GSM Article
God’s Replacement of Expectations
LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN GSM GUATEMALA ARE ABOUT THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND AND HIS DOING
Technology has come a long way in helping us communicate. Emails, instant messaging, and newsletters are helpful ways of sharing updates with family and friends. Allow me to emphasize “helpful” and not the end all. There are many times that a ‘face to face’ is the needed medicine to be prescribed. Unfortunately, it is difficult for us to find access to that much desired medicine because of distance. Even that cannot always offer the remedy of sharing the events of the past with the hope of explaining what one’s heart went through at the time. I wish we could share effectively all that we have experienced thus far here in Guatemala, but I believe it would fall short in conveying all we truly wish to share and encourage you with. God is in control and is shaping the wonderful work that is taking place here. We are aware regularly now in many of the neighborhoods that we work in of murders taking place, both planned and random, as a result of shootings, and car bombs - most of which never even make the local news. Also, abuses of all kinds take place here, with the abuse of neglect probably the most prominent.
GOD NEVER MAKES MISTAKES FOR HIS CHILDREN
Through it all we have witnessed God’s love in new and incredible ways and much of it in some of the same neighborhoods where it would seem there is no hope. God is opening doors for this ministry to bring the gospel to many new and exciting areas. Bringing the salvation message of Jesus to people through our soccer programs is our principle goal. We know the responsibility and objective to see that they grow in Christ’s purpose for this soccer work in Guatemala. Our programs are instructional soccer programs that incorporate league play and weekly practices. Our soccer practices now incorporate a Bible story time, memory verses, and Biblical leadership traits that we believe will instill not only change in the individual but will carry over into their families and precipitate change in the neighborhoods as a whole. Our strategy is to offer a soccer program that is so good that its reputation will attract many kids and in turn will result in their hearing of God’s love for them and a real hope that comes from knowing Jesus. Our expectations and plans were to assist in implementing this bit by bit in different communities over time witnessing the Holy Spirit’s work in the community programs. Praise God this is what is occurring through the passion and purpose of this sport.
GOD’S POWER THROUGH CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIPS
God has chosen to add to our expectations several other opportunities to minister, along with the growing list of partner organizations that God has providentially provided. This month we are presenting before 8-10 directors of Compassion International a pilot project in which we will offer to help them implement a small soccer program weekly in their centers that will help with attracting kids as well as the retention of kids already in their programs. The program will include a spiritual curriculum that compliments their existing one. If successful and seen as helpful, our plan is to develop a way to train and implement programs in their other centers. This would assist them in carrying out their mission of impacting kids physically, emotionally, spiritually, and economically.
At present Compassion has 140 centers and is helping some 14,000 kids in Guatemala. Global Soccer Ministries is partnering with Child Evangelism Fellowship in helping with their camp programs and potentially other projects in the future. Campus Crusade for Christ is another organization that we hope to assist this year as they make in-roads into several universities in the capital. They see our organization as helping them attract university students into a sport type program where the Gospel can be presented and relationships can be fostered that begin the discipleship process. Relationships with a few professional soccer teams are underway, the country’s governing soccer federation, municipal city programs, former pro players that do evangelistic events, and many churches all are opening their doors to Global Soccer Ministry and providing opportunities for ministry to take place. THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND AND HIS DOING. God is providing the work.
GODS’ POWER IS DEMONSTRATED BY NEW LEADERSHIP
Our prayer and GSM’s purposes are now being witness to the miracle necessary to carry out this work. When we first arrived in Guatemala in place were 5 small community programs with about 65 kids. Over the last 10 months it as though God has let loose the dam. Our ministry partner, Nathan Hardeman, resigned his position soon after returning from being in the states with his family from the middle of July through November. In God’s plan, He had been preparing the replacement partner we needed in a passionate, Godly man named Juan Carlos Urrea. God’s timing is always perfect and His plans can never fail. Known as JC, he is a former Guatemalan National Team Soccer Player and businessman who has a proactive passionate heart in seeing GSM grow and help carry out this ministry of bringing youth and adults to Christ and discipling them through the sport of soccer. We praise God for him and his family’s involvement - especially now as we are catching a glimpse of what God’s expectations might be here in Guatemala.
GOD CAN DO MIRACLES IN HIS FUTBOL MINISTRY
We have been praying for what amounts to a miracle and encourage you to join us in this same prayer. With the present growth of ministry and where the ministry seems positioned to be in the near future, an increase in prayer for us as a family and as a ministry is our urgent request. We have seen God stretch every dollar of support for our family so that we might have some for investing into the ministry from office needs, program needs, promotion needs, transportation needs, staff needs, curriculum needs, training needs and all the big and little needs in between that put a smile on the faces of the kids and families that we minister to. We have seen our faith grow as we have witnessed time and time again God’s timely provisions. We believe that a prayed over strategy needs to be put into place that, with God’s blessing, can best insure for both the growth and the present work that are taking place. We don’t exactly know what God has in store for this supply, but I believe to start it includes people -- lots of people back home helping by being heralds, entrepreneurs, and creatively thinking how the word can get out about the work being done here with the hearts that are changing here as a result of God working through us and a round spotted ball.
GOD NEEDS YOU ON HIS TEAM
We need captains who might be willing to form teams - all actively raising funds or donations of soccer balls, Spanish Bibles, shoes, uniforms, office equipment, video equipment, vehicles, basically anything that God could use to further the work here. The head knowledge that there could be a team, or teams, of people helping this ministry would be a welcome relief for our hearts that honestly feel overwhelmed at times with the responsibility that we have been given. Please pray over what you have read here and know that my passion for what God has called us to do here can never be duly demonstrated with written word. Our prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit would show your heart the work, the possible kingdom changing aspects of it, and have you consider being part of the work here that is underway. We love you and appreciate your prayers on our behalf and gifts that have been given sacrificially for our family and ministry. Thank you.
In Him together for Him –John Banta – Director of Soccer Operations and Development (Guatemala)
LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN GSM GUATEMALA ARE ABOUT THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND AND HIS DOING
Technology has come a long way in helping us communicate. Emails, instant messaging, and newsletters are helpful ways of sharing updates with family and friends. Allow me to emphasize “helpful” and not the end all. There are many times that a ‘face to face’ is the needed medicine to be prescribed. Unfortunately, it is difficult for us to find access to that much desired medicine because of distance. Even that cannot always offer the remedy of sharing the events of the past with the hope of explaining what one’s heart went through at the time. I wish we could share effectively all that we have experienced thus far here in Guatemala, but I believe it would fall short in conveying all we truly wish to share and encourage you with. God is in control and is shaping the wonderful work that is taking place here. We are aware regularly now in many of the neighborhoods that we work in of murders taking place, both planned and random, as a result of shootings, and car bombs - most of which never even make the local news. Also, abuses of all kinds take place here, with the abuse of neglect probably the most prominent.
GOD NEVER MAKES MISTAKES FOR HIS CHILDREN
Through it all we have witnessed God’s love in new and incredible ways and much of it in some of the same neighborhoods where it would seem there is no hope. God is opening doors for this ministry to bring the gospel to many new and exciting areas. Bringing the salvation message of Jesus to people through our soccer programs is our principle goal. We know the responsibility and objective to see that they grow in Christ’s purpose for this soccer work in Guatemala. Our programs are instructional soccer programs that incorporate league play and weekly practices. Our soccer practices now incorporate a Bible story time, memory verses, and Biblical leadership traits that we believe will instill not only change in the individual but will carry over into their families and precipitate change in the neighborhoods as a whole. Our strategy is to offer a soccer program that is so good that its reputation will attract many kids and in turn will result in their hearing of God’s love for them and a real hope that comes from knowing Jesus. Our expectations and plans were to assist in implementing this bit by bit in different communities over time witnessing the Holy Spirit’s work in the community programs. Praise God this is what is occurring through the passion and purpose of this sport.
GOD’S POWER THROUGH CHRISTIAN PARTNERSHIPS
God has chosen to add to our expectations several other opportunities to minister, along with the growing list of partner organizations that God has providentially provided. This month we are presenting before 8-10 directors of Compassion International a pilot project in which we will offer to help them implement a small soccer program weekly in their centers that will help with attracting kids as well as the retention of kids already in their programs. The program will include a spiritual curriculum that compliments their existing one. If successful and seen as helpful, our plan is to develop a way to train and implement programs in their other centers. This would assist them in carrying out their mission of impacting kids physically, emotionally, spiritually, and economically.
At present Compassion has 140 centers and is helping some 14,000 kids in Guatemala. Global Soccer Ministries is partnering with Child Evangelism Fellowship in helping with their camp programs and potentially other projects in the future. Campus Crusade for Christ is another organization that we hope to assist this year as they make in-roads into several universities in the capital. They see our organization as helping them attract university students into a sport type program where the Gospel can be presented and relationships can be fostered that begin the discipleship process. Relationships with a few professional soccer teams are underway, the country’s governing soccer federation, municipal city programs, former pro players that do evangelistic events, and many churches all are opening their doors to Global Soccer Ministry and providing opportunities for ministry to take place. THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND AND HIS DOING. God is providing the work.
GODS’ POWER IS DEMONSTRATED BY NEW LEADERSHIP
Our prayer and GSM’s purposes are now being witness to the miracle necessary to carry out this work. When we first arrived in Guatemala in place were 5 small community programs with about 65 kids. Over the last 10 months it as though God has let loose the dam. Our ministry partner, Nathan Hardeman, resigned his position soon after returning from being in the states with his family from the middle of July through November. In God’s plan, He had been preparing the replacement partner we needed in a passionate, Godly man named Juan Carlos Urrea. God’s timing is always perfect and His plans can never fail. Known as JC, he is a former Guatemalan National Team Soccer Player and businessman who has a proactive passionate heart in seeing GSM grow and help carry out this ministry of bringing youth and adults to Christ and discipling them through the sport of soccer. We praise God for him and his family’s involvement - especially now as we are catching a glimpse of what God’s expectations might be here in Guatemala.
GOD CAN DO MIRACLES IN HIS FUTBOL MINISTRY
We have been praying for what amounts to a miracle and encourage you to join us in this same prayer. With the present growth of ministry and where the ministry seems positioned to be in the near future, an increase in prayer for us as a family and as a ministry is our urgent request. We have seen God stretch every dollar of support for our family so that we might have some for investing into the ministry from office needs, program needs, promotion needs, transportation needs, staff needs, curriculum needs, training needs and all the big and little needs in between that put a smile on the faces of the kids and families that we minister to. We have seen our faith grow as we have witnessed time and time again God’s timely provisions. We believe that a prayed over strategy needs to be put into place that, with God’s blessing, can best insure for both the growth and the present work that are taking place. We don’t exactly know what God has in store for this supply, but I believe to start it includes people -- lots of people back home helping by being heralds, entrepreneurs, and creatively thinking how the word can get out about the work being done here with the hearts that are changing here as a result of God working through us and a round spotted ball.
GOD NEEDS YOU ON HIS TEAM
We need captains who might be willing to form teams - all actively raising funds or donations of soccer balls, Spanish Bibles, shoes, uniforms, office equipment, video equipment, vehicles, basically anything that God could use to further the work here. The head knowledge that there could be a team, or teams, of people helping this ministry would be a welcome relief for our hearts that honestly feel overwhelmed at times with the responsibility that we have been given. Please pray over what you have read here and know that my passion for what God has called us to do here can never be duly demonstrated with written word. Our prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit would show your heart the work, the possible kingdom changing aspects of it, and have you consider being part of the work here that is underway. We love you and appreciate your prayers on our behalf and gifts that have been given sacrificially for our family and ministry. Thank you.
In Him together for Him –John Banta – Director of Soccer Operations and Development (Guatemala)