Tag Archive for: Mountain Springs Church

You are here: / Mountain Springs Church

Posts

Boots for Xolani and Eswatini

,
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!

,

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!

###

Colorado Springs Has A Community Coordinator

I have learned in this ministry work, that sometimes as you go along, you pick up people interested in what you do. Sometimes they want to financially give, other times they want to get involved and that’s exactly how we came across our new Community Coordinator for Colorado Springs, Cory Jones.

Cory was part of a team that made a request of our Timothy Project. He and team members from  Mountain Springs Church and Beyond Survival, made their way to Swaziland with several bags of soccer gear. What followed was a pricking of his heart as he asked, what more can be done?

I enjoy the very idea that I can support Soccer Chaplains United as they support local mission trips with equipment that will bless people and spread the Gospel.

Boys sport Colorado Rapids jerseys as part of the Timothy Project fulfillment in 2017

Cory, along with Pastor Rick Clapp and Beyond Survival, spent a couple of weeks serving and ministering in Swaziland. The donated gear went to help a local coach who runs a sports ministry. When Cory returned from Swaziland, it was a conversation with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Chaplain Kurt Trempert and another church leader that spurred Cory on to exploring, “What if,…” with Soccer Chaplains United. A few meetings later, steps taken to replicate the Community Coordinator and Timothy Project for the Colorado Springs area, and Soccer Chaplains United has grown another part of its ministry. Cory shared some of his own heart and desire for moving forward with Soccer Chaplains United,

As the organization grows, I look forward to working with local churches and business to garner support and look for way to support them moving forward.

Cory will serve in the Colorado Springs area to liaise and facilitate requests and gear donations. In addition to coordinating with the Denver-area Coordinator Erin Burmeister, Cory will help develop relationships with local church and soccer entities in the Springs area to help steward and hand off gear through the Timothy Project as well as developing other emerging community initiatives with the Chaplain Trempert.

As the Director of Soccer Chaplains United, it’s exciting to see growth in this area — it’s a natural outworking of our serving a local professional team and seeing the chaplaincy and care ministry grow and effect a local community.

You can read more about Cory Jones on his bio page.

If you are in the Colorado Springs area and want to become more involved with Soccer Chaplains United and our work there we are always looking for more financial and church partners to help continue to support the work and ministry. Please reach out to us at info@soccerchaplainsunited.org.

Timothy Project: Year To Date Project Award Recipients In Pictures

CrossTraining Timothy Project

Timothy Project: Year To Date Project Award Recipients Summary In Pictures.

This summation in photographs are of the project award recipients and the gear they were able to take with them. In these photographs you’ll see a few of those to whom the gear was donated, you’ll see some pictures of the gospel going forth, you’ll see the gift of playing a sport that has no language barrier so both the gringo and the native play together and you’ll see bridges being built.

Thus far in 2017 CrossTraining’s Timothy Project has partnered with seven different teams who have crossed outside of USA and into countries all over the world.  These teams consist of teenagers, coaches, some curious sojourners, some seasoned travelers and some novice.  Some are athletes who love the sport and some not so much.  But all of them have gratefully taken the gear donated by the Rapids organization and lovingly and carefully redistributed it to those who will probably never get to see a Rapids game played.

 

Valor Christian High School – Costa Rica

Liberian Institute for Empowerment

Colorado Springs Christian Schools with Inca Link

Valor Christian High School – Kenya

Mountain Springs Church & Beyond Survival – Swaziland

Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church – Uganda

Nuevo Tantoan, Mexico – Los Burritos

This is a series of photographs showing soccer gear donations, locations, and organizations but the stories behind all of it are why the Timothy Project continues.  There is a greater purpose of just moving donations from storage boxes to the world, out of America and into the world and that is why the Timothy Project exists.  Join us, will you?

To support future Timothy Project ventures, please use the Donate button 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

Save

Save

Save

Timothy Project: Year To Date Project Award Recipients 2017 – an editorial

CrossTraining Timothy Project

Timothy Project: Year To Date Project Award Recipients Summary 2017 – an editorial.

I joined the CrossTraining team February 1 with little knowledge of the professional soccer industry.  While soccer filled large amounts of my weekly schedule, it was barely a hint at the caliber of Major League Soccer.  My soccer experiences included sitting in comfy folding chairs on the sidelines while visiting with other soccer moms, growing relationships and evaluating how our sons were progressing through the season.

I had gleaned insights and perspectives from Chaplain Brad Kenney over time as he shared about CrossTraining, the Rapids and his passion for chaplaincy.  Those gleanings did not leave me star struck with famous players or a Rapids super-fan but instead moved my heart toward the undercurrents of CrossTraining’s purpose.  I was enthralled with the mission of CrossTraining.  My teen years provided large amounts of exposure and involvement with professional athletes through my father’s business.  But the angles are different, then it was business, financial; here it is empathy, support, love.  Both focused on the individual player but for different purposes.

I was asked to join as the Timothy Project Coordinator.  The Timothy Project is the piece of CrossTraining that takes the ‘stuff’ of the MLS and spreads it throughout the world as gifts of blessings.  Since February I have had the joy of watching immense amounts of soccer gear move from CrossTraining headquarters to far corners of our world.

Thus far in 2017 CrossTraining’s Timothy Project has partnered with seven different teams who have crossed outside of USA and into countries all over the world.  These teams consist of teenagers, coaches, some curious sojourners, some seasoned travelers and some novice.  Some are athletes who love the sport and some not so much.  But all of them have gratefully taken the gear donated by the Rapids organization and lovingly and carefully redistributed it to those who will probably never get to see a Rapids game played.

This is a summation of the project award recipients and the gear they were able to take with them.

This is a list of soccer gear, locations, and organizations but the stories behind all of it are why the Timothy Project continues.  There is a greater purpose of just moving donations from storage boxes to the world, out of America and into the world and that is why the Timothy Project exists.  Join us, will you?

To support future Timothy Project ventures, please use the Donate button 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

Save

Save

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

Save

Save

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

 

Community Projects

Contact Us

Chaplain Login

Privacy Policy

© 2024 Soccer Chaplains United

Donate via PushPay or Every.org.