Christ and the International Sport
By Joe Cochran — August 4, 2009

 During Landmark Christian School's Honduras mission trip through Frontline Missions, there were opportunities to meet many people in remote Honduras and minister to them through medical and dental missions. And for those who had no medical or dental needs, the sport of soccer (or futbol, as it is called outside the United States) provided additional chances to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

FCA provided soccer uniforms and balls to give out to people in the villages. In one small community outside of El Carrezal, an entire soccer team composed of about a dozen young men ranging in age from mid-teens to late 20s came to receive uniforms. Before receiving the uniforms, the young men were asked through an interpreter if they were believers in Christ. Not a single one professed that they were, making the chance to share the Gospel of Christ all the more fortunate.

The men listened intently as the nature of God's holiness and the problem of their sin (or pecadors) was shared. Their eyes were focused as they heard about a solution to their problem of sin and their separation from God. While none subsequently professed faith in Christ that day, they heard of His work on the cross, taking the punishment due believers for our sin and giving believers credit for His sinless life lived as a man, thereby making believers right with God.

The uniforms were handed out and an invitation was extended to the Honduran soccer team to play with Landmark students. They gladly accepted and all proceeded to the soccer field. While the field was mostly dirt with many humps, the Honduran players immediately changed into the uniforms and were eager to play as though it were a World Cup match.

The Honduran team captain was asked by an American chaperone if they wanted to split up or play Hondurans vs. the American students. The captain answered immediately that it would be the Hondurans vs. the Americans. He then offered a whistle to the American chaperone to be the referee. The whistle was accepted, and the Hondurans won 3-1, despite a good effort by the Landmark students.

Hopefully, someday, those young men will be as serious about the Lord Jesus Christ as they were about soccer. That day, a dozen young men heard the Gospel because of their love of soccer and the generous donation from outside ministries of uniforms and balls. By God's grace, may the Gospel take root in the hearts of these young men.

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*Photos courtesy of Alan Winter.
**Uniforms came from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, via Crossroads Church in Newnan, Ga.