From April 21-28, Kelly Combs and I headed to Jamaica to work with FCA Director Ricardo Edwards in sharing about Christ and teaching basketball. Coaches for the Sport City Angels AAU program, Rachael Smith and Maria Napolitano, as well as photographer/videographer Hannah Edwards, arrived on the 22 and stayed until the 26th. While we were in Jamaica, we visited Dupont Elementary, Old Harbour High, Camperdown High, Manchester High, Dinthill High, and Calabar High. At these schools we would share with the coaches and athletes ways to improve their chances to play for the school team, win games, and maybe get a chance to play in the USA. We talked about how they can improve physically, mentally, and most importantly what it looks like to follow Christ as an athlete or coach. We were also able to do this at the National Stadium for players on the National U17 and under programs and with the Phase 1 Academy travel team. At Old Harbour High School, we led morning and afternoon devotions, and Hannah sang a worship song at both. We were able to run a camp for Manchester, Dinthill, Calabar, and the National Stadium. We watched two female high school games, and we were able to share with both teams at the game at Camperdown.
We brought down 250 pounds of basketball gear and equipment to give to coaches and their teams, such as shirts and shorts, basketball shoes and slides, basketballs, pumps, and travel bags.
Kelly, Ricardo, and I were interviewed a total of 4 times on the biggest Gospel and the biggest sports stations in Jamaica (once over Zoom with all three of us, once in the studio with Ricardo and me, and twice over the phone). We were also able to share the benefits and strategies of using sports ministry to reach people at 1st Assemblies of God Church in Mandeville.
In all, we witnessed in some way around 1470 people, 50 of whom were coaches. We saw 70 athletes give their lives to Christ, and we were able to share their names with a local church and a local FCA rep for follow-up.
This trip was very impactful, and honestly, it was not on any of our schedules to begin the year. Ricardo was supposed to have some people come from the Cleveland Cavs, and I was supposed to be in the Philippines. When both fell through, I contacted Ricardo to get the ball rolling, and God did the rest. Grateful to have so many people say yes to this trip. Praying for God to continue to move in this wonderful country!
