By Laurie Sadio, SF Senegal
One of the most valuable aspects of sports ministry is how quickly and easily a newly trained coach can begin forming relationships and ministering to youth. Once a soccer ball is involved, it doesn’t take much for young people to come running!
Coach Jacques lives in the village of Ndiagagnao. After attending our Basic Training in Mbodiene last summer, Jacques started a soccer club in his neighborhood. The club soon grew to include a regular attendance of about 30 young boys.
A few months after he began, three boys – Tidiane, Diomaye, and Ibou – started showing a real interest in the spiritual things Jacques was sharing with them during the teaching portion of his practices. These three boys are each growing up in non-Christian homes, and this is the first time they had ever heard words of Truth.
In response to what they were hearing at Jacques’ club, the boys began to regularly attend the local church in their area so they could learn more. Their desire to know more about Jesus continues to grow as they go to church each week. As of today, Jacques tells us that all three not only come to church every Sunday, but they are also now involved in the Sunday school program there as well.
Jacques is very encouraged with the way God is already working in the hearts and lives of all the boys in his club. He asks us all to continue to pray for each boy that comes to his program, especially for Tidiane, Diomaye, and Ibou as they grow. His desire is that each child would hear Truth and come to know who Jesus is and how they can have a relationship with Him.
Please also pray for Jacques as he works with these boys. Pray that he will be able to attend our Coaches Training program in 2015 so that he can be further equipped to minister in his village. Finally, pray that God would raise up more coaches like Jacques throughout all of Senegal so that we can see more lives transformed for Christ!
