More "ubuntu" happening

A few months back a friend in Raleigh named Eddie Rogosich sent me some info of some people doing sports ministry in the Cape Town area. I checked it out and set up to meet the guys when we arrived. A few weeks before we left for South Africa a foundation we are involved with, The Barnabas Way, wanted us to be in contact with some partners of the same group. And multiple people on this side have referenced this same group of people. Even found out that one of our Board members, Chuck Neder, is good friends with the guy who started the ISC.

So, finally, about a week ago, I met with John Yip who represents the ISC-International Sports Coalition. They are simply a body of like-minded people who believe in the power of sports to share the Gospel and transform lives. They train people to do sports ministry all over the world. They also prepare specific programs around major sporting events (i.e. World Cups and Olympics). So, they are particularly busy preparing for the 2010 World Cup here in South Africa.

One of the major things they are doing in preparation, and that they hope will sustain long after, is a whole life coaching curriculum called Ubabalo eAfrica. Whole life coaching basically means that within the context of a team you would also focus on the emotional, intellectual, social, environmental, physical, and spiritual parts of life. Since you already have that child’s attention, you should use it. They want to train the coaches and provide the resources for that to happen.

That’s where their partnership could be particularly beneficial to Ubuntu Sports Outreach. It sounds like a great curriculum for our coaches to use. We could then be one of their “hubs” who are going to find partner churches in our area. We would then connect the churches to the local schools as they provide coaching for their teams. This would connect churches to schools, sort of like the Adopt-a-school movement taking place in Raleigh, and put the onus on the churches to provide a youth program for their kids. We were always planning on connecting churches and schools, but this will make us even more intentional about it.

We’re really praying through this right now. The values of the ISC seem to be perfectly in line with ours’. Please join us in praying through this partnership. John Yip is now in the States training people about these programs, so pray for his travels and influence.

It’s neat to see how “ubuntu” is happening here. We are all interconnected, especially when we are passionate about seeing Jesus made famous in our world.

This Saturday I’m going to a local gathering of Sports Ministries that the ISC guys invited me to. Hopefully more “ubuntu” will happen there as I find out about the other programs happening here and meet others like me.

Thanks,
Casey

Article about our Start

The Raleigh News and Observer did an article about our move to Cape Town and the process of starting Ubuntu Sports Outreach. It's crazy! Check it out at this link: http://www.northraleighnews.com/columns/teri_saylor/story/1502.html

Been interesting...

We've had a good couple of weeks recently for Ubuntu.  We've met with lots of great people: Lyston Peebles of Cherokee Gives Back, Renae Newmiller @ Edenton St. UMC, spoke at Crossroads Fellowship on Sunday morning.  

One fun thing is that our equipment drive really kicked off with CASL this past weekend.  This week there was even mention of it in the News & Observer.  Here is the link to the article it was included in: http://www.newsobserver.com/257/story/113598.html. 

The only problem with collecting all this stuff to ship is that we have to get it over there!  That's not cheap!!  If you know anybody that does shipping or wants to contribute towards the shipping costs, send them our way.

Together,

Casey

Another great event...

Last week Millbrook hosted another GOAL event for us at the soccer game vs. Wakefield.  This time we raffled off the ipod nano that BEST BUY donated to us.  Our buddy, Kyle LaCivita ended up winning!  He's the younger brother of Spencer LaCivita, the goalie for Millbrook, whom I train.
This was just another great night of getting to share about what God is planning with Ubuntu Sports Outreach. People there are excited and supportive of us. They are bringing their old equipment and buying their shirts and bracelets. Hopefully the story is getting spread throughout this city and beyond!

This last picture is of Sarah, my wife, and some of our support team members, The Latta Family! Chris Latta is on our Board of Directors for Ubuntu.

Big News!!

On Friday Ubuntu Sports Outreach received it's letter from the IRS giving it tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization!!  This is a huge development.  All gifts given to the organization are now tax deductible.  It opens up opportunities to apply for grants from a few foundations that require this to be complete.  

It's an even more amazing development because about 3 weeks ago the IRS website said it was reviewing applications submitted in April and we submitted ours in July.  We were nervous that it wouldn't get done by the end of the year.  But it seems that if God was involved and got it reviewed much quicker!  (I just looked and the website still says April!)  We've known organizations that spent 2 years or more getting this status accomplished. 

So, this has been a big boost this week for us.  If you know of people, foundations, churches, or businesses that we should be sharing our vision with, let me know!!

Cheers,

Casey

Another successful meeting

We met this week with Sports Endeavors.  They own Eurosport, which is the nation's leading soccer equipment supplier.  Every serious soccer player in America gets the Eurosport catalog and probably orders A LOT of stuff from there.  They happen to be a local company.  

They were encouraging of what we are doing and offered to help through their Passback program.  
This is what the website says to describe the Passback program: 

The Passback Program, in partnership with Eurosport, and with the support of MLS and WPS players, is an initiative of the U.S. Soccer Foundation to help meet the soccer uniform and equipment needs of all communities, regardless of income, gender or location.

We are excited to start a relationship with this great company.  

Scored a Great GOAL

Last night Millbrook High School, where I was a player and have coached for the last 7 years, held a fundraiser for Ubuntu Sports Outreach & me and Sarah. They hosted Garner High School in their first football game of the year. They designated this football game and the soccer game against Wakefield on Sept. 9 as GOAL events (GOAL= Giving Others Access to Life). There was even a note in the News & Observer on Friday about the game. Check the link out there, scroll down a bit: http://www.newsobserver.com/821/story/1656058.html

Several things happened at the game. We had a tent where we had our shirts and bracelets for sale. We were there prepared to share with folks about what we are going to do. Chick-fil-a donated the money from all of the sandwich sales from the game. And, incredibly, we raffled off some serious prizes donated by Best Buy on Capital Blvd (and one item from the Garner Best Buy). Best Buy was so generous as they gave us a 32" LCD TV, a Nintendo Wii, a digital camera, and an ipod. Chick-fil-a also gave us Chick-fil-a for a Year! We are saving the ipod for the soccer game on Sept. 9, but we raffled off all the other prizes last night. We raised over $1,300 from the sale of the raffle tickets. Here are a few of the winners of the prizes.

It was such an incredible night. We are so privileged and humbled to be connected with a school that has valued our investment in it and now is doing it's part to support our journey. We'd especially like to think the Booster Club at MHS, the administration, Chick-fil-a @ Falls Village, and Best Buy on Capital Blvd. We couldn't have done it without you!

Casey