One of the many beautiful aspects of the gospel is that, while it has remained unchanged for over 2,000 years, it can still be applied through new methods in order to reach those who have never heard the message. Southern Soccer Academy (SSA) South Georgia, an affiliate of the Atlanta-based Southern Soccer Academy, is a division of 116 Sports Ministries (which takes its name from Romans 1:16) and is dedicated to exposing youth to the highest levels of soccer and reaching them for Christ. While the gospel message is incorporated into everything the club does, SSA South Georgia upped the ante last July when the club took a group of kids to Jamaica for a mission trip.
According to Robert Peterson, Director of Sports Operations for SSA South Georgia, 15 young men ages 14-18 from all over the area went on the trip. The kids trained and played with soccer teams from Jamaica while also performing mission work in the country. “We were there for a week. We played four games that week and also did both mission work and discipleship for the kids who went. Many of them hadn’t traveled before, and they hadn’t seen how people in other countries lived,” he says.
The SSA South Georgia team visited orphanages and ministered to the kids who were there. It provided the soccer players with an opportunity to brighten the days of the orphans while also showing them the love of Christ. “At one orphanage in particular, all the kids had a disability of some kind. We hung out with them, played some basketball with them, and gave them a break from their routine,” recalls Peterson. At the end of each day, coaches met with the team members and discussed what they had seen and done.
As is usually the case with trips like this, the work made more of an impact on the kids who went than it did on those to whom they ministered. “We put smiles on the faces of the kids we visited, but we also saw a tremendous impact on our players,” says Peterson. Several of the players made decisions to follow Christ, and others re-dedicated their lives. “They saw that they need to be more mindful of what they use and what they waste. It also showed them that they can make a difference anywhere. The important thing is to give people time and let them know you care. Several of our players said they were going to get more involved volunteering when they got back home.”
And what about the soccer they played in Jamaica? “We competed well with the kids down there. We won our first game, tied another game, and lost two games. In our last game, we played a team from a local school. They had been playing together for a long time and had several Jamaican national players. They put it on us pretty good. It was an eye-opener, but we played well. It showed the kids that they can train more and get even better. It was a great experience,” says Peterson.
Moving forward, SSA South Georgia would like to take more mission trips like the one in July. There are plenty of opportunities abroad for both ministry and soccer; the biggest issue is, of course, funding. “Cost is always a factor. We’re trying to raise money so we can take some kids who otherwise wouldn’t have an opportunity to go. We’d like for this to be an annual trip. Soccer is great, and we want to train kids to play at a high level, but very few can make their living playing soccer. But anyone can make a difference in the lives of others,” says Peterson.
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Overall, the SSA South Georgia board is pleased with the impact the club is making in the lives of area youth. Not everyone who plays is a believer, and the coaches realize and respect that. At the same time, the club is unapologetically Christian-based, and that influence is never far away. “Everyone has the right to believe what they want. It’s our job to bring the message to them and let them decide. Our goal is to use soccer as an avenue to reach kids and let them know they can play at a high level and do it the right way; that faith strengthens the way you play. We’re going to try to win, but we’re going to do it the right way. The program has been absolutely successful,” says Peterson.
Special Feature/South Georgia/March 2016
Southern Soccer Academy Mission Trip
Cairo, Georgia
Robert Preston Jr.
Soccer Academy Uses Sports to Reach Kids at Home and Abroad
