Don't forget your Roots

I spent the last week in Florida. There were several purposes for this trip: To have some support meetings, to visit with old friends before starting full time in the fall, and to see my sick grandfather whose health seems to be declining. It was such a delight to spend time with people that have known me my whole life. It is a weird feeling to see these people and feel like they know me but don't really know me since I lived away from them for the past 11 years. The friends I grew up with from birth are all in such different places in life. Very few are in school or have started down a career path. Even worse, several have completely walked away from the faith. Countless times I found myself analyzing the different home situations that my friends we were raised in and came up with several theories. However, GRACE is the only answer. It is only by God's grace that he chose me. And I will pray for my lost friends and plead with the Lord to bring them back to Him.

I was able to get some work done while I was in the Sunshine State. We had a few conference calls to discuss soccer logistics. We are working on an equipment grant that will be very helpful. We are also in the process of getting together with the existing FCA staff in the inner city to finalize the strategic plan for urban soccer. I am working to have an end of the season cookout for the Atlanta Beat players. I am working to get t shirts made for them, and we are looking at our international trip to Honduras with them in October. I am attending my first Atl Beat Bible study tomorrow night and I am excited to meet the girls and start building relationships with them.

Also, we are starting to brainstorm who will be on the Soccer Ministry Board! I will be attending the Inner City Board meeting in the morning. One of the topics we will cover is how sport specific ministry will fit into the geographic structure of staffing. I am interested to see how this goes. Obviously a little nervous, just because I know this is new territory and I want to be respectful of others and not come across like I know it all.