Sports Reach returned to the Far East for the first time since 2019 this past May. This trip had been stirring in our hearts for several years, as it’s always a favorite—one where God works through us to plant many seeds in many ways.
Andrew Hammond spearheaded the opportunity to return, and in late October our longtime partners over there said, “Welcome back!” We began putting the team together, and most of the old gang was on board for the return! Our translator Scarlett Henderson was in, our trainer Megan Graf was in, and Steve—our translator who lives in-country—wanted to be a part of it again and joined us in the last city. Longtime Sports Reach coach Tom Schuberth was all in, too.
We prayed about our head coach and talked with a few people, but the Lord clearly opened the way for a Sports Reach alum who had gone to Turkey as a player in 1997 to return—this time as our head coach: James Strong. James played at Vanderbilt University and coached at Furman, Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Vanderbilt again. He was recently hired as the new head coach at Davidson Academy in Nashville.
In a very special way, Scarlett got to take her five-year-old daughter, Celia—who she was pregnant with on our last trip in 2019! Now, six years later, Celia was there with us in person. Scarlett and Celia also got to spend extended time visiting Scarlett’s mother, family, and friends, which was very special.
Our roster was the next step in putting everything together. We checked in with a lot of coaches who’ve been a part of what we do for many years and did our normal routine. But the transfer portal world makes it exceptionally challenging—especially with timing. However, the Lord always brings the right people at just the right time.
Our roster included: Tyrone “Woo” Marshall Jr (George Washington), Jack Edelen (Western Kentucky), Michael Jacobs (Southern University), Lionel “Duda” Bell (Southern University), Maban Jabriel Kuona (Queens University), Bryce Cash (Queens University), Isaac Watsa (Waterloo University, Canada), Sir Issac “Slim” Herron (Louisiana Tech), Eli Brooks (Campbellsville University), Jett Montgomery (Southern Miss University), Cameron Campbell (Welch College), and MJ Russell (Mississippi State / Louisiana Monroe).
Each of these young men was a perfect fit for us. They were patient, persistent, and humble. They had no quarrels and went along with everything—even as things changed daily throughout the trip. We emphasized Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” They embraced that message and lived it out.
We had visa delays that adjusted travel plans and split our travel party into two groups. But everyone rolled with it and understood the purpose behind it. We sent five in the original wave, followed by four more the next morning—after flying those four to Washington, D.C., to pick up their passports and visas in person. Then, two days later, I departed with the remaining seven—first to D.C., then to L.A., and finally to Hong Kong before one last flight to our first destination. It was all in God’s hands, and He had a purpose in every step. It made for a long travel day filled with “hurry up and wait,” but we all arrived on time—with no delays—and just in time for our Saturday night game. The two groups merged immediately, and everything flowed from there.
We ended up playing five games out of a possible seven or eight, which actually opened up some unscheduled opportunities to see world-famous sites! Everyone loved the pace, the places we visited, the people we met, and the entire experience. We also found out that this year marked the 30th anniversary of Robby and Sports Reach partnering with our longtime friend, Mr. Yang—making our return this year even more special.
Thank you to so many who kept this trip in your prayers! It was truly special. Your prayers were felt and answered every step of the way. The Lord cleared hurdle after hurdle, and it all came together beautifully for everyone involved. We’re very excited about the future opportunities that have opened up just from this one return trip in 2025. All for God’s glory!
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