Telling Soccer Players about Jesus
Do you like to play soccer? Has your team ever played in a tournament? The Dallas Cup is a soccer tournament for players who are 10 – 18 years old. Teams from all over the world play in the Dallas Cup tournament every year the week before Easter.
When the teams come to Dallas to play in the tournament, they need a place to eat, rest and have fun between their games. First Baptist Church, Richardson, lets the teams come to their building. People from other churches bring food. The players and coaches come to the church and get a free hot meal. They can play pool, ping pong, and video games. They can play basketball in the church’s gym. Teams from Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, Mexico, California, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Chicago, Florida, and Texas visit the church.
Glen Jolley and Walter Loyola are chaplains for Dallas Cup. That means that they get to know the players and the coaches. They pray with them. They give them Bibles in their own languages, like Spanish or Portuguese. They talk to them about Jesus. In 2014, 70 players and coaches decided to follow Jesus when Glen and Walter told them how to become Christians. Now they will go home to their countries and tell other people about Jesus, too.
The Gladys Moore Missions Offering helps pay for the cost of the food games, and Bibles for the Dallas Cup teams.