Just recently COI led a team in New Orleans where my husband and I had the privilege of spending this past summer. As I read the blog post that Mary Alice wrote and listened to the updates I was reminded of all the people that we met in need of not only provision for practical physical needs, but the needs people have for spiritual and emotional healing.
Sports Ministry is the base from which Christian Outreach International has grown. Using sports as a medium to share Christ with others worldwide, we have seen countless people come to a saving knowledge of who Christ is and what He offers those who seek Him, believe in Him and turn their lives over to Him. Over the years, C.O.I. has expanded its ministry to include various other opportunities as they present themselves.
We have seen great things happen through sports ministry in Ukraine. We have had several teams from around North America travel there for games and ministry over the years. C.O.I. has also operated a football team in Ukraine, using practices and road trips as a chance to share God with the young men on the team.
This summer we are offering a trip to any individuals who play/love sports and want to share God’s love with others. The trip will be hosted at our base in Uzhgorod, Ukraine, where we will offer sports clinics and demonstrations in a number of sports. (basketball, American football, soccer, and volleyball). Time will be spent putting on clinics to teach strategy or fundamentals in these sports, as well as sharing God’s love through building relationships and sharing your faith story.
There are still spaces open on this trip. If you enjoy sports, and sharing your belief in Christ, this may be the opportunity you are looking for. There will be chances to share faith, sight-see around Uzhgorod and even a day in Budapest, Hungary. There is an application on our web page. Sign up today.
Recently I discovered that I'm a missionary in a place where people sometimes lose their lives for exposing the truth when that truth threatens the prosperity of certain individuals. The events seen on newscasts around the world of election scandals and an attempted murder of a then presidential candidate were certainly not isolated incidents.
There is still a great deal of corruption in Ukraine and it can be found at various levels of nearly any system, institution, or service. I write this entry with very real evidence of such corruption still fresh on my mind.
Just weeks ago a close Ukrainian friend of mine lost her father to malpractice in an extremely corrupt medical system. The family was shocked at events that transpired and led to the unexpected death of this young woman's father. An autopsy at the family's request revealed that indeed gross mistreatment had been administered.
This past June, a group of 16 Americans consisting of mostly football players and a couple of soccer girls spent two weeks on a short-term mission here at our COI base in Uzhgorod, Ukraine. They soon found out that one of our Warrior football players, Roma had been diagnosed with cancer. Some of the team immediately expressed their interest in going to visit Roma and pray for him. At that point, it had only been one month since his diagnosis, but the cancer had spread quickly. I took two players and a coach with me to see Roma about one week after the group arrived. When we got there he didn't look very good, but he sure was exited to see us. They all talked with him and shared verses from the Bible about how Jesus healed people. Before we left, one of the football players shared the salvation message with Roma and asked him if he wanted to receive Jesus as his personal Savior. Roma's response was yes. We prayed with him and we prayed for him. I noticed that the man laying on the bed next to Roma was crying. God obviously was working on him as well.
When we left the hospital, I had a joy in my heart that we had just won another soul for God. But at the same time, I was very sad about my player suffering with cancer.
Over the last few months Roma had looked fairly good and yet the doctors were still saying that he didn't have much time left. God kept giving him month after month. I was able to visited him a few more times. Then on the January 2nd, 2007, Roma went to be with our Father in heaven.
I can't say that I really understand much about healing. I know that God tells us to be faithful to pray for healing and to pray for the sick. All I can do is be obedient and continue to believe in God's goodness and that His will is always done. I do know that Roma is in a much better place now where there is no pain and no tears, but happiness and peace basking in the perfect love of the Father. I want to say thank you to those who prayed for Roma.
Passport requirements for air travel to and from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean islands changes on January 23rd. All U.S. citizens traveling to these destinations will be required to have a passport. Previously travelers only needed a drivers license.
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands are currently exceptions. U.S. citizens traveling by land and by sea can still do so with just a drivers license, however that will change in 2008.
All of this, of course, is related to the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and the terrorist attacks on the United States. We will always remember and never forget, that seriers of events that changed our lives forever. God bless the victims and their families!
So, if you're mission trip with Christian Outreach International is scheduled after Jan. 23rd 2007 and you're planning to fly to Mexico, Dominican Republic or Canada, make sure you get your passport(s) in order.
