As Dallas gears up to host parts of the World Cup Soccer Tournament this summer, churches in the Dallas Baptist Association joined together during Holy Week to share the gospel with youth soccer players and coaches from around the world.
The Dallas Cup, America’s oldest and best-known international youth soccer tournament, has been held each Easter week since 1980. And for 33 of those years, the DBA has hosted an outreach to minister to players and their families.
“It is truly a joy to serve together as an association,” Chelsie Hoard, director of strategy for the Dallas Baptist Association, said.
“What an incredible week we had with people from countries all over the world — Japan, Germany, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and St. Lucia, just to name a few — visiting the center and experiencing the love and hospitality of our local churches,” she said.
Outreach provides meals, games, fellowship
As players and their families visited the DBA’s Hospitality Center throughout the week, the outreach provided free meals for the teams and the chance to play games with new friends, learn about different cultures, and engage in conversations.
“I simply enjoyed seeing youth, their coaches and families from around the world hang out and interact among themselves during such a tumultuous time,” Norma Pecina said.
Pecina serves as the children’s director at Iglesia Nueva Esperanza (New Hope Church) in Irving, and the coordinator of this year’s outreach. “Because the gospel truly sets people free, I’m excited about the decisions made for the Lord, and I cannot wait to learn about the impact made in their home countries.”
“My favorite part of the Dallas Cup event is seeing the smiling faces of youth from around the world as the Dallas Baptist Association Hospitality Center feeds these soccer enthusiasts, not only with a meal, but especially sharing Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life,” Pecina continued.
Volunteers serve across Dallas
Dallas Cup games are played throughout North Texas, but the DBA’s Hospitality Center was set up at The Heights Baptist Church’s Creekside Campus. Volunteers signed up to cover shifts and served 1,800 meals throughout the week.
Ten churches from across the metroplex provided volunteers and meals for this outreach. Representatives from the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas Baptist Association, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment also assisted with the outreach efforts.
“It takes the help of many people from our area churches to serve at the DBA’s Hospitality Center,” Hoard said. “We are so grateful to The Heights Baptist Church for allowing us to utilize their facilities. There are many unsung heroes who took part in this great endeavor. We give all the honor and glory to our Lord.”
“From cooking meals, washing dishes, cleaning tables, taking out trash, sweeping, refilling drink coolers, serving food and greeting teams, they do it all. Countless others pray, provide food, and give. We are thankful for the many partners who made this year’s center possible,” she said.
“It was such a beautiful picture to see athletes from different countries laughing, eating and playing lawn games together. God’s faithfulness abounded,” Hoard continued.
Over 200 salvations recorded
Leaders recorded more than 200 decisions for Christ during the event and distributed several hundred Bibles in multiple languages.
God also provided in very specific ways, Hoard said, such as “having the exact food needed when special dietary restrictions arrived or having just enough materials available in a particular language.”
“We saw big smiles from the service line, heard numerous expressions of gratitude from athletes, coaches and parents, and witnessed the excitement from those receiving Bibles,” she said.
Pastor Brian Hale of North Irving Baptist Church appreciated the opportunity for his congregation to engage in international and local missions at the same time.
“Relationships are very important,” Hale said. “There were eight people from our church involved this year. I loved spending time with my local church group of missionaries doing missions.”
“I also enjoy making the kids who attend feel welcome. I see it as a way to do missions that is effective and economical. Many of the groups attend every year. So, we have the opportunity to find out how things are going back home,” Hale continued.
Throughout the week, participants saw the hand of God at work — even to the smallest details in ways He provided.
“My favorite part of [the] Dallas Cup is seeing God’s faithfulness and provision through all things,” Hoard said. “The hospitality center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, and teams are welcome to stop by whenever they like. We never know how many teams might show up during a given hour, yet God always provides, and we somehow have enough for each team — sometimes down to the last athlete.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by Baptist Standard.
