Curious onlookers at a training in Malawi. Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal...
By Kennedy Salano and Mia Smith, SF Kenya This wasn’t the plan, it couldn’t end like this! Geofray could think of nothing else through the thick haze of fear and pain. As he slowly began to lose consciousness, the fuzzy outline of police running towards the mob barely...
From August 5-9, 22 newly-elected sports ministry leaders gathered for Malawi’s fourth Basic Training. The week was sweet, but full to the brim. By the third day we were all extremely exhausted. Each person came into the meeting room looking like they hadn’t slept in...
Jesus said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in...
By Lemmy Delano and Mia Smith, SF Kenya Everyone stopped and looked around, wondering how this soccer team of 25 troubled youth had grown from starting fights on and off of the soccer field to serving those around them and changing the community for the better. Coach...
By Monday Kimkwat, SF Nigeria God is greatly at work through Sports Friends, impacting the lives of young people and reaching their families in ways we can only imagine. It was during a camp that I met the young boy this story is focused on. While waiting for all of...
This month we’d like to introduce you to Fostace, the co-founder and training director of SF Malawi! Name: Pastor Fostance Mtolo Role with SF: SF Malawi Co-Founder/Training Director Favorite Sport/Team: Football / Manchester United Favorite Bible Verse: Pslam...
By Luke Voight, SF Malawi Late last year, our Sports Friends Malawi leadership team traveled to the central region of Malawi for a time of vision sharing with many churches. In one of our meetings we met Pastor C., an influential leader in the town of Sani. Across...
The camping season is well underway and many lives are being impacted! Here is just a snapshot of our campers in Ethiopia: Name: Abenet Age: 11 Comes From: Dole, EthiopiaFavorite Part of Camp: "The dramas which I watched every day."Something I Learned About God This...
This month we’d like to introduce you to Philippe, the director of SF Senegal! Name: Philippe Sadio Role with SF: SF Senegal Director Favorite Sport/Team: Soccer / Manchester City Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Timothy 1:15 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full...
"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rules or authorities - all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians...
By Emily Dempsey After each day of activities and challenges our team grows closer and more comfortable with each other. Walking the dusty path through the trees, the boys were all hanging on each other, laughing, and just having a great time. As we came around the...
By Ishaya Inuwa, SF Nigeria Today we bring you a story from one of our missionary coaches. Presently, we are witnessing a great harvest through the work of Evangelical Missionary Society of ECWA (EMS). Many of these missionaries live in difficult terrains; they don't...
By Shane Smith, SF Kenya He was unable to grasp such a crazy idea. “Why would I ever want to forgive someone?” Kamal asked his Sports Friends leader, Anthony. “It would make me look weak and stupid. Besides, I wouldn’t even know how to forgive.” Kamal was attending a...
This month we'd like to introduce you to Zinabu, one of our Camp Langano staff members in Ethiopia! Name: Zinabu Kedir Role with SF: Programs Department Favorite Sport/Team: Soccer/Arsenal Favorite Bible Verse: "You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in...
By Luke Voight, SF Malawi Two weeks ago Luke (SF Malawi Director) and Fostance (SF Malawi Coaches Trainer) traveled together to Camp Langano in Ethiopia to learn more about how to effectively and strategically run residential sports camps in Malawi. At camp they...
By Luke Voight, SF Malawi From the very beginning of our recent Basic Training, we knew that all 42 of the participants whom God had given us were exceptional. These were certainly the people we had prayed so fervently for! The purpose of Sports Friends’ Basic...
By Jenn Brady, SF International As the Sports Friends training director, part of my job is to guide our coaches to recognize and utilize “teachable moments” on the field of play. When applied appropriately, some of the most powerful lessons can be taught using normal,...
By Moses Gyok, SF Nigeria Coach Saint is a student of Anglican Seminary in Jos, Nigeria. Because he knows how much having mentors affected his own childhood, Coach Saint has always wanted to minister to kids. One day, Coach Saint was passing through the streets to his...
By Shane Smith, SF Kenya Living in an area opposed to the gospel, Charles was zealous to see the youth in his community transformed. These young people face many challenges such as drug use, child labor, early marriages and teen pregnancy. Charles fervently prayed...
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. Psalm 119:105-106 A Nigerian man studies the Bible by candlelight. Photo by Austin Mann
By Luke Voight, SF Malawi Meet Gift. Gift is in the center, standing. He recently turned 13 and is a member of one of the Sports Friends teams in the city of Blantyre, Malawi. Over the past two years, his coaches have poured their lives into coaching and discipling...
Written by Brian Hall, SF Ethiopia (Camp Langano) Fate is 13 years old. She has a bright smile, always a giggle, and a quick, witty response. She is blind. She wasn't born blind. As we understand the story, she got an eye illness as a young child and was taken by her...
Sports Friends served 129,647 youth around the world last year. Each of those children has a story - a family and friends, likes and dislikes, fears, hopes and dreams. These young men from Nigeria wanted to share a very important piece of information about themselves...