Rio mission teams use sport to take Christ into communities
Rio mission teams use sport to take Christ into communities
18 August 2016
Lieutenant Juan Chirinos prays with four young boys during an outreach during the Niterói Corps KidsGames.
As Lieutenant Juan Chirinos prays with four young boys, it's another extraordinary day for the Rio 2016 mission teams, working to proclaim Christ during the Olympics.
International team members from 10 countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA) have partnered with 29 local team members to build relationships with children and families during the course of the games. These families often experience difficult living conditions in their communities and so the teams are demonstrating the love of Christ through both words and practical actions – all based around a shared love of sport.
Working out of Méier Corps/Education Centre, Bangu Corps and Niterói Corps the #SARio2016 Mission Team have been running sport and Olympic-themed craft activities and games for local children.
“The focus of #SARio2016 has always been to impact the local neighbourhood with the gospel and to make disciples for Christ using the tools of sport and play,” says Lieut-Colonel David Bowles (Sports Ministry Coordinator for Europe). “Our goals have been to connect with people living around the corps, build relationships and keep those relationships growing after the mission teams have left Rio de Janeiro.”
The general emphasis has been on neighbourhood children, who have no school during the 17 days of the Olympic Games. Teams have been going to local parks where they play soccer and simple games. “The kids come,” says Lieut-Colonel Bowles, “the contact is made, the language barrier is broken by a ball, relationships are started and the gospel is shared. The formula is simple and effective.”
Team members intentionally share personal stories of their relationship with Jesus, using sport as the connecting point. The colonel says the process is a fresh spin on proven Salvation Army culture – the open-air meeting.
The Rio 2016 mission teams have been working with local corps in several communities, including Niterói.
Niterói Corps is a very community-minded church, so the team has been involved in a variety of activities linked to programs already in operation, including ministry to sex workers, a community party and blanket distribution to people living on the street. Children’s activities were arranged in a favela about 20 minutes’ walk from the corps.
Lieutenant Juan Chirinos (Canada) was sitting with four boys during Bible time. He asked: “What sports do you love?” and chatted with them about why they love football so much. Juan explained to the boys: “God created sport so we could have fun and enjoy a healthy life. God loves us so much he would do anything to make us happy.” He then asked them: “Would you like this happiness from God?”
When they replied in the affirmative, Juan prayed with them and led them to Christ.
There have been many other meaningful contacts made. At Divinéa Education Centre, four men (electricians) who were passing joined in with a game of football and also listened to the gospel message given by team members from Norway and Switzerland. At São Gonçalo Corps, where there are only a few young people, the mission team took to the streets with drums, musical instruments and flags to invite children to come. About 20 arrived the next day for a “mini Olympics”.
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