Wheaton College

The following was taken from the Wheaton College Men’s Soccer website. It summarizes their experience here in Germany.

“Team finished its competitions portion of the German trip undefeated! But most important to Coach Bean and his players are the many friendships developed with players from the other teams we played. Also the great relationships with the players’ host families, the kids from the Cafe’, PE Classes, and clinics and with the GEM missionaries that will continue to grow even though the team is returning to the States.

They also were successful in creating numerous opportunities for the Greater Europe Missions missionaries to meet and build relationships with people they would not normally have the opportunity to meet. Lord willing and guiding, we pray that many of these individuals will find their way to the new Köln church plant and come to know Jesus as their Savior. We may need to wait until eternity to see some of the spiritual fruit from this experience. The Team has been faithful in seeking to serve for Christ and His Kingdom!”

Please continue to pray for the Wheaton College team- pray they have a wonderful season and remember what God did through them in Germany!

~Adrienne

Team Global

Team Global, formally known as AIA North America, ministered in Berlin and Chemnitz. The team decided to rename themselves when they found out they truly were an international team. The team consisted of soccer players from New Zealand, Romania, Germany, England, and the United States. They came together and were unbeatable.

Berlin- The team was in Berlin from June 14-19th. They worked with Rock Berlin; a young church seeking to reach their community.

The following is an email from Dave Lennander, pastor of Rock Berlin:

I wanted to send you our thanks for coming to Berlin and serving with us. I was so encouraged by the quality of your lives and the attitudes of your hearts. You came to proclaim Jesus but you did it with a servant’s mindset. You helped us use the World Cup to have a special outreach in our neighborhood. I believe that the ultimate fruit will only be revealed in eternity.

When I got back to Berlin last Tuesday, I went right to the public showing we had at Rock Berlin. I got in on the last 2 minutes of the Germany game. As I scanned the room, I noticed Candy and about 8 of the teens from the pick up games you had a the parks watching this afternoon game. Candy and his girlfriend came back on Saturday for the game and stayed for some of the worship. My wife Sandy got to introduce him to a professional player from I think the Level 2 that was visiting our church. The teens came back on Saturday night as well and brought friends. Over the last few games, florence figured we had 20 different kids flow through our facility from your outreach in the parks. Please pray that we would be wise in how to keep contact once the World Cup is over and that we would know how to effectively connect with their lives to show and communicate Jesus to them.

I know you invested a lot of time and money to come to Germany. But I know our God and the benefit to your lives will far outweigh the costs. As you spread out to your schools and jobs I trust that you have a deeper commitment to the Lord and His Great Commission. May you have a fruitful summer and fall season. It was our privilege to host you. You enriched our lives. Thank you!

Pastor Dave

Rock Berlin

 

Team Global also went to Chemnitz to work with Campus Crusade for Christ.

~Adrienne

Chicago Eagles

The Chicago Eagles, a part of Missionary Athletes International, came to Germany to serve in 2 churches in the Stuttgart area. The team indicated that the churches were a perfect match for them. Despite the hardships the team went through- such as their coach suffering from an injury- the team continued to have a postive attitude. They were focused on serving the churches and community in an effort to have Christ glorified. The Chicago Eagles left an impact that will be felt in Stuttgart for years to come.

Please continue to pray for the Chicago Eagles as their summer program continues!

~Adrienne

Pictures!

AIA Ireland played a great game against LOK Leipzig on June 12. Campus Crusade for Christ students came out to support AIA Ireland. They brought Northern Ireland flags, painted their faces, and prepared cheers. It was a great game!

AIA France went to visit several classes at local German schools:

Markus is the pastor at FEG Friedberg, where AIA France was located. Markus came to the orientation conference to share his vision for the project.

~Adrienne

The Closing Conference

The Chicago Eagles, Wheaton College, and AIA North America gathered back together at Klostermuehle June 19-21. It was a time to share about what God had done in the ministry sites all over Germany and also what God was doing in them personally.

Dave Lennander, pastor of Rock Berlin, came for the first evening of the conference. He summarized the feelings of all the pastors the teams worked with, by saying that his church was blessed and encouraged by the soccer teams. Dave said that he was encouraged by the soccer players’ attitude to do whatever needed to be done. He spoke about the school visits, camps, clinics, and games the players took part in. Dave said that he was happy to see people come to his church who had never before stepped foot into a church.

The soccer teams have departed Germany. Please pray that they would travel safely. Also, pray that God would continue to remind them of their time in Germany and the great need they have seen here.

The Tour Bus is still on the road! There is a full schedule ahead, so please pray for energy for the team. They will be traveling until June 30th.

~Adrienne

Soccer Teams return to Klostermuhle

The project team is back at Klostermühle, preparing for the soccer teams to arrive. Tomorrow the soccer teams, coaches, and staff come back to the conference center for debriefing. It will be a time of fellowship and sharing in what God has done in and through them over the past two weeks.

Michele Braceros, one of the team members, said that she cannot believe how fast the time has gone. She said that she is really looking forward to hearing the stories. She is praying that God is preparing the soccer players hearts to be open in sharing what God has done in their lives.

Pray for safe travels for the soccer teams, as tomorrow they are traveling from their ministry sites to Klostermühle.

~Adrienne

Time is Flying!

It is really hard to believe that the soccer teams aspect of the project is almost over! God has moved in mighty ways over the past two weeks. It will be exciting to hear the stories of what the soccer players have seen.

Please pray for the soccer players and coaches as they are wrapping up at their minsitry sites. Pray that they will enjoy the last day with their host families and church communities. Pray that they would follow up with any conversations before they depart.

The bus staff is halfway through their part of the project. Today they were in Kreuztal, outside of Siegan. They were set up in a large sport complex. There were volleyball matches, go-cart races, plus the playstations and street soccer unit! The kids were loving all that there was to do.

Continue to pray that the bus staff would have the energy to persevere. They are encouraged and are doing a great job. It is taxing, however, to have to be on the move all the time.

Thank you for all your support and interest in the World Cup Project. It is neat to see God uniting everyone in reaching the world for Christ!

~Adrienne

A Report from our French Players

The AIA France team left Friedburg, Germany late on June 12th. Joel Thilbault sent the following update about his team's time in Germany.

"Hello, I give you some news about our week in Friedberg. The pastor Markus was very nice and has the vision for the sport minsitry, it was great. Now we are thinking for an another projet in April 2007 with his church.

For the program we offered 100 dvds in 2 schools, camps and the game. We have had 40 players during camps. 40 dvds and 40 Bibles were given. In the friendly game we lost 6 to 2 but it was a very good occasion to give testimoy during half time.

A lot of mini mags and dvds were given in the schools.

We went to Frankfort to see on the Big TV Argentina Coast Ivory. We distributed 200 flyers with testimony

I send to you somes pictures in church with testimony during a match, foot camp, Frankfort and the leg of Fred who was very blue!!"

~Adrienne

Wheaton College Making a Difference

Wheaton College has been working with a church in Cologne for the past 9 days. They are the only team to stay with the same church for the whole 10 day part of the tour. The following is the update posted on www.wheaton.edu from Joe Harding.

“The Team has been busy with elementary school PE classes in the mornings, youth soccer clinics in the afternoon, two games against soccer clubs, the Cafe’ ministry and of course the guys find time to walk the streets of Köln a little too. Our day starts at 7:30 am (some need to be at school by 8:00 AM) and we leave for home from the Cafe’ after the last game, which has been about 11:30 pm. The Team is doing something all the time, however, we get a day off on Thursday!

On Sunday, the team participated in the morning service of the new church plant that GEM missionaries Adam (Wheaton ‘95) & Bethel Gascho (Wheaton ‘95), Jared & Lori (Moody ‘01) Bridges, and Carsten Meisner are starting. Justin and Matt assisted Lori with the music for the worship section of the program and Steve Rigby shared his testimony before Adam Gascho preached the sermon. The whole team was a part of the service in some aspect.

Mike Shearon (Wheaton ‘95), serving with AIA Canada has joined our group and has encouraged our players in many ways. Mike is leading our team’s devotional and spiritual growth sessions each day. He has challenged the players through study of the Scriptures to explore where they are in experiencing the fullness of Christ’s death so they might truly live in Jesus strength now and be able express His love to others. He also has encouraged them to know more completely what it means to die to self for the glory, pleasure, and will of the Lord.

We have played two matches against good German soccer clubs and have won both of them. The team is working together very well. The games have been on dirt fields and our players have adapted quickly. Our ball control style, strong tactics, and physical conditioning has given us the advantage in every game. After each game we stay at the club house and have a meal with the players from the other team and watch a World Cup game. The language has been a little problem, but once again the players go out of their way to find ways to communicate with the other players. Coach Bean is pleased with all aspects of the trip so far! The team’s spirit and desire to serve Christ in any way is our primary goal and thus far we have been able to maintain focus and are achieving our objectives.”

Continue to keep the team from Wheaton College in your prayers. Pray that God would continue to give them strength and endurance to keep up with the busy schedule. Also, please pray that God would continue to protect them from injury.

~Adrienne

AIA North America team in Berlin

AIA North American traveled to Berlin for the second half of their tour. Jon Vanhorn sent the following update:

“We met the pastor of Rock Berlin and watched the match last night at the church. We went to a local school and spoke with physical education classes in the morning. We had a great time interacting with the kids, talking with them, and sharing about our lives. We weren’t able to share Christ, but we did invite them all to a soccer camp we are doing tomorrow. At the soccer camps, we will be able to talk openly about Christ.”

“This afternoon we went to two different parks where there are enclosed soccer fields. We played pick up soccer with kids that were there already playing or walking through the park. We played for a few hours, against about 30 people total. We were able to talk a little with them about our faith. There was one kid from Sweden, who was a Christian already and was visiting for the World Cup. We invited him to church to watch the game tonight and also to the soccer camp tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to see them again and share with them. We are also going back to the parks two more times this week to play and talk with those we come in contact with.”

Please continue to pray for AIA North America. Pray that they will continue to have positive conversations with people they come in contact with!

~Adrienne