Photo via mnnonline.org

Missionary in Bosnia sees growth in hockey outreach

Bosnia's war has cast a long shadow over the country. That can be seen most clearly from the damage done to the children who survived that dark period in their country's history, reports MNN.

Association of Baptists for World Evangelism's Dave Smith says boys at play motivated a unique outreach approach. "One of our personnel there noticed they were taking sticks and using them as guns. He said, 'What can we do to change that?'"

For security purposes, we'll call the missionary "Cole." He was a Canadian hockey player, and he wanted to share his passion for the game and for the Lord. A hockey school was born, Smith explains,. "So now he has a ministry with over 100 boys, and we've been able to teach them in leadership skills."

This ministry began with hockey clubs in Sarajevo and has grown to become the Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) Sports Foundation, an ABWE Canada project that is supported by local churches in Canada and the United States.

Smith says their team uses hockey as a platform for sharing the love of Christ and building relationships with youth. "We share by our lives, and individually, one-on-one. There are rules there about sharing with young children, but when they turn 18, and some of our team are 18, then there's opportunity to share one-on-one with these boys, and people are coming to faith."

Their prayer is that God will use the BiH Sports Foundation to help plant a local church in Sarajevo, where none currently exist.

ABWE notes Mark 10:14 in a previous ministry introduction. The verse reads, "Let the little children come to Me." It is their challenge to introduce them to Him. Please pray for the youth of Bosnia, and ask God how you can help reach them.

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[03/06/2008]

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