"Reaching young men with the message of Jesus is a real challenge for most of the churches in Vietnam," says the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries' Vietnam ministry center. "But God has been opening doors for us to do it."
How?
Futsal. From time to time we have reported how this miniature form of soccer, which originally developed in Uruguay, is now taking Asian nations by storm-and has also become a vehicle for our ministry to share the Gospel with Vietnamese youth. The sensation continues, and along with it, a vibrant witness of the Good News.
"At the beginning of June, we launched the Futsal Academy for youth in the cities of Quang Ngai, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City," says the director. "Our Futsal training classes have caught the attention of young people all over the country because we are offering a healthy form of entertainment. How we work is simple: as we provide skills training to young guys who are passionate about futsal, we also share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Along with these, we teach good sportsmanship. Our participants, our opponents, and many hundreds of fans have come to recognize that we are a Christian organization which embraces values that other sports centers and clubs don't have."
Following the launch of the program, the Vietnam center received responses from 58 of the participants, as well as seven requests to be connected to local congregations.
"Across the country, our sports ministry is growing-and together with it, our reputation for offering something different, something worthwhile, something lasting. Praise God!"