from zero to four zero zero zero zero.

On December 31, 2009, I received my first check in my effort to raise $40,000 to participate in full time ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. On August 3rd, 2010, I received the donation that propelled me into reaching that goal. I am now the FCA Soccer Ministry Representative for Atlanta, with a main focus in the inner city!

I am really amazed that the Lord has blessed my fund raising efforts so abundantly and I do not take this strong 'Home Team' for granted! While my first year of ministry is funded, I will continue to spend a significant amount of time working to maintain support. I know it will be difficult to keep the necesary support, but my hope is to stay disciplined through prayer and action and trust that God will continue to bless this ministry.

Sept. 1, 2010, will mark my first day of full time ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Many things are in the works on the soccer ministry front. Randy Walton is leading our strategic planning for inner city soccer (http://waltongroup.net/randywalton.htm) . Pete Smith, who works as the Human Resources Director for Campus Crusade for Christ is helping with the strategic planning (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pete-smith/9/665/5b5). Also, Tom Elias will be responsible for finding board members for FCA Soccer and is coordinating the strategic planning sessions (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tom-elias/4/477/485).

Our goal is to kick off our inner city developmental leagues, Spring 2011. In the fall we will be busy recruiting players, recruiting volunteer coaches and clinicians, establishing a board, and finalizing our vision, mission and values.

We had our Ministry Planning Workshop last week. It was helpful to sit at a table with the sports specific staff of wrestling, outdoors, and baseball. Baseball started in the inner city last year and will serve as a great model for the soccer ministry and I to learn from. We discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of what we do; also known as a swot analysis.

Strengths: The ability to teach a new skill set and expand FCA's campus ministry.
Weaknesses: We cannot be all things to all people. We are only one sport.
Opportunities: Ability to present the gospel on a daily basis to unbelievers, as a result of their dedication to the sport.
Threats: A huge ability to get distracted. It is not about growing soccer, it is about mentoring kids to a relationship with Jesus.

Doing the swot analysis will help me in setting goals and action steps for my first year of ministry.

Most recently, I have been recruiting Women Pro Soccer (WPS) and collegiate players for a mission trip to Honduras in October! Five WPS players are going on the trip, two of which are Atlanta Beat players. We will lead soccer camps in the morning in Catacamas, Honduras. In the afternoon we will team up with medical missionaries from Presdisan to share Christ's love with the orphans. Also, if we have enough players we will play against the country's semi-pro team, which would give the our players an opportunity to share their testimonies during halftime to a large audience. We have a couple WPS players going with us that are not believers. This trip will give us the opportunity not only to witness to the people of Honduras but also to the WPS players!

Thank you so much for partnering with me so that the Lord may use me in this ministry! I couldn't do this without your help. Please pray for me as I will be treading new ground in the inner city these next few months. I will be knocking on church, parks, and school doors to build relationships with those we hope to start ministering to. Pray for divine encounters. Pray for protection. Pray for a confidence in the Lord.