ERLANGER, Ky. (KT) – The hope of the gospel was shared in multiple languages Saturday, Nov. 8, during the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Crossover: Hope For Northern Kentucky futbol tournament.
More than 160 soccer players and family members from seven different countries who live in and around the northern Kentucky area gathered at the Griffin Elite indoor complex to compete and to hear the message of Jesus Christ. Between the games, participants clearly heard about the hope that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The all-around play was exceptional with the teams battling for the championship in what one volunteer described as a “mini-World Cup.” Calvary Chin Baptist emerged as the winning team.
Eddie Torres, Multi-Language Evangelism Strategist for the KBC, called the day a success and described it as almost heaven-like, seeing so many nations come together in joy and unity.
“People from different cultures together and there was no fighting among the players. They enjoyed the play and coming together,” he said. “In addition, most of these people here, this was maybe the first time in their life to hear the gospel. So I think of this as a win-win.”
The gospel was presented four times—in English (twice), French and Spanish—between matches as players were gathered to listen.
“The speakers were very clear about the gospel,” Torres said. “Ten-minute presentations very focused on the gospel. I guess we won’t know the response, but you never know with responding. Maybe some people will respond later or maybe the pastor can continue a relationship with that guy. We don’t know what might come from it.”
The seeds were planted with the gospel presentations early in the day.
KBC Mobilization and Community Ministry Associate Cory Bledsoe said the vision behind the event was to unite people from different backgrounds around something familiar—soccer—while introducing them to the good news of Jesus.
“To see everybody coming together, on a common ground, and just to enjoy a time of fellowship and hear the gospel and just be a community, it’s a really special thing,” Bledsoe said.
Volunteer Arnold Mateos shared the gospel throughout the day and said the soccer environment helped break down barriers.
“It was just kind of natural as people started gathering into the groups and making the teams, I got a chance to just get to meet them in this setting,” he said. “They came with their own friends and communities, and I just started asking people like, ‘Hey, how did you find out about the event?’ They were curious about it and thankful. And that led to conversations where I could ask if they were going to church or not and refer them to the packages that were given to them. The event was like a mini-World Cup.”
Each participant received a KBC gift package containing a New Testament in their own language, a gospel tract, a $5 concession coupon, and a list of northern Kentucky churches they could visit.
Mateos, who learned about the event through Burlington Baptist where he is going through the new member process, said it was a great opportunity to share the gospel and connect families with local congregations like Erlanger Baptist, which has a Spanish-language ministry.
About 70 churches from the Northern Kentucky Baptist Association participated in Crossover: Hope For Northern Kentucky events throughout the week.
Bledsoe said such partnerships are at the heart of what Kentucky Baptists do through the Cooperative Program.
“That’s what we’re about is our partnership and cooperating for gospel advancement. This is a picture of that cooperation coming to fruition.”
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This story appeared in Kentucky Today.
