Over the next couple of weeks we're going to be doing something special on the blog. Each day we'll have a short profile on each of the Ubuntu players so everyone can start getting to know the diverse group of young men that make up this team. Enjoy!
This is what I want for our Ubuntu players, for them to feel that they are Indivisible! It would totally make sense, because ubuntu means "interconnected" so we should NEVER be divided.
Last week, the Ubuntu boys played a friendly game against one of the more talented academy teams in Cape Town called Vasco da Gama. The boys played well, but lost. It was a good gauge of where we want to be as a team, but also reminded us that these boys have the talent and ability to compete with anybody. As most things are in life...it's a process for them as players and us as coaches.
Afterwards we set off to the local McDonalds and KFC to enjoy a meal before the big event. That big event was youth night at Hillsong church.
Killing some Big Mac Meals with milkshakes.
As the worship rang out from the front, it was amazing to watch the different reactions by the boys. Some looked around to see what the others thought. Some looked at all the girls. Some lifted their hands in worship. You could see that many already had a true love for worship and were not afraid to show it in public or in front of their friends and teammates. The message that night was "God has a plan for you". I was touched that before Ubuntu, some of these boys had never been told God loves them and has a plan for them to better their lives. Some of them listened intently as the message was shared. At the end, their was an invitation to come forward if you wanted to publicly declare your wish to follow Jesus as your savior. We had at least 7 boys come forward...maybe more (I was standing in the back, and couldn't see them all). WOW! How amazing is that!
Right up front for worship & teaching
Ubuntu's mission statement says..."To introduce the young men of Africa to Jesus and His transforming love through soccer and to inspire and equip them to be the most excellent men (of God) they can be". I saw this played out in a real way Friday night.
What a Great Night!!
Thanks,
Karl Ostrand
Karl is one of our coaches and is here working with All Nations. Previously, he coached at Omaha FC in Nebraska. You can find out more about his family and their ministry at karlandjulie.com
Here it is! I promised something big and we think this is huge news. We have our first, professionally done, promotional video for the Ubuntu Football Academy! We're sure you're going to be inspired. Please share it with everyone you know!
Often when Michael picks up our 4 Steenberg boys for practice- Chadley, Juan, Tauriq, and Joshua- he is listening to Hillsong music. They have become quite fond of it. After our match on Saturday they finally requested to go and hear this music live. So, Sunday night we took the 4 of them with us to Hillsong for the evening service. They were quite overwhelmed at the whole thing, but pretty excited. Some high school girls approached and gave them personal invites to youth on Friday night, so that definitely got them pumped!
The boys really love the song "Search My Heart" from the new Aftermath album. They always tell Michael to play #13. We went down front for worship and even during that, they kept looking at him and saying with their hands, "#13" as if to say, "Tell them to play that one." Them seem to think Michael has more power and authority than is actually true.
They enjoyed that part of the service, but now they were going to have to sit still for the announcements, offering, and message. I was nervous that they would get out their phones, which they did, but without being forced to they put them away. 3 of the 4 boys really seemed to dial in during the message, and I was constantly praying that they would hear something significant. At the end, during the invitation, Juan and Chadley went forward! Chadley's parents are Christians and his grandfather is a pastor, but I'm not sure if he has ever committed his life to Jesus for himself. I don't think Juan's family are true believers. After they go forward and say a prayer they are ushered out to get a new Bible as a gift from the church and get prayed for. Michael accompanied the boys and said that he could notice Juan wiping tears away as one of the youth leaders prayed for him. What an exciting moment!! I know it's only the beginning, but it's a huge start in the development of these boys spiritually.
After the service they got to meet Jon, the associate pastor who is a big soccer fan, and Rachel, the youth pastor. We took them out to dinner and then home for bed.
You know, people say, "You see church differently when you bring a new person or non-believer to church." That's definitely true, but try seeing it through the eyes of a 12-year-old Muslim boy from the 'hood. It was so interesting wondering how Tauriq was taking things in. He even asked me once during worship, "Why do you close your eyes?" It made me really think about why I do it. If you watched the video, you heard the words that these boys are coming in contact with. How significant that Tauriq is singing this before he even knows Jesus!!
It was such an exciting night and we look forward to many more interactions like this with all our players. God is on the move, even if they don't know it yet!
