For His Kingdom

This past week has been full of eye-opening and learning experiences.  Sportslink hosted a 4-day Ubabalo training.  Ubabalo is a whole-life training program whose aim is to equip and empower African coaches to incorporate Christ-centered messages and life skills into futbol practices.  We hosted the training in Diepsloot, a township just north of Johannesburg that is home to more than 1.3 million people.  With tiny huts made of scrap metal and no electricty (much like the background picture of the blog) stretching for miles, it's hard to miss the impoverished state these people live in.  There is one grass field, built and maintained by a Methodist church in Joburg, that is the home field for all sports for the entire population of 1.3 million.  So that's one field. And 1.3 million people.  And I thought sharing a game field with two other sports teams during my soccer season was a challenge.  

During the Ubabalo sessions, we learned about the importance of a coaches' role amidst the fatherless generation.  We learned practical ways to incorporate God's word, in relatable ways, to our practice sessions.  One the last day each participate had to prepare for and demonstrate an hour long training session using the Ubabalo principles.  In the afternoons, we implemented the skills we learned with groups of 13-14 year olds from Diepsloot.  It was AWEsome!  The kids' responses to questions we asked would knock you off your feet.  Their lives are centered on the basics of life: water and food.  So when asked questions about their dreams, overcoming obstacles, relationships, etc. some how these things we underappreciate were always thrown in the mix.  After the training, Chris, Nigel and I met with the supporters of the sports field about how we can train more people in the community of Diepsloot to work with kids on the pitch.  Nigel and I are hoping to be able to go out to Diepsloot once a week just to walk alongside the coaches in the community - to show them management and organizational skills all with Christ's love so that this facility can be used fully to its potential and fully for the glory of God.

**If you would like to see a video of pictures and information from Ubabalo this past week, type in

look 06: ubabalo training in diepsloot in youtube or visit the OM South Africa Facebook page (loads more pictures here too). 

Prayer Points:
-ISLT (International Sports Leadership Training) February 3rd-6th
-Venue for Question of Sport (within budget)
-Time management and more volunteers as we look to get more involved in the township ministries

What God is teaching me:


"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)


There are 2 kingdoms.  God's kingdom and Satan's kingdom.  God's kingdom is about dying to yourself - because He has reconciled us so we must reconcile others to Christ!  It's about casting all your cares on Him.  It's about putting others before yourself.  Satan's kingdom is about living for yourself.  It's about worrying about what you are going to have for lunch, what fun things you are going to do this weekend, what new clothes you need, and what job will bring in the most income for you.  Man, it's tough!  Because the world is constantly telling us we need to look out for number one.  It's abnormal when someone fasts for a day so a hungry man can have 3 meals in their place.  It's abnormal when someone wears the same outfit to work a couple times a week in order to clothe a naked child.  It's abnormal when you have a presentation to your entire company at 10am, a lunch planning meeting at 1pm, and 3 report deadlines at 5pm to spend 3 hours in prayer.  But Martin Luther said, "I have so much work to do, I cannot get it all done without spending 3 hours daily in prayer."  I want to be abnormal.  I want to run againist the grain.  I can not serve two masters.  


Who do you serve?