Feb 2024
Looking Back and Looking Forward
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As we step into a new year, what a joy and privilege it is to reflect with you on the work God is doing through the ministry of CEDE SPORTS. In this newsletter, we hope to give a glimpse into the global span of CEDE SPORTS and with that glimpse, encourage you as you see the impact God is giving CEDE SPORTS all over the world.
In this special edition, you will learn more about our efforts in 2023 to mobilize sports chaplains and local church sports, rec, and fitness leaders. These efforts include sports chaplaincy in different organizations like Joe Gibbs Racing, our first High School sports chaplains, and our training sports chaplains involved in a variety of sport initiatives.
You will also learn about our coaching with local church leaders in sports, rec, and fitness ministries, the update of our principally based Church Mobilization Training that is applicable to churches in different cultures, and the utilization of this training with our staff in North America and in South America.
Most importantly, you will get a glimpse of how God used gospel opportunities to change hearts and lives – from a large scale event like the Franklin Graham Noi Festival in Rome, Italy to a small initiative like a fitness bootcamp in Indiana.
Looking ahead to 2024, you will find out more about the following exciting opportunities:
- Providing High School Sports Chaplains in high schools throughout the Charlotte, NC area.
- Developing the CEDE SPORTS Chaplaincy Mobilization Training
- Partnering with an organization to provide a platform to deliver our Chuch Mobilization and Chaplaincy Mobilization Training
- Partnering :
- In North America with a large youth sports ministry focused on the local church
- In Africa with more than 5 countries to help start sports ministries in their local churches through a partnership with Leadership International
- In Europe with a continent focused sports ministry to focus on starting fitness ministries in local churches in Europe
- In Asia with a seminary for sports ministry curriculum and Leadership International for starting sports ministries in Asia.
Feb 2024
NEW STAFF IN 2023
Arrie Hougaard
Adiel Aroujo
Jenna Schaafsma
Bill Houston
Canaan Grier
Baird Yasenchok
Will Cravens
M.L. Woodruff
Sandra Cravens
Tim Donelli
App Member Growth
In this year alone, our team has grown by 10 staff members serving on different continents and in different capacities.
Our SR&F App and SCC App both gained 200+ members, with both platforms continuing to help build community and offer support to chaplains, sports ministry leaders, directors, coaches, and volunteers alike.
We have developed and executed Chaplain Trainings in South America, as well as Church Mobilization Training in Colombia and for all of CEDE SPORTS staff.
New Staff
New Staff
New Staff
Feb 2024
Global Team
Bob Dyar
CEO
Victoria Morano
Aubrey Coleman
Baird Yasenchok
Bob Schindler
COO
We are currently in the development of, and hope to complete by the end of next year, our Chaplaincy Mobilization Training. This training, like the Church Mobilization training, is also principally based so that it can be universally applicable and utilized in a variety of contexts.
In order to expand the availability of these two trainings - Church & Chaplaincy Mobilization Training - we are looking at partnering with three possible organizations who would provide an international web-based platform for the delivery of these trainings. One of those platforms is called Thirdmill, which you can browse by clicking here. The hope is to have that platform up and running by the end of this year.
Baird Yasenchok
Map of Chaplains
Canaan Grier
Map of Churches
This map shows the location of the chaplains currently on the SCC App
This map shows the location of the churches currently on the SRF App (USA only here)
New Staff
New Staff
New Staff
M.L. Woodruff
Tim Donelli
Feb 2024
North America
Staff Team
TOP L to R: Adam Riley, Bill Houston, Canaan Grier, Connice Dyar, Hudson Belk,
Jeff Fox
BOTTOM L to R: Jenny Young, John Wehner, Ken Cross, M.L. Woodruff, Pedro Reyes, Tim Donelli
Looking Back
This year, the North America team added new staff: Baird Yasenchok as Administrative Assistant, Bill Houston as North American Sports Chaplains Coordinator, Tim Donelli as North & South Carolina Sports Chaplains Coordinator, M.L. Woodruff as Church Coach and Chaplain to Coaches, and Canaan Grier as a Sports Chaplain at Harding University High School, Charlotte, NC. We started 7 new church partnerships with bringing our total to 50 local churches in North America that CEDE Staff coaches. Those 50 local churches in North America have over 50,000 participants - with an average of over 33% of those being non-churched.
Additionally, at JGR, we saw significant growth in leadership since COVID. We are thankful for the addition of Ken Cross as he completes a full year of ministry with chaplains. We are also thankful for the many prayers God has answered for more small group groups to start and multiply. We saw lives changed and evidence of God redeeming people and sports
Lastly, we began a High School Sports Chaplain Initiative in Charlotte, NC with Canaan Grier serving at Harding University High School and Adam Riley at West Charlotte High School.
Joshua Lewis joined a bootcamp with one of our partner churches, Connection Pointe Christian Church in Brownsburg, IN. Previously battling addiction and heartbreak, He has now put His faith in Jesus Christ. He was batpized August 13th, 2023
Looking Forward
As we consider the new year, we hope to expand our chaplains in Charlotte High Schools. We are meeting in February with the Athletic Directors from all those High Schools about the possibility of placing sports chaplains in each school.
Our hopes in working with local churches in North America revolve around the establishment of this partnership with the church sports ministry organization and the greatest attendance at the 2024 REACH Gathering since CEDE helped start REACH in 2014. Finally, we’d love to see the SRF App involve over 250 churches and over 1200 members.
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At JGR, we anticipate the fruit God will produce through our Leadership Training. Our hope and desire would be to see mature and multiplying disciples in our ministry.
Feb 2024
South America
Adiel Araujo
Jairo Nino
Staff Team
Javier Zarate
Jose Eyzaguirre
Continent Coordinator
Julio Bautista
The Beach Boxing Academy is not only to train for boxing but also to disciple the participants. Devotionals are shared, prayers are prayed, and Bibles are given to all of the Beach Boxing competitors–a rare occurrence for this sport. We were grateful to God for this oppurtunity!
In South America, God provided many ministry opportunities through various sports like Taekwondo, beach boxing, soccer, and even jiujitsu.
In the fall, the Para Pan America Games were held in Chile with two CEDE Staff serving as chaplains for those games. Jose, CEDE’s staff person in Chile, involved about 84 leaders from various churches, pastors and brothers in the faith to help prepare the churches of Chile to use the games as a gospel opportunity. Also, Jairo Nino gathered about 40 churches and ministries in Colombia to go through our Church Mobilization Training.
Sports chaplaincy trainings were held for 4 months, every 15 days via Zoom this spring/summer. The training was done by a team of CEDE SPORTS teachers from Chile, Paraguay and Argentina, led by our CEDE Continent Director, Julio Bautista. This year’s course had 12 students from 5 countries - Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela.
Looking Back
Looking Forward
Expectant for the year ahead, we pray for God to continue to bear fruit from the many sports teams, opportunities, and events.
By continuing to offer Church Mobilization Trainings, we hope to further train churches in South America to utilize the bridge of sports to connect relationally with athletes, coaches, and team staff in order to serve them and have gospel conversations.
With continued chaplains trainings, we hope to form a network of Sports Chaplains in Latin America that can together respond to the various needs in Sports Ministry.
Feb 2024
Africa
Staff Team
Continent Coordinator
Arrie Hougaard,
Graciano Viliengue
Yazi Adamou
Throughout 2023, we experienced God's grace in Africa as sports remain a key component to reach people on the continent. 1 Timothy 2:4 remains the goal for our ministry, " ...who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth "
In Africa, we aim to go to the lost and equip the saved. Some of our efforts with CEDE SPORTS included kids camps and also sports ministry at schools.
There were also several training opportunities to equip leaders from schools and churches with a wide range of attendees. Some of the training and equiping took place in remote villages, some were done with elite sport teams and programs, and some were done with theology studen with theology students.
Looking Back
Looking Forward
Opportunities will continue to exist in schools, churches, and with sport teams. For 2024 we want to be more focused to expose more sport coaches and character coaches to what CEDE SPORTS offers.
There will be Church Mobilization training needs in several countries in Africa and coaches also need to be reminded about the CEDE SPORTS apps and other resources. Looking forward, it is important to build strong relationships with coaches and churches and to add them to our data list, to better serve them in future.
We will consider in Africa partnership with Leadership International in more than 5 countries to help start sports ministries in their local churches.
For 2024 the vision is also to grow CEDE SPORTS presence in more African countries. Currently we have country coordinators in South Africa, Mozambique, Niger and Angola. A country coordinator has been identified in Namibie and we hope to add several more in 2024.
Feb 2024
Europe
Jenna
Schaafsma
Staff Team
Lucas
Gorge
Max
Schaafsma
Michael
Schaafsma
Nina
Schaafsma
Continent Coordinator
Sandra Cravens
Continent Coordinator
Will Cravens
Will and Sandra Cravens took on the role as continent coordinators in Europe. Jenna Markel joined the Europe staff team this year and has been a wonderful addition.
In Italy, the Schafsmas continue to host evangelistic events like a kids day camp over the summer. Many joined the camp to enjoy activities, worship, baseball lessons, and build relationships. This is one of the many events intended to build relationships in their neighborhood in order to share the hope of Jesus.
On a larger scale, the Noi Festival was held in Rome this year and our Europe staff was able to be apart of it with nearly 20,000 people. This two-day festival, held November 4 and 5, marked a wonderful occasion for sharing the gospel message.
Looking Back
Looking Forward
As new continent coordinators in Europe, Will and Sandra’s desire is to deepen relationships with those who are part of the CEDE SPORTS network, to reach out to ministry/church leaders that may need or desire support, and to grow the number of CEDE SPORTS representatives throughout Europe.
Jenna and Max Schaafsma hope to start Punto Luce Sport, a ministry in their church in Milan, where they would begin offering sports initiatives to help church members make connections for gospel opportunities.
Additionally, the Milan church staff aims to continue to build relationships, serving at sport and outreach opportunities to get to know families in the communities and neighborhoods.
Feb 2024
Asia
Staff Team
Bob Dyar and Bob Schindler
Acting Continent Coordinators
We were approached by three different sports ministries in India requesting the formation of a partnership with CEDE and each of these sports ministries. We were also in discussions with a seminary in Moscow about partnering with them to provide curriculum for local church sports, rec, and fitness ministry and sports chaplaincy on curriculum for sports ministry.
Additionally, country leaders from Leadership International in Asia have requested helping them start sports ministries in Pakistan and other countries in Asia.
Looking Back
Looking Forward
Our hopes for 2024 include the finalization of these partnerships in India, Russia, and Pakistan and if partnered, the significant expansion of our footprint into this largest continent in the world.
Feb 2024
SNAPSHOTS
In Paraguay, Junior's story reminds us of the importance and influence of building relationships in ministry. Coming from a poor family, he trained in jiujitsu from a young age and paid for his own classes. Junior became like a son to Sensei Daniel Recalde and we had the privilege of being apart of the process.
During the month of August and September. the CEDE SPORTS team in Chile was preparing to host the Pan American and now Parapan American games in their city. They welcomed the opportunity to use sports ministry for gospel influence. Please pray that new leaders arise in the Chilean church, to share the message of hope in Christ Jesus through the sports ministry.
After a day of evaluating REACH 2023 and planning for REACH 2024, the team got in some Top Golf and had great time! We look forward to witnessing God at work during this year’s gathering.
This picture was taken at an Annual Touch Rugby Tour, taking place at coastal resorts across the Western Cape. Touch Rugby is similar to Tag Football. The coaches are all believers and do amazing work with team members that are mainly between 18 and 25 years old. A very encouraging moment was at the end of the day when the captain took the team to one side and prayed with all the team members.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
CEDE SPORTS was born out of a desire to mobilize churches and chaplains into sports ministry built upon relational outreach. Sports are a bridge that can bring connection and a laboratory that can bring transformation. Our hope will always be to see God continue to use CEDE SPORTS to mobilize gospel centered sports chaplains and local church sports, rec, and fitness leaders to make disciples and redeem the culture of sports.
Thank you for thoughtfully and prayerfully supporting our ministry. Your support allows us to impact the people of sport through churches and chaplaincy. To further support, you can find the donation page on our website by clicking here.
Please reply with any encouragements or share with a friend who might be interested in hearing more about our ministry. We are deeply grateful for your support and we look forward to what God will accomplish in the coming months!
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