Sports Friends

“…pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored…” (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Since 1893, SIM’s motto has been “By Prayer”. By prayer, SIM and its many ministries have seen God do amazing and marvelous things – thousands of new churches planted, millions coming to faith in Jesus Christ and growing as His disciples, and communities all over the world transformed by God’s grace.

Frequently, people think of prayer as something we do before we begin the work of ministry. However, we believe that prayer is the work of the ministry. We invite you to join with us in this vital ministry of prayer! Our vision and hearts’ desire is to ultimately see many thousands of churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America using the platform of sport to touch millions of lives with the love of God. As we pray together, we will see the glory of the impossible!

Please sign up at the top of this page (enter your email address only) to receive our e-newsletter which includes current prayer requests and stories of God’s faithfulness through the Sports Friends’ ministry.

November and December 2011 Prayer Requests:

International/U.S. Office
• Pray for God to provide support for those who are in the process of joining the ministry as well as current missionaries who are underfunded.
• Pray for new ministry development efforts in Ghana, Malawi and Peru. Pray for the SF leaders in these new countries -- that God would give them wisdom as they develop effective models and as they train and develop others in sports ministry.
• We give thanks for the development of a great new video presenting the SF ministry at Camp Langano. Pray with us as we plan for the production of additional videos this fall and winter which will feature the work of SF in Africa and Asia.
• Pray for new communication and marketing tools being developed to support our expanded fund development and recruiting efforts.
• Pray for vision trips being organized for potential donors, recruits, church leaders, and partners to come and see the SF ministry in Ethiopia, Nigeria and SE Asia.
• Pray for new initiatives to expand and enhance our SF training and ministry resources. Efforts are being planned to further document and enhance our efforts in camping ministry, soccer coaching, leadership development and sports ministry skills.
• Pray that God would raise up other missionaries to work in our International Support Services group in Charlotte. Needs include an overall office leader, recruiting coordinator, communications coordinator, videographer, and fund development coordinator.
• Pray for plans for various events in 2012 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the birth of Sports Friends. We praise God for all that he has done over the past 9 years and for the privilege of being a part of it!

Ethiopia
• Please pray for the upcoming level IV leaders semi-annual leadership meeting next week (Nov 7 - 12). We are planning to share with them evangelism and biblical ethics. Please pray that this will be successful.
• Please pray for our coaches who are now giving trainings to coaches in different parts of Ethiopia

Camp Langano
• Pray for the new staff who will be coming to Langano. Pray that they would be able to raise the needed funds and that there are not problems obtaining work permits.
• Pray for the campers who attended camp this summer, that God would work in the camper's lives, in the lives of their family members, and in the lives of their community.
• Pray for unity among the staff and that the leaders would continue to grow in their faith.
• Pray for funds for the new gymnasium.

Nigeria
• Pray for or our Upcoming events:

Level 2 Basic Training Nov 2-5
Camp Dec 15-17
Camp Dec 19-21
SF Nigeria Planning Retreat Dec 21-23

Southeast Asia
• Please pray for Jill as she travels to the US in November for a Global gathering of 400+ Sports Ministry leaders.
• Pray for the team in a neighboring country as they prepare for a Leadership Camp for the most active 200 local church volunteers/life coaches 25th-27th Nov. This will also be a Training of Trainers event for developing a team of 20-25 volunteer Regional Leaders to support the life coaches in various regions.
• Pray for God’s provision of the right people to assist with communications and administration – interns, missionaries, local staff . . . we’re looking for help!
• Pray for opportunities to develop a new partnership with the another denomination.
• Pray for us as we continue to explore opportunities for Basketball ministry.

Kenya
• We are thankful for the results of the training that took place in August near the coast. A number of churches have become more involved in Church-Centered Sports Ministry. Pray that the Lord will continue to bring fruit from the 40 or so churches in this area that are using sports ministry.
• Pray for our staff member as he continues to minister along the coast with Sports Friends. Pray that he will be encouraged in his work, that the Lord will give him wisdom in his work, and that the Lord will provide for all his needs.
• Our training which was planned for Northern Kenya for mid-October had to be cancelled. Please pray that the Lord will guide us as we try and reschedule this training for early next year. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom as we seek to move the Sports Friends ministry into new areas; and pray that the Lord will give us the right people here to help the ministry move forward.

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