More than a Game

By Bernie Anderson, serving in Mongolia

It’s midnight. The thump of a soccer ball reverberates between apartment buildings in the city center of Ulaanbaatar. Occasionally the rhythm is broken by a car horn or the sound of a shaman drum from a neighboring house. These boys love the game. Nothing will interrupt their practice, even if the only time they can find a soccer field is at 10 p.m. on Sundays.

When our team began the Grain of Wheat Center in 2008, a major goal of our student ministry was to reach young Mongolian men. About a year ago, two of the guys we work with at the center came into my office with the idea of starting a soccer team. We ran with it, and the Saint Football Club was born.

Since then, many of the players have come to know Jesus, and nearly everyone on the team is attending a Mongolian church. Many of the team members also are involved in ministry. On a recent visit to the church, I was pleased to see one of our best strikers standing up to preach.

Wanted: Young Male Leaders

One of the most significant challenges for Alliance global staffers in Mongolia is training young men for leadership in the church. Unemployment, alcoholism, and domestic violence trap many Mongolian men in a downward spiral, resulting in a hopeless existence. The lack of strong male leadership has affected the church; many congregations are led by older women, who have become weary of the task before them.

Playing soccer enables our youth to learn masculine strength and grace from believing men who model servant leadership. Relationships have developed, opening doors for Christian teammates to share the good news.

After soccer practice a group of players gathers to talk about problems at school, work, or home. Several young men, followers of Jesus, use biblical truth to address common struggles.

Some of the players have started coming to a Bible study in our home, and a few have begun the discipleship process at the Grain of Wheat Center. Several have come to faith; others are on their way. All are a part of something larger than themselves.

Missing in Action

Recently, a Mongolian pastor was asked, “What is the greatest need in Mongolia today?” His reply was simple and heartfelt: “Mongolia needs fathers.” Nearly every one of the boys we work with could tell a similar story—fathers who are missing in action because of death, alcoholism, or divorce. Fatherhood is returning to Mongolia through the gospel, and soccer is an effective means for this to happen. It’s more than a mere game.The gospel has turned it into something much more significant.

Additional Video