Post by Sly Fox on Aug 20, 2005 9:42:06 GMT -5
Surpisingly nice read on Kendall (and Hope West) sharing the Word through soccer. I tell you what, the Lynchburg fishwrap is really starting to come around these days:
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784551048&path=!news!archive
Teaching soccer, gospel
Ted Allen
tallen@newsadvance.com
August 20, 2005
Kendall Bartholomew took her soccer game from Liberty High School to Liberty University last year.
This summer, she took it to the world.
The rising sophomore at LU traveled to Brazil for 10 days in June with the Chicago Eagles - a women’s soccer team sponsored by Missionary Athletes International. The team is affiliated with the Charlotte (N.C.) Eagles, a W-League team, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
She was the only player from Virginia, but was joined by LU teammate Hope West of Orlando, Fla. Most of the group came from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Trinity Christian College in Pallos Heights, Ill.; Northwestern University in Chicago; and Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif.
“We went to Brazil to share the gospel and we got a chance to do some amazing things,” Bartholomew said.
When they weren’t doing missions work with a church based in Teresópolis, they traveled to play the national team from Goiania, which they defeated 3-0, and practice on the Brazilian National Training Center fields, the same ones used by the legendary Pélé in his prime and World Cup star Ronaldo today.
“But most of all we got to witness to tons of little kids and people from Brazil,” Bartholomew said. “Soccer is like a religion over there, so we used it as a foundation to share Christ. We played barefoot with some of them and it was awesome to just get back to what soccer means to me, and learn about soccer as being a form of worship to God.”
She then spent most of July in the Chicago area as the Eagles conducted a series of youth soccer camps. The weeklong camps, designed as a summer outreach to the community, were held in St. Charles, Ill.; Lamont, Ill.; Appleton, Wis.; Wheaton, Ill., where the MAI ministry is based; and in Chicago’s Hyde Park.
Bartholomew worked mostly with kids between the ages of 8 and 12, though the campers ranged in age from 5 to 16.
“Some of the kids were in wealthy areas and some were from impoverished areas like Hyde Park,” she said. “We’d play tons of games, teach them soccer skills and at the end of the day, play a World Cup.”
Thursdays were known as Gospel Thursdays when the team staff would share a drama presentation with the kids at lunch, which they called “halftime.”
The Eagles trained Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on weekends traveled to play games, including two against W-League teams from Milwaukee and Chicago.
Bartholomew said the two trips stretched her, both as a soccer player and in her Christian walk.
“Going into it, I knew it would be a growing experience, but I never imagined I would grow in my faith as much as I did,” she said. “Just learning how to share the gospel … and to be able to share my testimony. God gives you the words when you feel inadequate.
“I didn’t know a word of Portuguese when I got (to Brazil) and they didn’t speak a word of English,” she added. “It was amazing. When they heard the name of Jesus, they would come and were hungry to know more.”
Now Bartholomew is eager to put the improvements in her game on display in her sophomore season with the Flames. Liberty started practices last Wednesday and opens its season Tuesday night at home against Lynchburg College.
“We played different types of styles this summer (and) it’s going to be good for Hope (West) and me,” Bartholomew said. “We learned a lot and I can see improvements in both of our games.”
Though she received minimal playing time as a freshman last fall, Bartholomew believes she can make a significant impact on this season’s team.
“I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn a starting position,” she said. “We’ve got 21 girls who would never be content if you put them on the bench. Everybody’s willing to work hard and to build up our teammates, making sure to put the Lord before everything. Being able to play soccer is a form of worship for us, a chance to represent Christ.”
Ted Allen
tallen@newsadvance.com
August 20, 2005
Kendall Bartholomew took her soccer game from Liberty High School to Liberty University last year.
This summer, she took it to the world.
The rising sophomore at LU traveled to Brazil for 10 days in June with the Chicago Eagles - a women’s soccer team sponsored by Missionary Athletes International. The team is affiliated with the Charlotte (N.C.) Eagles, a W-League team, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
She was the only player from Virginia, but was joined by LU teammate Hope West of Orlando, Fla. Most of the group came from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Trinity Christian College in Pallos Heights, Ill.; Northwestern University in Chicago; and Hope International University in Fullerton, Calif.
“We went to Brazil to share the gospel and we got a chance to do some amazing things,” Bartholomew said.
When they weren’t doing missions work with a church based in Teresópolis, they traveled to play the national team from Goiania, which they defeated 3-0, and practice on the Brazilian National Training Center fields, the same ones used by the legendary Pélé in his prime and World Cup star Ronaldo today.
“But most of all we got to witness to tons of little kids and people from Brazil,” Bartholomew said. “Soccer is like a religion over there, so we used it as a foundation to share Christ. We played barefoot with some of them and it was awesome to just get back to what soccer means to me, and learn about soccer as being a form of worship to God.”
She then spent most of July in the Chicago area as the Eagles conducted a series of youth soccer camps. The weeklong camps, designed as a summer outreach to the community, were held in St. Charles, Ill.; Lamont, Ill.; Appleton, Wis.; Wheaton, Ill., where the MAI ministry is based; and in Chicago’s Hyde Park.
Bartholomew worked mostly with kids between the ages of 8 and 12, though the campers ranged in age from 5 to 16.
“Some of the kids were in wealthy areas and some were from impoverished areas like Hyde Park,” she said. “We’d play tons of games, teach them soccer skills and at the end of the day, play a World Cup.”
Thursdays were known as Gospel Thursdays when the team staff would share a drama presentation with the kids at lunch, which they called “halftime.”
The Eagles trained Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on weekends traveled to play games, including two against W-League teams from Milwaukee and Chicago.
Bartholomew said the two trips stretched her, both as a soccer player and in her Christian walk.
“Going into it, I knew it would be a growing experience, but I never imagined I would grow in my faith as much as I did,” she said. “Just learning how to share the gospel … and to be able to share my testimony. God gives you the words when you feel inadequate.
“I didn’t know a word of Portuguese when I got (to Brazil) and they didn’t speak a word of English,” she added. “It was amazing. When they heard the name of Jesus, they would come and were hungry to know more.”
Now Bartholomew is eager to put the improvements in her game on display in her sophomore season with the Flames. Liberty started practices last Wednesday and opens its season Tuesday night at home against Lynchburg College.
“We played different types of styles this summer (and) it’s going to be good for Hope (West) and me,” Bartholomew said. “We learned a lot and I can see improvements in both of our games.”
Though she received minimal playing time as a freshman last fall, Bartholomew believes she can make a significant impact on this season’s team.
“I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn a starting position,” she said. “We’ve got 21 girls who would never be content if you put them on the bench. Everybody’s willing to work hard and to build up our teammates, making sure to put the Lord before everything. Being able to play soccer is a form of worship for us, a chance to represent Christ.”
www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=LNA%2FMGArticle%2FLNA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784551048&path=!news!archive
