLOTTE EAGLES TOUR TO KINGSTON AND MONTEGO BAY - JAMAICA

The Eagles recently returned home from their GSM International Tour September 7 – 19 to Jamaica. The GSM Tour was a wonderful success as the Eagles delivered two coaching courses for over 90 coaches in Kingston at Harbour View FC and Jarret Park in Mo Bay, ministry efforts with The Mustard Seed Home and The Alpha Boys Home, a youth coaching clinic at Harbour View Football Club and heavy schedule of five matches in Kingston, the Parishes of St. Thomas and St. James in Montego Bay the results being a 3 wins and 2 loses.

Playing soccer was not the only reason for coming to Jamaica to partner with GSM. Paul Banta, President of GSM International and Mark Steffens, Head Coach of the Charlotte Eagles USL Professional Team had been discussing the Eagles coming to Jamaica for well over a year. All along the purpose was to partner with GSM and to share what both organizations do…share Jesus Christ through the game of soccer.

“The Eagles have a great organization that simple wants to use the game of soccer to change the lives of those they spend time with. This has been heart of their ministry over the years as they have been to many foreign countries on soccer tours. We are just so grateful to have had them join us in Jamaica to use their expertise in this great game to win hearts for Christ. This happened as many came to know Christ as their Savior and many Jamaican’s are re-thinking that there is a better way and reason why this game of soccer was given to me to coach and play, said Paul Banta”.

Under the leadership of Baris Johnson, Ex-International player, Ex-Men’s National Team player with the Reggae Boyz on the road to World Cup France 98 and Head coach of Waterhouse FC Premiership Division 1 team GSM Jamaica in 2008 started a Community GSM Youth Soccer Academy to serve at risk children in Kingston. BJ with the help of his best friend Gregory Hall (also and ex-national team player) started a holistic program in the areas reading, Christian principles, prayer and a devotional before training, soccer training and matches and after school educational tutoring program. They has helped organized coaching courses with Paul Banta and GSM has trained over 300 coaches to be able to better coach their training of players session through GSM International Coaching Education Program as well as teach Christian Leadership with these coaches.

Both the Eagles and GSM are similar in ministry, so when Mark heard about GSM International he felt the real reason to come to Jamaica was not just to “Feel Alright” and play a few matches, but it was to serve Jesus Christ through the game of football and ‘mission was accomplished’.

• From Mark Steffens – Head Coach of the Charlotte Eagles:

The Charlotte Eagles trip to Jamaica was simply amazing. We believe the Island of Jamaica is ripe for God to start a revival through soccer. Sports Ministry can be a catalyst in His efforts. We really enjoyed meeting the friendly people of Jamaica. Their bright smiles and warm hearts are easy to fall in love with.

The Eagles grew very close to the boys at The Alpha home. We had a match scheduled after our last (fourth) meeting with the Alpha boys and most of our players didn’t want to play – they just wanted to stay and continue to build life long friendships. Their hearts broke for all of those orphans.

Another incredible program was the two coaching clinics that we did; one in Kingston and one in Montego Bay. Both were well attended with coaches eager to learn. We spent a lot of time conducting field sessions and also spent time teaching how each coach could be a “life influencer” to all of their players. With God’s help, the Eagles trained coaches to be “complete coaches”. One of my favorite quotes is from the book, Season of Life - by Jeffery Marx. A coach in his book states, “Greatness is measured by the impact you have on your player’s lives.”

The Charlotte Eagles believe that to be true; the imprint you leave on each player must be that of Jesus Christ and His teachings, not your own. To be a complete coach, Jesus must be your “Vine of Nourishment” (John 15). We were blessed to see many coaches surrender their lives to Christ. For that we give God all the glory!

Jamaica, the Charlotte Eagles will be back!

• Comments by Jamaican Coaches Participating in the Eagles Coaching Clinic:

“The training sessions with the Eagles were very exciting. I find their approach to linking soccer and ministry very interesting (this is up my street). The technical and tactical sessions have given new insight and how creative I could make an impact on our youth teams in Portmore. I appreciate what’s happening in Jamaica through GSM. I firmly believe we will take things to another level in Jamaica with coaching education that was presented to us” ……………. Patrick Dunckley – Women’s Coach Camperdon High and Portmore Youth Coach and Administrator


“I enjoyed the course sessions and viewing the professional players doing the exercise was refreshing. They mixing of various view point in the game, sports as a tool to share Christ, and witnessing the way they shared this was different and refreshing”…………..Paul Edward – Men’s Coach Tarrant High

“The training sessions were most informative and very interesting to take part in. I would appreciate being apart of more courses such as the one I was able to participate in. Thank you for a great effort”…………….. Bobby Cross

“The coaching clinic has been a blessing for me to be with the Eagles and the GSM organization for the two days. You guys have open up my football mind that was close to what it had absorbed earlier in my playing time. I had brought the passing exercise to my senior men’s team and the lads love it. In fact I’m now the interim coach. The book you gave us will be helpful to reinforce what was provided by those instructing the course session. Keep up the good work”……………….Clint Reid

“I want to tell you that through this course I improve my football and social knowledge on how to work with players, how to understand players better & share quality of moral ethics”……….Kenroy Knibbs

From Paul Banta:

I had the privilege of spending a few days in Jamaica with the Eagle players, their coaching staff Mark and Steve and two of the administrative staff Dave Sanford and Mark Nichols. It was a blessing to know and see that God makes no mistakes when it comes to this great game of football and how the God who created the universe designed such a trip. In this world that we live and the game we love to teach and coach it’s important to do it right and to our very best abilities for a deeper purpose of ‘Beyond the Game’. If this becomes our priorities in soccer great things will happen and the lives of those in our hands will be ever changed in this great old game and be ever impacted for eternity.

At GSM Jamaica, GSM Guatemala and GSM International the vision and what our coaching and organizational staff are committed to doing is coaching/teaching/leading this game forward in making it real for the coaches and players we have contact with in a different and exciting way that will challenge and change a person thinking, words and actions forever.

Mark’s coaching staff and players did that and we were all blessed. We’ve been doing coaching education for men and women and working with kids in Jamaica since 2005 and we are pleased and blessed to have a partner such as the “Men or the Charlotte Eagles”.