Our ministry for March is with Envision Wired in San Salvador. When we arrived, they told us about their vision for healing broken people, specifically abandoned infants, impoverished and at-risk families, addicts, sex trade workers, and ex-prisoners and gang members. They have several ministries to reach the broken people of El Salvador such as Vinculo de Amor, Metamorfosis, and football ministry.
Football. Not soccer (futbol). American football. In El Salvador. As ministry.
They had my attention.
As awesome as that is, my next thought was, “Why?”
Last year more than 21,600 people were deported from the U.S. to El Salvador. Most had lived in the U.S. since early childhood. They don’t know the culture in El Salvador. Often, they don’t even speak Spanish. They are seen as outcasts and unwelcome by most El Salvadorians. There is a huge opportunity to minister to these families and to help integrate them into El Salvadorian culture and society.
So…how about some football?! There is an intramural American football league in San Salvador started by a man named Steve who grew up in the U.S. and returned to El Salvador as an adult. The league now has ten teams. This season, Wired put together a team and used the friendly (and tough) competition to reach out to the men of the league.
Our first weekend in San Salvador, Wired hosted an end-of-season cook out for the players. It was a great time to relax, talk to the guys and their families, and eat some great burgers and chimole.
After the cookout, we went next door where Hungry meets. Hungry is a church started by Wired that meets every other Saturday evening. There was great worship, a close friend and supporter of Wired shared his testimony, and then we broke into smaller groups to talk and share more with one another.
James* was in my group. He grew up in the U.S. and knew it as home. When he was deported, he became bitter toward America. Adjusting to life in El Salvador wasn’t easy. Since being in El Salvador he has had a son and been touched by God. He shared that he knew God brought him back to El Salvador for a purpose. He said he had let go of the anger around his circumstances for coming to El Salvador. What really spoke to me though was his passion. He talked about the fire that Christians have and he wanted it. He had a burning desire to know God and to know God’s purpose for his life. I could see God working in him and preparing a way for him. I was excited to see what God had planned next. James didn’t know Jesus but he was searching and I had joy listening to him speak because I knew God wouldn’t leave him hanging.
I saw James a few more times before we left, always with a smile. After I got to Bulgaria, I found out two of the Wired staff had led him to Christ after a Hungry service. Lasting relationships are being built. God’s love and grace is flowing. Second chances come to life. The broken are restored. That’s a good game of football.
*Name has been changed
