When I found out that I was going to be doing sports ministry for my first month of the World Race I was super excited! Sports have been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. Some of my fondest childhood memories were going to practices with my Dad when he was coaching. I just knew that doing sports ministry month one was going to be a great way to kick off the World Race.
We jumped right into sports ministry in the first week. We ran a soccer camp for a youth group the first day we were in South Africa and it went great. We ran some drills, used the things we learned in the drills to talk about the gospel, and played some games. Then we ran a sports camp at a public school for a few days and again used sports as a tool to share the gospel with kids. On Wednesday night I got to lead a basketball clinic and present the gospel. The week went great and I felt comfortable doing everything because I was operating in my comfort zone.
Then came week two. Week two was a little different because we were doing street ministry. Street ministry includes doing an ATL (Ask the Lord) and then going out and speaking to total strangers and sharing the gospel with them or encouraging them in their faith. If you put a ball in my hands, I feel comfortable and will talk to anyone. If you ask me to go talk to total strangers on the street about God, I feel super awkward.
God totally blew me away during street ministry. He spoke to me and worked in me in ways I didn’t ever think He would. He used my teammate Robert to push me to be bold and talk to people. I ended up talking to all kinds of people about Jesus. I met a guy that some said was a drug dealer in the area and talked to him and his family about Jesus and prayed for them. I met a lady named Nombi who I got to lead in a sinner’s prayer after two days of talking to her. I prayed for a lady who was homeless with 4 kids. I encouraged a couple of sisters in Christ that were really down and needed someone to speak truth and encourage them.
I don’t have time to share all of the stories of ways that God worked through my team and me during our week of street ministry, but He did a lot! He totally changed my perception about street ministry. The second week was my biggest highlight because I couldn’t operate in my strength and that put me right where God wanted me. I love doing ATLs and I by the end of the week I saw how it started becoming a lifestyle for me. God has already grown me so much in month one. It’s cool how He is using my teammates to teach me and stretch me. I can’t wait to see how different I am in 10 more months!
My encouragement to you is to be bold. See every person you talk to as a soul that will go to either Heaven or Hell and make sure the know the truth of the gospel.
Click here to see a few pictures from my month in South Africa.
