Soccer and souls

“If this can be termed the century of the common man, then soccer, of all sports, is surely his game…In a world haunted by the hydrogen and napalm bomb, the football field is a place where sanity and hope are still left unmolested.”

~ Stanley Rous, 1952

     The game of soccer belongs to no one and to everyone. This world sport is woven into the fabric of many cultures and creates a common language. Here, it is an inextricable part of Mexico’s sense of self. Disadvantage and privilege, sub-standard living and modern technology all disappear in the equal opportunity of the soccer field where all is for fun and sport. They can play it and we can play it. Soccer creates a safe place for our cultures to come together and a medium with which to build a basic level of trust and camaraderie. Not only does soccer cross cultures here, but generations. Both young and old will eagerly engage in the lively pastime, generously sharing their culture with us. And as we pick up the rhythm of the game, it gives us access to the heartbeat of a people and an open door to share the Truth that transcends culture.

     As the game establishes a sense of our friendly intentions, we watch and pray for an opening to explain to our amigos that we have a greater purpose for coming to Mexico than just playing sports. We come because we believe very strongly that Jesus cares about them and who they will become. In our play, we hope to communicate to them that Christ is not defined by buildings, suits, ties, and religion. We seek to convey how very much concerned He is with every aspect of our lives—that He is glorified, blessed, even delighted, when His children play well together, just as parents are gratified when their children get along.

     We engage in sports evangelism because it provides a means to fellowship with people whose words we may not understand—provides an avenue to build relationships—and teaches us to use our talents and hobbies to connect with people, and from there to connect people to Christ.

     The Practicals: With each ministry block scheduled to last 2 ½ hours, that’s obviously a long time to play soccer under the Mexican sun. Here’s a guideline for breaking down a typical block of sports ministry, but don’t let it limit your creativity or hinder you from following the Spirit. You will have one translator.

     20 minutes: Walk through your colonia recruiting children, teens, and even adults to play. Invite everyone you see. If you can gather a small posse of the locals to walk with you early on, you will probably attract a crowd by the time you reach the field.

     10 minutes: Establish rules and teams. Try to mix up the teams and keep it from being an “us vs. them” game. If the Mexicans insist on forming teams by nationality, allow it—but be prepared to lose because they are looking to school their neighbors from the north.

     45 minutes: Play the game! Expect late comers to join. It is most important that the locals enjoy themselves and not that you get to play. If a field gets over-crowded, find a way to slide off and let them have the fun.

     15-30 minutes: Take a water break. Invite your new amigos to join you. Spend some time getting to know them and sharing yourself with them. Before you launch into a canned gospel presentation or a memorized speech, just ask the locals some basic “get-to-know-you” kinds of questions. Find out who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, how they see the world. This is your chance to get a glimpse of life through the eyes of someone quite unlike you. It is also your opportunity to let them know that you are interested in them as individuals with unique identities and that you are not just pushing a generic religious agenda. Before you tell them your beliefs, ask them what their perceptions are of God, the church, Jesus Christ, etc. Listen to what they say. After that, as the Spirit leads, share with them why you have come to Mexico. If your group is shy, you may want to pick someone in advance to act as spokesperson. Share a relevant Scripture, word of encouragement, or devotional message. Share your testimony and even the gospel (and at this point it really is okay if you share something that you memorized in advance J). Ask if anyone has prayer requests and pray for those needs—and even ask the locals to pray for you! They need to know that their prayers count, too. We are no better in His sight. And just because their economic needs are greater than ours doesn’t mean that our spiritual needs are smaller!  

    30-45 minutes: Get back on the field and let the game continue! If there are good conversations going, let the ministry continue on the sidelines.

     15 minutes: Call off the game. Pick up any trash (paper cups, etc. from the water break). Tell the locals the name of the church you are working with in your colonia, the pastor’s name, and what time services are during the week. Make sure you have this information before you head out to play. Say adios and return to the church.

Equipment: Bring a soccer ball! This is obviously your most important piece of equipment. If you have people on your team who aren’t excited about soccer, you could also bring simple things like hoola-hoops and jump ropes to engage young children and girls (many Mexican girls are too timid to venture onto the soccer field) who gather on the sidelines. Many girls prefer volleyball to soccer, but volleyball nets are harder to come by than soccer fields! Your project facilitators will provide cups, so you can share your water during the water break.