George Thomas of CBN Shares Glimpse of World Cup Outreach

FIFI Brings Awareness to Real Sports Network: Today @ 8:00 p.m.

A few nights ago, I was up working late. I happened to check my email, and there was an to share my thoughts on the US v. England outcome, provide solutions as to how to grow soccer in the US AND most importantly bring awareness to the Faith Inspired Football Initiative. What a blessing!

Two radio programs in two different countries will be broadcasting information about FIFI so more people can join in on the adventure!

Tune in to The Light's Real Talk Sports tonight at 8:00 p.m.(EST) to hear my interview with Minister Jonathan Simmons.

Small Town Church Wants You To Help Score A Goal In South Africa

CHURCH TAKES AIM AT THE 2010 WORLD CUP HOST NATION
South Carolina Congregation Launches $1 Conversation Campaign to Score Soccer Equipment for South Africa’s 2010 World Cup Missionary Programs

At a time when Coca Cola and Visa are spending millions of dollars so their brands can capture the minds and hearts of soccer fans, one small church in Seneca, South Carolina is using its concentrated slingshot of letter writing, social networking and resource pooling to take down the giants and spread its own message during the 2010 World Cup.

Christ Community Church’s 2010 World Cup project, the Faith Inspired Football Initiative (FIFI), aims to grant the soccer wishes of several international missionary organizations, including Operation Mobilization, Youth With A Mission and The Joseph Project. These organizations and their supported churches are conducting soccer outreach programming for youth and adults during and after the 5 week period of the 2010 World Cup. However, they are in desperate need of soccer equipment.

With request lists numbering in the hundreds, project organizer Qiana Martin said, “I knew we needed to pool our resources with those of other congregations and harness the power of the internet to reach individuals who may want to be a part of this life changing initiative.”

The plan has been yielding successes for the little church and its outreach project. In early April, Atlanta mega church Elizabeth Baptist lent its support, and UK based Time To Be A Christian Radio will be dedicating a large segment of their 11:00 Coffee Show to broadcast an interview about FIFI to its British audience on June 19th.

“With these previous successes, we are utilizing our Faith Inspired Football Initiative blog to provide information, and an opportunity for individual donors to change a life with our $1 Conversation Campaign. People are passionate about soccer in South Africa and you can start a conversation with anyone by mentioning the sport. It is with this idea that we are asking people to sow $1 to help us give Christian missionaries the tools to begin those dialogs,” says organizer Martin.

The $1 Conversation Campaign begins on Friday, June 4th. All monies collected will be used to purchase new equipment for Christian missionary organizations throughout South Africa. To learn more or to donate, please visit www.fifiafrica.blogspot.com.

Christ Community Church is a nondenominational church that was founded on June 14, 1961 in Seneca, South Carolina by Reverend Efford Haynes. The church has made a powerful impact in the community, with more than 45 men and women receiving their call and ordination into the ministry.

$1 Conversation Campaign Goes to the AP Newswire

It's time to up the ante! More and more excitement is building for June 11th, and we want to continue generating momentum for all of the soccer programming that our missionaries will be conducting in South Africa.

Tomorrow is the first day of our $1 Conversation Campaign, and it was only fitting that we tell the world how $1 dollar can start a soccer conversation and change a life in the process. Therefore, we have taken our cause via press release to the AP Newswire.

We are excited about the possibilities, and the reach of our story. Get in on the action. Tell others about the power of their dollar in South Africa. Together we can send a message that transforms a soccer nation!

UK Radio Interview: June 19th

I just received word from the producer over at the UK Christian radio program 11:00 a.m. Coffee. Our Faith Inspired Football Initiative interview will be broadcasting on Saturday, June 19th at 11:00 a.m. (GMT). For those of us in the United States, the show will stream live on this blog at 7:00 a.m. (EST), 6:00 a.m. (CST) and 4:00 a.m. (PST).

Trust me, it will be well worth getting up for. Simply click on the To Be A Christian Radio Live Stream Player.

50 Training Bibs Are Going To Pretoria

Welcome to June 1st everybody! I am excited because, as national teams are settling in to their respective game prep routines in South Africa, we are finalizing the details for our first delivery of 50 training bibs (aka pinnies) to Operation Mobilisation in Pretoria, South Africa.

Once these bibs are in hand, we hope to upload you plenty of pictures. Until then, follow Operation Mobilisation as they prepare for their 2010 Ultimate Goal Challenge.

Make Space For Soccer In Your Luggage Bag

There are several ways to make a goal a reality. With the Faith Inspired Football Initiative, we want to encourage people to become involved with our World Cup 2010 project in their own unique way.

Each individual or organization has the opportunity to contribute.

Are you lacking financial resources? Don't let money keep you from becoming involved. You can support us with prayer or by bringing awareness to this missions outreach project by sharing a link to the Faith Inspired Football Initiative blog.

Are you attending the World Cup in South Africa, but lack the time to volunteer? No worries. You can reserve a small space in your luggage bag to pack a gently used piece (or pieces) of soccer equipment to give to a missionary worker at the fan area near one of the competition stadiums.

Spread the world about Making Space For Soccer to your fellow world cup travelers. The equipment you transport will spread a message that goes beyond the pitch!

Our Equipment Request List:
Youth & Adult soccer jerseys
Youth & Adult soccer shorts
Youth & Adult soccer boots
Youth & Adult goalie gloves
Youth & Adult shinguards
Youth & Adult training bibs
Youth & Adult soccer socks
Training cones
Soccer Balls

Operation Mobilization Visits Eat Soccer Radio

A few weeks ago, we brought our message to the United Kingdom. On this evening, listeners from around the globe will be able to learn about the Faith Inspired Football Initiative during my weekly radio show, Eat Soccer.

Radio Miami International carries Eat Soccer to shortwave radios around the globe 8:00 p.m. EST on Thursdays. In case you do not know, countless people in the most remote regions of the world listen to shortwave programming.

To put a voice with a cause, we were able to coordinate with Mpumi Maweni so that he could join us on the air. Mpumi Maweni is a member of the promotions team for Operation Mobilization South Africa.

To make sure as many people hear it as soon as possible, I have already loaded it to the podbean radio player at the top of this blog. Also, it should be available shortly for download via iTunes.

We encourage you to share this interview with all of your friends so that they can learn more about the amazing work that Operation Mobilization is gearing up to do for World Cup 2010.

I want to give a huge "Thank You" to Bill Jabr at Blue Room Recording Studios for making sure everything went off without a hitch. He's already working on helping us bring YOU radio show broadcast(s) from South Africa for World Cup 2010.

FIFI Campaign Spreads to the United Kingdom

It's amazing how you start with an idea about accomplishing a task, and then God sends you an opportunity that is totally beyond what you had planned.

This was the case with To Be A Christian Radio. When we started the Faith Inspired Football Initiative campaign, I had a plan of action that only included outreach to the American audience.

Interestingly enough, I received an email in my inbox that mentioned a Christian radio program that was seeking new guests. It was based in the United Kingdom.

Fast forward through several weeks of emails, time zone coordination and skype phone calls; and on Saturday, May 1st, I received the opportunity to bring awarenss of the Faith Inspired Football Initiative to listeners in that country.

I was thrilled to say the least. Stay tuned for information regarding the show's broadcast date.

Upgrade Your World Cup Agenda

For those of you who are making the trek to South Africa, your expectations are through the roof. The anticipation, of witnessing the first world cup on the continent of Africa, is almost too much to contain.

Can you imagine anything more overwhelming than that?

Picture 1,000 school kids participating in The Joseph Project’s soccer programming during the 2010 World Cup. The Joseph Project is a Johannesburg based extension of Youth With A Mission, a Christian outreach organization that is doing some amazing work in South Africa.

It literally brings tears of joy to my eyes when I think about the amount of soccer equipment that we will be able to bless The Joseph Project with as one of many beneficiaries of the Faith Inspired Football Initiative.

However, it was brought to my attention today that The Joseph Project, along with several other outreach organizations are in need of volunteers to assist with the amazing soccer events that are planned.

This is my call for World Cup fans to upgrade your South African experience with the opportunity of a lifetime. Invest some of your downtime between matches to enjoy even more soccer by serving as a volunteer. A few hours, A few days here and there or a 5 week commitment, the choice is yours. I am certain that The Joseph Project and Operation Mobilization will be more than happy to have you along for the fun!

To learn more about the event programming so you can donate your time and footy skills, click on the hyperlinks throughout this entry.

Soccer: A Small Act Begins A Great Journey

A few years back I came across a story about a young African boy who had an encounter with a missionary. The missionary provided him with some Biblical materials and (if my memory serves me correctly) a pamphlet on Abraham Lincoln. This small act of giving initiated something within the young boy.

It drove the African boy to dream of attending college in the United States of America, during the 1950’s. Now, this young man left his village with only 3 days of food and his dream. His journey took him through hostile tribal territories, encounters with deadly illness and no college connections. However, his dedication for three years led him to the eventual matriculation at a college in the state of Washington, and later to a teaching post in Europe.

The story seems something out of a movie, and nothing short of a miracle. I have reflected upon it often when I have encountered various obstacles in my path of playing soccer and when God has set before me “opportunities” to be of service to others.

It is with exciting faith that I undertake the Faith Inspired Football Initiative. It is an extension of the outreach ministry of Christ Community Church, where my grandfather serves as pastor. It is an opportunity to lend much needed to support missionaries who are tirelessly utilizing their gifts to spread the Word of God in South Africa. Moreover, it is a message, to each boy and girl who is impacted by every training bib, ball, boot, and goal, that God’s word shall accomplish His will and prosper in the thing for which He sent it.