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Boots for Xolani and Eswatini

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xolani from eswatini

Soccer Chaplains United, is is pleased to support another project and team headed to eSwatini. eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland was renamed by the king in honor of the 50th anniversary of gaining independence.

Headed to eSwatini is a team from Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs in coordination with Beyond Survival.  The team will feature Soccer Chaplains United’s own, Cory Jones, who serves as a community coordinator in the Colorado Springs area.

Development of key relationships has been happening for the last number of years and Cory and the team from Colorado Springs have a good relationship with Xolani Moyo, who started a sports ministry that has now blossomed into a few teams.  The motto is “Sport.  Faith.  Future.” noting that soccer is an avenue to reaching souls and providing hope and a future.  Xolani now leads a team of soccer coaches and sports ministry personnel.

Xolani and his sports ministry

This year, Xolani has specifically requested soccer cleats (boots, as they are known around the world) to outfit one of his teams. His initial request asked for 10 pairs, stating that two teams could share the shoes. Xolani continues to grow his soccer ministry within Eswatini and is continuing to work at having players in his program be able to play for a semi-pro league and potentially connect one of his teams to them. 

His love for the game and seeing lives changed through soccer is evident

Cory Jones, Soccer Chaplains United Community Coordinator

When you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Timothy Project in Eswatini Three Years In A Row!

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The Timothy Project, through Soccer Chaplains United, is returning to the Kingdom of eSwatini for the third year in a row!  Never heard of eSwatini?  That’s because up until April 2018, the country was named Swaziland.  (The king renamed the country in honor of the 50th anniversary of gaining independence.)  Despite eSwatini being only the size of New Jersey, and almost literally halfway around the word, the Timothy Project has been connected in 2016,  2017, and now again in 2018!

Adventures in Missions Sports Ministry team

I will be going to eSwatini with a team from Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs in coordination with Beyond Survival.  Once again, we will be working with Adventures in Missions on the ground in eSwatini.  Adventures in Missions serves 30+ care points and 6,000+ children on a daily basis.

Beyond Survival has been forming relationships in eSwatini for 12 years now, and I have been able to be part of the team for the past 4 years.  I have been especially privileged to form a relationship with Xolani Moyo, who started a sports ministry that has now blossomed into a few teams.  The motto is “Sport.  Faith.  Future.” noting that soccer is an avenue to reaching souls and providing hope and a future.  Xolani now leads a team of soccer coaches and sports ministry personnel.

Prior to this trip, Xolani indicated there was an amazing opportunity for one of his U20 teams.  According to eSwatini Premier League soccer regulations, each Premier League team should have an U20 team in the junior league.  However, one of the newly promoted teams doesn’t have such a team.  Xolani is currently negotiating for his U20 team to participate in the junior league, connected to the Premier league team.  Xolani states there is a “high chance this will be successful,” however asked for prayer for a successful negotiation.

New gear for Xolani’s sports ministry

Through the Timothy Project, Soccer Chaplains United was able to provide approximately 40 pounds of gear, consisting of new cleats, jerseys, balls, and cones.  According to Director Brad Kenney, this was the first time Timothy Project had provided a full set of new gear.

To support Timothy Project: Mountain Springs Church/Beyond Survival trip to eSwatini, or future Timothy Project ventures like this, please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to.  Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor an individual or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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Liyana and Soccer Chaplains United

This week at the Denver Film Festival, in its 40th anniversary, local Colorado filmmakers Aaron and Amanda Kopp co-produced and directed film Liyana is being played and has a special connection to Soccer Chaplains United.

In 2016, Tim Rogers made a special Timothy Project request as he and his fiancé, Tiersa planned to honeymoon in Swaziland. Tiersa had worked at an orphanage in Swaziland and the plan was to take down soccer gear for the children of the orphanage and run some soccer camps. You can read the story on our former website by clicking here.

That same orphanage is where the story of Liyana is born.

*Liyana is a Swazi girl who embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her young twin brothers. This animated African tale is born in the imaginations of five orphaned children in Swaziland who collaborate to tell a story of perseverance drawn from their darkest memories and brightest dreams. Their fictional character’s journey is interwoven with poetic and observational documentary scenes to create a genre-defying celebration of collective storytelling.

(*from the film’s website)

If you have a chance to see the film, you will get a deeper understanding of the children and their lives that are touched through projects and programs like Soccer Chaplains United’s Timothy Project.

Thank you for your support of the Timothy Project — you help make a difference in the lives of children around the world!

To support future Timothy Project ventures please donate through PushPay — simply select Timothy Project from the selectable funds to contribute to. Your financial gift helps us purchase new equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017 Final Update

CrossTraining Timothy Project

CrossTraining’s Timothy Project: The Mountain Springs Church team that traveled to Swaziland this month delivered support and encouragement to Coach Xolani Moyo and his soccer players in more ways than one.

This  Timothy Project post is best told in pictures and thoughts shared by the team themselves.

“Xolani has a clear passion and vision for his sports ministry, Adventures in Missions.  His excitement is contagious.  Having the equipment (Timothy Project donations), especially the balls and jerseys, allowed him to better lead young men, and I can clearly see how the equipment allows Xolani’s sports ministry to be even more effective in changing the lives of young men in Swaziland.” shares one team member.

“Xolani’s sports ministry is establishing pride and leading young men in Swaziland, and the donation of sports equipment from The Timothy Project assisted Xolani with his mission.” says another team member.

Jones lead the team’s devotions for the day. He said, “During the practice, I was able to share from Romans 13:14, encouraging the young men to “Clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…”  As the jerseys set them apart from the other team on the pitch, Jesus should set us apart from the world on AND off the pitch.”

Rick Clapp, founder and director of Beyond Survival, said as they came toward the end of the trip “Our hearts are full and heavy at the same time.  We are exhausted, yet refreshed.  We are poured out, yet overflowing.”

To support future Timothy Project ventures, such as Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017, please use the Donate Now link to make a secure PayPal donation. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

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Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017

CrossTraining Timothy Project

CrossTraining’s Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017 is building bridges near and far.  Launching out of Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado Cory Jones and his team will travel to Swaziland with Beyond Survival and partner in Africa with Xolani Moyo and the sports ministry Adventures in Missions.

Swaziland is a small, predominantly rural, landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017Mozambique, about the size of New Jersey. Unemployment sits at 40 percent, about 69 percent of the population live below poverty level, and it has the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. More than 28 percent of adults have the disease, and countless numbers of children live with the disease every day.

Mountain Springs Church and Beyond Survival are both local Colorado Springs organizations. Beyond Survival has a mission to bring people of Swaziland to a place where they are living “beyond survival.”  While on the ground in Africa, Jones and his team will partner with many local missions, including Adventures In Missions.  A few years ago a Swazi by the name of Xolani Moyo launched a sports ministry to reach local youth.  His passion is to bring children together through the avenue of sport (mainly soccer) and provide them with an outlet, a purpose, and the message of faith in Jesus, ultimately promoting the hope of a better future for themselves, their family, and their country. The basic model is: sport – faith – future.

                                                                   

Over the past two years, we have played with countless orphans and vulnerable children at children’s homes. We’ve led one-day Vacation Bible Schools around the country (complete with story, acting, songs, games, and crafts), and performed leadership training at leadership academies training Swazi young adults. Teaching them to thrive and be examples in their communities. Jones shares,

One of the things I enjoy about this mission trip is that we are there to invest in the lives of the Swazi people, not to provide handouts. I believe sport is one of the universal languages. I speak about three words of the local language, SiSwati, but I can pick up a soccer ball and play with children and we instantly have a connection, despite the language barrier. But imagine this… if I hand a Swazi kid a new soccer ball and even stick around to play for an hour or so, I may have earned his trust and respect.  But then I leave, with no guarantee we’ll see each other again – ever. On the other hand, if Xolani hands a Swazi kid a new soccer ball, stays and plays, then returns the next day or next week to do the same, then again the following week, a relationship is formed. This relationship, combined with the opportunity to share the Gospel, can change the course of lives. This method provides far greater impact than I ever could!

This Timothy Project donation will support ongoing community efforts all over Swaziland where Moyo is spending time with kids; doing what they love already; being a role model; and teaching teamwork, fairness, and other life lessons. Ultimately, this is an investment in the spreading of the Gospel through sport, contributing to the future of Swaziland.

To support future Timothy Project ventures, such as Timothy Project: Swaziland 2017, please use the Donate Now link to make a secure PayPal donation. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

 

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final Update

The Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final Update is finally here! Read below to see how Tim and Tiersa Rogers ministered to New Life Homes and utilized their Timothy Project request and the sport of soccer to touch the lives of the orphaned children.

After our wedding we traveled 18 hours from Seattle to Dubai and then another 8 hours to Durban, South Africa. After two months of craziness with our wedding and buying a home it was great to have a few days to slow down in Durban.

Life in Africa is not as smooth as in America. It was the winter season and our Saturday bus to Swaziland became a very small SUV on Monday. We were crammed with seven bags for 5 hours on our drive from Durban to Swaziland. We were fortunate to have no issues with our bags at customs and connected with our host and missionary friend once in Swaziland.  We then had another two hour drive to “The Farm.”

swaziland-2016-photo-14Under a dark sky with stars glistening we rolled into the New Life Homes property around 10pm on Monday night to smiling faces peering through little windows at the top of Orphan House #1.

New Life Homes is a facility for orphaned and abandoned children living in Swaziland.  On the New Life Homes property there is a working farm and a school for the children. There are 40 orphans living in four houses with a host mom that takes care of the children. The farm sells produce, chickens, eggs and many other products to the community and uses those funds to help support 80 percent of the needs of the school and orphans living there.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final UpdateWe ended up spending five days ministering to the 40 orphans and another 40 children that come to the school from the local community. During the days Tiersa read stories to the children and helped in the classrooms. She reconnected with the teachers she trained and many of her former students.

The school has preschool through grade 7 and some of the children at New Life Homes also go to the local high school. During free time children are constantly playing soccer, even in their school uniforms. Rocks for goals and balls half flat don’t stop them from playing.

The older boys trade times with the girls so they can use the playground space for soccer. I asked why and was told by one of the teachers that the boys didn’t want to play with the girls because some of the kids from the community would tease the boys.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final UpdateWe used the afternoons to do soccer clinics. Tuesday we distributed the soccer kits. Wed-Friday we held two separate clinics each day. One clinic for ages 5-10 and the other for ages 10-16. Each clinic consisted of a small video from Athletes in Action provided by CrossTraining.  We then had the children work on their skills and we played games.

The older children played each day a small actual game after our clinic on the dirt field on the edge of The Farm. Saturday, we held an official game. Team Rapids took on Team TC United as these were the only kits we had that worked for each team.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final UpdateI was surprised at the skills of both the boys and the girls. Technically, I tried to do some instruction as it was obvious that they have not received direct coaching on specific skills. One of the neatest things was seeing the kids wearing the gear around the farm during the free time. It was like they were royalty. Some of the little ones didn’t have socks but had their boots on and their jerseys and wore them like they were going to a wedding.

Overall we felt our time was encouraging to the workers and children at New Life Homes. The balls, boots and equipment were cherished. Tommy, our host missionary, commented that just us visiting, spending time playing soccer, reading a story, or showing a movie with popcorn is just so special to each of the children. It really lifted everyone’s spirits.

It was difficult to leave those precious faces. We are continuing to support the school and mission of New Life homes and we can’t wait to go back.Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Final Update

To see additional photos check out our FaceBook Page.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Equipment Fulfillment

Boots (Cleats) 20 (Size 7-­12)

Jersey’s 50

10 One World Play Balls

If you would like to make a contribution to future projects like this please note (Timothy Project) in your donation or use the Donate Now link to make a secure PayPal donation. Your financial gift will help provide additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016

CrossTraining Timothy Project

From all the way in typically, rain-soaked Seattle, Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 looks to the dry, landlocked country in southern Africa. Surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland is the only remaining monarchy in Africa. With nearly 1.3 million people, it has the highest rate of HIV per capita in Africa causing an abundance of orphans and destitute children. There is an urgent need to rescue, protect, and empower these children!

New Life Homes (NLH) is an organization caring for these orphans. They currently minister to 40 children from the ages of two years old up to their early twenties on the New Life Homes Farm found in the Shiselweni region in rural Swaziland. The two core values of NLH are to provide quality, restorative care for the children in their care (as opposed to trying to have high numbers of children) and to pursue economic self-reliance through the farm’s productivity. The NLH Farm offers lots of food-security and life-skills to those who live and work and grow up there. A strong work ethic, agricultural knowledge and skills, income earning opportunities are all part of the work to develop well-­adjusted, self­-reliant young people who are properly adapted to their culture, ready and eager to join the community as responsible adults.

New Life Homes is also a Christian organization with a strong commitment to bringing these children up with the knowledge of a heavenly Father who loves them dearly. They are encouraged to read their Bibles, memorize scripture, and have a relationship with Jesus, knowing his great love for them and all that has been accomplished for them on the cross.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 will feature a five-day soccer camp and possible tournament to support, and assist NLH through soccer to enrich, encourage and explore new and deeper relationships with the Swaziland orphans and the surrounding community. This one week trip (August 7, 2016 to August 14, 2016) will concentrate on five soccer clinics connecting soccer skills with Christian character traits with an aim to explore future community projects and further NLH support teams.

The Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Team

Tiersa-profileTiersa Chaffin spent three years at NLH teaching and directing the preschool at the Farm. She continues to support orphan sponsorship as part of the NLH team in America and is part of the launch team for the feature­ length documentary film LIYANA. This film, shot at New Life Homes, follows a group of Swaziland children through a live and animated cinematography with the goal of celebrating the transformative power of children and their stories.

tim rogers and brian davis

Rogers poses with former teammate Brian Davis outside of Moody Bible Institute’s famous arch. Davis also reached to the Timothy Project for his work in Senegal.

Tiersa’s fiancé, Tim Rogers is a technology teacher from Olympia, WA. He currently coaches youth soccer and is a member of the media game day staff with the Seattle Sounders. He was a 2nd Team All-American defender at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL where he was part of the 2004 NCCAA Div 2 National Champion team. He ministered in Athens, Greece from 2002­-2005 working with outreach at the Olympic Games and supporting technology projects, youth outreach and refugee ministry . He has been involved in soccer ministry in Wales, Scotland, England, Greece and America.

Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016 Equipment Request

Boots (Cleats) 40­-50 (Size 7-­12)

Jersey’s 40-­50

5 Higher-Power Soccer Balls ­

15 Regular Soccer Balls

10 ­ Leak-stop kits

If you would like to make a contribution to this project please note (Timothy Project: Swaziland 2016) in your donation or use the Donate Now link to make a secure PayPal donation. Your financial gift helps to secure additional equipment, sponsor a missionary or organization in an outreach effort, and to cover associated costs of providing bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

#TPT

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