GOL 2010 is picking up steam after being announced at the 2009 NYI Global Convention in Orlando, FL, USA.  GOL 2010 is a global evangelization strategy that seeks to take advantage of the 2010 World Cup of Soccer (Futbol) taking place in South Africa. GOL seeks to establish soccer camps around the world that feature a special colored ball.  The colors represent:

• BLACK - sin / spiritual darkness
• RED - Christ's blood
• WHITE - the cleansing power of Christ's blood
• GOLD – God
• GREEN – growth as new believers

The camps are designed to close with a special showing of the Jesus Film for participants and their families. In addition, each participant will go home with a hacky-sack version of the GOL soccer ball so they can tell the story of God to their friends who were unable to attend.

Some highlights so far:

Northwestern Ohio Scores with GOL2010

By Kristi Payne District NMI President

The children of the Northwestern Ohio District score 1,000 goals with the GOL 2010 evangelism soccer ball! This year the children, children’s pastors, and Nazarene Mission International (NMI) leaders are partnering together to raise enough money to purchase 1,000 soccer balls to help Children’s Ministries International (CMI), JESUS Film Harvest Partners, Nazarene Youth International (NYI), and World Mission meet their goal of distributing 10,000 evangelism balls worldwide through 2010 in conjunction with the World Cup soccer event being hosted in South Africa in June and July next year.

Each year the children of the Northwestern Ohio District embrace a project as their own, raising $10,000-$12,000. The kids are excited about the evangelism soccer ball project because they can identify with it. They play soccer at school, in the park, on a team, and in the backyard with their friends. Being able to use the game and colors on the soccer ball as a focal point to share the gospel is something anyone can do, especially kids!

The project was kicked off this year at the District NMI Convention. Pyramids of evangelism balls flanked the platform of the convention while children dressed in their soccer uniforms ran down the aisles dribbling soccer balls led by their “coach”, Jon Spyker, the District NMI Children’s Coordinator. Jon explained the project to the convention and invited everyone to visit the project display during the convention.

Each church was invited to take an evangelism ball home with them to use as promotion for the project. Several churches are making plans to hold soccer clinics using the soccer balls and at next year’s NMI convention, children across the district will be taught how to use the evangelism ball to share the gospel of Jesus Christ while participating in a convention soccer clinic. The soccer balls will also be used to engage children on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina, USA in the gospel of Jesus Christ during district Work and Witness trip the summer of 2010.

Kids Making a Difference

Paper soccer balls, each representing a $10 donation, decorate the windows of Gallatin First Church of the Nazarene in Gallatin, Tennessee. The children of the church are learning what it means to love Jesus and love others. Twenty children raised $3110.62 and contributed the first funds toward purchasing GOL soccer balls for global distribution to reach children and youth.

Children’s Pastor Greg Nash said, “The focus of the project was to let the kids know that at their age, they can make a difference.” The kick off included a contest for the child raising the most money and for the child getting the most individuals to participate. A main emphasis was to let others outside the church know about the project. By the end of the contest, one child said, “It’s not about winning, I did my best. I have to get these balls in the hands of people to tell them about Jesus.” These young world changers celebrated their success by praying over the paper soccer balls which hung on the church windows. They know the balls will have a global impact on lives changed for Jesus.

From the Kansas City District

Antioch, Shawnee, and Central Church of the Nazarene are teaming up for SoccerFest! The one-day soccer camp will be held on November 1 and 8 at Antioch Church of the Nazarene. The first 100 kids to sign up will receive soccer balls and food will be provided for the whole family. SoccerFest is a part of the GOL evangelization program, designed to teach kids about Jesus by pointing out the symbolism of colors on the GOL soccer ball.