"TLC" For A Million

Help Support Kenya

2010-04-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hello again from Africa!

2010-04-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

This has certainly been an adventurous trip, and it is almost over. The only thing I have left to do is fly back to the States, so in two days I should be arriving back in Colorado. I want to thank all of you for your prayers, because God really blessed in every place I was able to go.

Malawi and Tanzania turned out to be great trips as well. In Malawi, I was able to meet up with my church contact in the States from a church in LA, and it looks like they are going to try very hard to put together a team to go back with me in late August to do two trainings, one in Lilongwe at African Bible College, and another at a place that will be decided by the head of Sports Outreach Malawi (SOM), who have been doing ministry around Lilongwe and one other city in Malawi for the past six years. They are excited to partner with us to learn more about how to use evangelism as the main focus of a sports camp, and they also have the same vision as us when it comes to working through the local church and training leaders, so that was very exciting to see God start that partnership.

In Tanzania, I was able to meet some great people. Many of you know that I had some doubts as far as to the people I was going to meet, because while I knew I would be meeting some good people, up until two days before I arrived I was not planning on meeting anyone who had contact with the church we want to do the training with in the States, so I was a little discouraged. I called Tim Conrad (president of UW), and he was able to send me some contacts from the church, and it ended up working out great. The leaders that I met are not only excited about starting sports ministry, but they are both leaders in their different denominations, and will be able to help in getting leaders from all over the country to come to the trainings. We are hoping to take a team back from the church in the States, located in Tampa, and that trip will probably happen in September.

God has been good, and because of that this fall I have three trips lined up out of these three countries. I love having successful trips, because it is not only encouraging to me, but a confirmation that God has a hand in what is happening with this ministry. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

God Bless,

Ryan Van Hoven

Live from Africa!

2010-04-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Jambo everyone! I hope God is blessing you as much as He is blessing my journey here in Africa. He has been so good, and I look forward to seeing how He is going to work on the rest of my trip.

So far some amazing things have happened during the Kenya portion of this trip. I am just wrapping up the first 3 weeks, and all of it was spent here in Kenya. The first update I sent was about how God worked in Nairobi, and these last two weeks God has had me moving around all over Kenya. I was picked up by a pastor that I had connection with named Charles Mwanda, and he had been telling me he had some meetings planned. I was tentatively excited, not really sure if he was just talking about all these meetings to get me to come, or if he really had them planned. Well, God certainly showed His faithfulness, and Pastor Mwanda was certainly not joking about all those meetings. He told me we would be meeting with over 200 pastors in those two weeks in different towns of Kenya, and here is the rundown of the last two weeks.

In each place I spent at least one day, and the total numbers of my trip in Kenya are as follows: I had 14 meetings in 5 different provinces (there are eight total in Kenya), with 366 leaders of churches all over these provinces who traveled to the meetings, and there were over 125 churches represented by these leaders! God truly is faithful, and what an apportunity to see how many people in Kenya are interested in sports ministry. Pastor Charles is going to head up our efforts to bring sports evangelism here in Kenya, and he is extremely excited to see how God will use this tool of sports for evangelism here in Kenya. His goal is by the end of next year to have over 1,000 churches in Kenya using sports outreach. At first that seems like an unattainable goal, until he told me that now that we have traveled to all these different provinces, when we come back in August to do a training we can expect to have over 500 leaders come to be trained between the two meetings we are going to have in Nairobi and Mombasa! That means that the goal that UW Sports Ministry has for Kenya will be reached in our very first training. Obviously God has a bigger plan in mind, and I am just thankful that He is allowing me to have a part in it.

I finish up my trip by spending a week in Malawi and then a week in Tanzania. Please continue to keep these countries in your prayers, as only God knows how it will be received in these areas. I have been very encouraged by the Kenya portion of this trip, and instead of being tired I am extremely energized to see how this same tool can be used in these areas as well. The trip so far has been busy, but God has provided a day or two of rest just when I have needed it, and that is truly a blessing.

I thank all of you for your continued prayers, and may God bless you and your families as He has blessed me here in Eastern Africa.

Your brother in Christ, Ryan Van Hoven

Article from Athletes in Action about UW's International team trip to Holland

2010-02-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Mini Project in Groningen

From Wednesday 10 to Friday, February 12 has a special mini project in the District Korreweg place in Groningen. It has worked with staff from other organizations in America sportministry (Uncharted Waters) and Egypt (Egypt AIA, Youth for Christ). We have during the project the way the American organization Uncharted Waters (UW) used. They organize sports camps for children at the request of churches. That way we could see how both organizations work and what we can learn from each other.

The Great Comeback

After a constructive and inspiring leader we have a joint training event where we had learned much from each other. UW was especially impressed by the focus on equipment and supervision of the team leaders and churches within the AIA, as the worship leader during the Event. AIA has especially learned a lot from the fact that UW is working with themes, much more rigid structure persists and gives sportclinics. On Wednesday we have worked with Jan Waanders, district evangelist, the project promoted and afternoon workout in the gym. There were more children than expected! The first two days we have had around 20-30 children, both afternoon and evening. We went with them nice football, basketball and dance. Above all we could tell them about our God! Using the umbrella theme "The Great Comeback" every day there were two key issues discussed. These key issues were also linked to weather conditions in sports, so the children while the sports items can be remembered. Some children had to get used to the new format during exercise. There was far more Bible-time coach and then they were used. Even when things ended, was the first time some of the sports removed. Because, they said from Uncharted Waters: "We love sports, but we love Jesus more!"

The last day we had as many as 50 children, a pleasant and blessed so busy! On Thursday and Friday we called the children to Jesus in their hearts to adopt, where a few excited children shouted that they "already had done"! Nice to see God with the children at work, but also good for them to pray that they actually change and start living for God! Both our foreign guests and participants of AIA can look back on an enthusiastic and inspiring educational week.

Good News Goodie Bags

2010-01-27T12:48:00.001-08:00

Over the course of the last several weeks we have seen an amazing compassionate heart for Haiti from numerous people and nations! In our own efforts to meet physical needs in Haiti we will be seeking donations to build 300+ goodie bags. Each bag will contain items such as: washcloth, toothbrush/paste, bar soap, hand wipes, French NT bibles, granola bars, and a small toy ball.

We will begin seeking these donations immediately from local resources. Once items are received UW will be assembling and preparing them for Julia's March trip to Haiti.

The International team (Nate, Ryan, Louie, Julia and Tim C.) are preparing for two weeks in Holland with Athletes in Action. The trip will be a time for mutal ministry as the UW team will participate in an AIA training with European Sports Ministry staff and then have the opportunity to share UW's vision and strategy for Sports Outreach Ministry. Please pray that the trip will be productive and that the Lord will open many doors for both ministry across the world!

A light in the Dark

2010-01-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

The events in Haiti the past few days have been very difficult to stand by and watch. UW was fortuante to make many connections with Haiti during this past year, including sending our intern team last summer. This year two training trips have been planned for the summer along with our intern trip. I (Julia) waited very anxiously to hear news from the many friends I have made in Haiti this last year. So far most are safe but the tragic stories that come forth as they have time to relate via email/blog are heartwrenching.
This was blogged this morning by a lady that helps run the Northwest Haiti Mission in Port-de-Paix, an area in the northern part of the country. They all felt the quake but now many are dealing with the waiting, as practically every family has relatives in Port-au-Prince. Reading this can help you know how to pray for the Haitian people in this time.

Castillo Family: We started the morning off at 5am while everyone ran outside of their homes and onto the streets. Why? Because rumors spread that another quake was coming. Frantically people ran out and waited....for nothing.

I'm sure you watched the report on CNN a few days ago where gangs yelled that there was a Tsunami coming and 1000's took to the street running as fast as they could - with panic and terror.

And for what? Let's scare them so they run and leave what little belongs they had left. So - now the gangs can just steal all the things left behind. Was today the same thing? Did the rumor come to go out of the homes so that robbers could break in? What un ugly tragedy on top of the worst tragedy Haiti has ever seen.

There are Voodoo Priests here telling the people - you see - you see what your "God" has done for you? He has done nothing. He has taken your families.....He has forsaken you.

I gave a talk to the Haitian staff this morning because I had to share with them truth. Most of them wearing black clothes - ready to mourn any news they might receive - maybe just 15 who've actually heard anything.

I said today you ran out in darkness - afraid for your life. And again and again we find ourselves surrounded by darkness. Today I bring you Light.....because darkness cannot hide from the Light. How many times must God shake us before we realize that this earth is not our home? I don't know why this happened just like I don't understand many things that happen here on earth....but I know that I have a better place waiting for me.

We must mourn the tragedy and our hearts must break. But for those who know Christ - they ran into the gates of Heaven the moment it happened. The schools full of children were at their desks and within an instant they were at the feet of Jesus. If you had the choice of Haiti or Heaven which do you choose? And if you have family that survived and still don't know Jesus - you better show them who He is because we do not control what happens today.

I heard the reports that this is the end of the world and voodoo priests talking bad about God. (They all shook their heads yes). So they said if our God was a real God this wouldn't have happened? Is the same not true for them? Well then why didn't their Satan stop it? (They never thought about that.)

I may not understand the things that happen but I know enough not to believe in the lies of darkness. That's the thing I hate about voodoo....because it's all lies and such clever mind games.

Welcoming the New Year

2010-01-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

UW's International ministry is excited about the growth and progess that has been made in the last year. Already this ministry year (which begins for us in September) has seen many changes and enhancements to the way we are approaching our vision. Between now and Sept '10 we have a number of Churches partnering with us. So far Sports Outreach trainings are scheduled to take place in: Haiti, Cuba, South Africa, Mexico, El Salvador, and the United Kingdom. Visit our main website uwsportsministry.org for more information on all the happenings at UW Sports Minsitry! God Bless you in this new year. May we serve him more fervently this year than ever before.

Julia Cruz
Int'l Church Trainer

“MY SMALL REQUEST, GOD’S ANSWER”

2009-12-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Just recently I (Molly) have been in the process of raising $40,000 to allow us to do the set-up work to take our outreach sports camp training to 12 new countries in the next 12 months. I started praying that God would give me the courage to ask folks to give toward this and that He would provide the money.
The day I set out to do this, the first check of $1,000.00 arrived from a gentleman that was on my list to call to see if he would repeat his gift from last year. I called him right away and told him how God had used him as an encouragement to me that if I was faithful to ask He would provide the money we needed. God sent this gift before I even had time to ask.
So, I kept praying and asking everyone I have met with this fall and God surprised me again. One of the couples who gave a gift of $5,000 last year sent in an amazing gift. I was trying to get a hold of them to ask about a repeat gift, but kept missing them, so I decided to just ask them to pray about a repeat gift towards the $40,000 we needed in a voice mail message on their answering machine. Not even a week later, I showed up at a staff meeting and our operations guy told a story of how a couple days before UW had hit a day where there was no more finances in for our “TLC” journey and they were deciding if we would have to postpone ministry in 2010 until more money came in..that very day a check arrived in the mail from this couple who I had just left a voice mail message. Not only did they repeat their gift, they doubled it to $10,000 which was just the amount we needed to move forward for our next step of ministry.
I now have $29,000 of the $40,000 either in or pledged to come in by the end of 2009….I can’t wait to see how God is going to bring in the rest!!! Maybe He’ll even choose you to help??

“SCRAFICIAL GIVING PROVIDES MORE KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT CHRIST”

2009-12-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

God has provided funds in His timing and in some AMAZING ways over the past year which has allowed us to take outreach sports camp training to 8 of the 40 countries this past year. One of my all time favorite stories comes from a gift we received from one of our Children’s Ministry pastors.
As with many of our churches, I arrived to meet this particular Children’s Ministry person for a cup of coffee to tell her about UW’s amazing journey towards reaching a MILLION kids for Christ. I had never met her before, but right away our hearts connected as I told her how God was putting together an unbelievable set of miracles to allow UW to tell kids about Jesus worldwide. We had about an hour together and then I was off to meet with another church. When I returned home I sent her a thank-you note for sharing her time with me and allowing me to tell her about UW’s journey. In my note to her, I asked her to personally and prayerfully consider giving a gift of $1,000.00 towards helping us go to these 40 countries.

A couple of months passed……………………..and one day out of the blue a check for $1,000.00 arrived with this story. She said I almost laughed when you asked in your thank-you to have me consider giving a gift of $1,000.00, not because I wouldn’t want to, but because at the time I wasn’t even sure how I was going to pay my own bills. My husband had been unemployed for the past several months and still had no job and we didn’t know how we could even pay what we owed. But, when I heard your story of how God wanted to reach those MILLION kids for Christ worldwide and you asked me to pray about the $1,000.00 gift, that’s just what I did I started praying and it changed my life.

Soon after, I began asking God to allow me to give you the $1,000.00. Money came in to pay our bills, and when I kept praying, the next week exactly $1,000.00 extra showed up in a surprise gift. I knew right away this was the money I had asked God for so I could send it to you. I hesitated a moment knowing that more bills would be coming for us and we still didn’t know where that money was coming from and then I thought NO, I asked God for this money so I could give it away and if I kept it, it would be like keeping manna. So I’m sending it to you, knowing this is where God wants it and knowing He is just as capable of looking after my husbands and my needs in another way.
I called her right away when I received this and told her that the reason God allowed her to have the $1,000.00 was that He knew that she would trust Him enough to give it away even when she didn’t know how her next bills would be taken care of.
Have you trusted God enough with your finances that you will allow Him to use you to give sacrificially to His work, knowing He is the one who is your provider?? I hope you do, it will change your life and you will never be the same!

"Amazing Love"

2009-12-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Last summer our camp songs were a big hit everywhere, as they normally are! When the team did camp in Haiti they quickly discovered that the song "Amazing Love" was quite the hit with the kids. The motions were fun and the words were simple for them to remember...Amazing Love Amazing Love I can't get enough of your Amazing love...over and over the kids sang those words throughout the week. That week at Double Harvest Ministry in Croix-de-Bouquets 70 kids gave their hearts to Christ.
Flash forward to November 15, 2009. I (Julia) was spending the last afternoon of an amazing week in Haiti. The last several days there I had the opportunity to go with another team there that was doing some door-to door evangelism in the surrounding villages. I saw so many children that had attended camp, man were they surprised to see me walking up to their doorstep, what a joy it was to see the smiles on their faces! As we were preparing to go out wednesday afternoon I was continually debating whether or not to go becuase I had to leave at 3 for the airport and the team was going out from 12:30 to 2. I simply could not pass on the chance to visit this particular village however. This village was the notorious Vodoo village in the area. I knew that a young girl name Shylnn lived there whom I had not seen yet and this was my last change to find her. Her family was heavy into Vodoo but at camp this past summer she was one of the 70 that accepted Christ and had sporatically visited church/sunday school since. I just wanted to see her and tell her again how imorportant that decision she had made was and encourage her.
So we split into four different teams to canvas this village. As we approach the second house on our route I looked up and there came my girl strolling around the corner, her face could barely contain her smile! We hugged and briefly talked through a translator. Within minutes there was a small mob of camp children, with Shylnn right in the middle holding my hand. As we continued our route through the village the children followed along singing Amazing Love over and over. What happened next was perhaps the coolest moment I have EVER had overseas.
Our small mob passed several houses then turned the corner through some shrubbery where two girls were sitting. I immediately recongnized the young girl sitting in the chair. Stephanie was older, maybe 14 or 15, but had hung around all during sports camp. She smiled at me and then one of the Haitians in my group asked her a question, he turned around and said to the three of us standing there "this young lady wants to ask Christ into her heart right now." I get goosebumps just writing it. They talked with her and said she undoubtly understood what she was doing and who God was. So right there, in the middle of the village surrounded by other children and our team, Stephanie prayed and accepted Christ into her heart. As we returned to the mission house I could barely contain the emotions and thoughts. How awesome that 4 months after sports camp was held that the message my team was able to present to these kids was still making an impact in the hearts of the children that heard. How awesome to walk through a vodoo village in the middle of Haiti and hear the words Amazing Love Amazing love I cant get enough of your amazing love....

God takes UW through closed doors

2009-10-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

Laos is a small communist country landlocked between Thailand and Vietnam. For about 80% of the 6.5 million people there Buddhism is more than a religion, its the driving force behind their way of life....
During a already planned trip to Thailand God opened the door for an unexpected visit to Laos. Ryan Van Hoven, our 1st International Church Trainer, had the opportunity to meet a Christian gentleman that runs a Soccer Compound in Laos. He is connected to the Underground Church and the association of pastors there. Upon hearing UW's desire to train international leaders worldwide in using sports as an outreach, he extended an invitation for Ryan to return to Laos.

In November 2008, Ryan did just that! He returned to train pastors and leaders in Laos how to use sports as an outreach. Twenty-three leaders came from as far as 13 hours away, just because they care so much about sharing Christ with their communities. If they are caught putting what they learned into use, they could be put in prison. Their driving force is sharing with the children of Laos the truth that Jesus loves them, and giving them a chance to have a personal relationship with Him. Just one more reminder that God is never stopped by the world's walls!

The First TLC Miracle

2009-10-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

In one miraculous step after another UW Sports Ministry has been on a GOD-SIZED journey whose mission is impacting the lives of all who are choosing to partake!
In a STEP of obedience and a LEAP of faith UW started it’s “TLC” mission in January 2008 aiming to reach a Million Children for Christ by 2013.
Miracles began immediately, starting with our first International Church training which took place in April of 2008 in GUATEMALA. Not knowing yet how our model of training was going to be implemented and not knowing where the funding was going to come from so quickly we decided to ask God to confirm going to Guatemala by providing the funding through the donation of one donor, who had previously given the original gift that had started the ministry 13 years earlier. When hearing the impact UW had already had for the past 12 summers, plus the door that had opened for UW to take outreach sports camp training to 40 countries worldwide, this gentleman wanted to be a part of launching this next phase of ministry and simply asked how much would be needed. Upon, hearing the amount of $10,000 he simply pulled out his checkbook and wrote the check to fund the Guatemala training. Just another confirmation that this was God’s journey, not ours.
**40 pastors, leaders and missionaries from 7 different cities in Guatemala attended that first training. They since have taken this back to their own towns and villages to run their own sports camps!**
“Our small Request…God’s Huge Desire!!!”

God continued early on to confirm our journey towards REACHING a MILLION children for CHRIST in a prayer time in Minnesota...

During a visit to one of our partnering churches in Minnesota, our President, Tim Conrad poked his head in to meet the senior pastor, whom he had never had the chance to meet. The pastor invited Tim and the Children’s Ministry Director in to pray with him.
The Pastor began to pray (without the pastor knowing the doors that had been opened to UW) and boldly asked God to use UW to reach 100,000 kids for Christ. Tim, knowing God was talking through this pastor, interrupted the prayer to say, IT’s A MILLION”……upon hearing the increase the pastor quickly responded, “TIMES TEN GOD, TIMES TEN!!!”

2009-10-28T12:50:00.001-07:00

There are many amazing stories to be told that we feel all those involved with UW need to know! Whether you are a summer intern, a contributor to TLC, a church member who has volunteered at summer sports camp, or you just enjoy hearing powerful stories about how the Lord is still working; we hope the stories to be shared here will be a very real reminder of how the Lord is actively at work among people today! Molly Starch is UW's Development Coordinator. She travels (lots!) around the US imparting the TLC vision to all who will listen. Her efforts to raise funds towards our international endeavors are vital in our mission to train 20,000 international Christian leaders by 2013 so that One Million children can hear the Gospel. Time and again Molly encounters first hand God Moments that are inspiring and serve as a real reminder that, despite the current economic climate, God is in control and miracles still happen! Many of the stories that will be shared in the near future will be from recent years and encounters that Molly has had, but that have gone unheard even to many immediately involved in UW. The main goal is to now convey these stories to you as they happen! For our staff here much encouragement is drawn from hearing how God is moving even in the midst of the day to day details. We hope to have many amazing stories to share and that you draw encouragement from them. If you have a story to share about how God has used UW to impact you we would love to hear from you. Just email your story to: julia@uwsportsministry.org.