Provision to Play

Apr 8, 2015 | Sports Friends Perú, Sports Friends The Americas

By Lindsay Geverink, SF Perú

“We need to pray big and expectantly! Let’s pray to get the use of the stadium for free!”

What better way to begin your sports ministry than to trust God to move in His mighty way and undeniably make His name known? With prayer as a foundation for his new soccer team, Coach Paris was determined to start off his neighborhood ministry seeking God’s guidance in every aspect.

IMG_0904-1

God’s provision was evident right from the start as Paris worked on building his team. All he had to do was walk to the park kicking a soccer ball, and the boys came running. Within a short amount of time, Paris was already meeting parents, experiencing opportunities to teach Biblical principles, and building trust within the community.

The kids were daily, sometimes hourly, coming to his house and ringing his doorbell, asking if Paris could come out and play. It was an incredible encouragement to see how God was building up the relationships within his community!

However, after playing in a local plot of grass in the neighborhood for a few weeks, it was obvious that the team needed a true soccer court. Not only was the park tiny with trees everywhere, but it had the added obstacles of deep holes and dog droppings (see the skateboards and boards covering potholes in the picture below). Not to mention, security guards continued to come and tell the team they couldn’t play there.

IMG_0942-1

So Paris prayed.

After spending time seeking God in the situation, he felt led to write the mayor to ask for permission to use a local stadium once or twice a week for free. In a country where the process can easily take months, Paris had a meeting with the stadium only a week after taking the letter to the municipality! Surrounded by a community of prayer warriors, everyone prayed for the manager of the stadium to show favor and for God’s name to be glorified in the whole situation.

IMG_1138-1

And God provided! The stadium staff offered to give Paris and the team the use of the stadium field for free once a week with the possibility of extra available days! How sweet and amazing it is to trust God, the Giver of all good things and our loving Father, and to be open and available to allow Him to do His powerful work.

Please continue to pray for Coach Paris and his team of young boys and for them to see God’s provision not only in the aspect of sports, but in their everyday lives and for eternity. We also pray that you will be encouraged to seek God and expect grand things!

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:16b-18

IMG_0930