Church Mission Gets Ball Rolling
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/14/pa-church-mission-gets-ball-rolling/
By DIANE LOEBEL
The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 14, 2008
NEW PORT RICHEY - Twenty-one people from First Baptist Church of New Tampa will leave June 21 for a weeklong mission trip to Chiclayo, Peru.
This year - the Wesley Chapel church's fifth in Peru - the group will work with missionary Juan Barone Vargas, Peruvian and Chiclayo government officials, educators, schools and individuals from mission teams already in the country.
The church funds Vargas and budgets money annually for a mission trip. Team members kick in extra money for personal items that aren't covered. Fundraisers are held throughout the year.
"The program is very well-received, with great support from the congregation," said Jim Allee, an associate pastor at the church.
This year, the group again will stage soccer camps. Last year's camps drew about 260 children from the rural Zania Valley area.
More than 450 youngsters from shantytowns across the coastal city of Chiclayo have signed up for soccer this year after hearing about the camps at school, church and by word of mouth.
"We hold soccer camps in Wesley Chapel in spring and fall," Allee said. "They are very popular and very well-attended. We adapted our local soccer program for the mission program."
First Baptist officials say the soccer ministry is a good way to encourage children to go to church. Vacation Bible School studies are intermingled with the soccer sessions.
Youngsters ages 6 to 12 play on concrete or dirt because there's no grass. In the morning, children 3 to 5 keep busy with crafts and Bible stories. All are fed a nutritious lunch daily.
"The children love it," church mission director Michael Ritchie said. "They don't have a chance to play organized soccer in their towns and villages, although they do have village teams that compete with each other. The kids are tough. If they fall on the cement, they just get right back up and keep going."
Four two-day camps are offered, with a tournament capping the mission trip. Each participant receives a T-shirt, medal and photo. Tournament winners also get trophies and soccer balls.
In the evenings, the missionaries work with adults in neighboring churches and villages.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW TAMPA
WHERE: 28125 County Line Road, Wesley Chapel
WORSHIP: 8:15 and 10:50 a.m. Sundays; 9:30 a.m. is Sunday school for all ages; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday is Bible study; a Spanish mission service is at 7 p.m. Saturday
CALL: (813) 907-1685
ONLINE: www.fbcnewtampa.org
To suggest a Faith in Focus feature, call Jeff Scullin, (813) 779-4614; write him at The Tampa Tribune, 38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills FL 33542; or e-mail jscullin@tampatrib.com.
Chiclayo Peru
FAME AND GLORY
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