Football fever: Italy

Country Profile

Italy

Football fever

OM International

For the first time, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) team from the USA linked with OM Italy to offer two sports ministry events this summer. A team of six, led by soccer coach Tracy Duck, ran a highly successful sports outreach in the town of Torre Pellice during the week of June 15-22.

Although the area had been deluged with rain for the previous six weeks the rain stopped on the opening morning of the sports camp, and the rest of the week remained sunny and hot. Field Leader Eliseo Guadagno who coordinated activities said there were a good variety of sports offered, from frisbee for the little ones to football for the older youth. "The numbers that came were unbelievable! And when you start loving peoples' kids, the parents come, too."

Dozens of children enjoyed making Good News bracelets and learning what each coloured bead represents. The team saw some of them repeat the gospel story to friends and parents. At the end of the week the church and team held a barbecue for participants and their families. "The church was thrilled by the response," notes Eliseo. "And the community saw the church was serving them. Now we need to follow up and show this as an ongoing attitude."

From June 23-28, FCA and OM Italy also hosted a sports camp in the mountains near Florence, attended by 100 staff and teens from across Italy. Please pray that God will continue to use sports as a bridge for reaching Italian hearts.