Intro:
It may seem strange to combine soccer and church, but let us explain why we feel God is leading us to do just that!
The Challenge:
Our village church is facing two challenges at the same time.
- Though women and children are coming and growing in their faith, we are struggling to connect with the men in our region.
- We are running out of space in the converted village house we use as the ministry center.
The Dream:
God has blessed us with a half-acre lot, adjacent to the current ministry center, and we have been praying for how to best utilize it for the Kingdom. Slowly a dream began to form of a facility that would not only help to solve our space problem, but also draw men and be financially self-sufficient!
What is a kalçeto?
Scattered throughout Albania are covered soccer fields known to locals as kalçetos [kal-Che-tō]. These facilities are busy every evening with individual teams and leagues playing one hour games of 5-on-5 soccer.
Many of these facilities have a coffee shop attached that serves snacks and drinks, but we have a different idea for the building space…
Soccer Field + Church:
The first floor of the attached building will house an education wing with classrooms and a multi-purpose church sanctuary. This floor will also house the office space and men’s locker room for the kalçeto.
2nd level will contain a women’s locker room, an exercise/physical therapy classroom and weight room.
Goals for this project:
- Draw men not only from our village but surrounding communities.
- Generate revenue to help offset ministry costs through league rentals.
- Provide a much-needed larger meeting space for our church services, ministry programs, English classes and special outreach events.
- Open new areas of ministry through sports, including women’s athletics, camps, public school intramurals…
- Provide a sustainable future for existing ministries, thus less reliance on resources from the western Church.
- NEW: a local ministry to individuals in wheelchairs will be utilizing the space four school days per week as soon as it is open. Read more that new partnership here.
Because we believe this proven business model will not only cover its own expenses and maintenance, but also provide a revenue stream for the ministries of the local church, your gift towards this project will be multiplied many times over throughout the coming years!
We need your help!
The cost of this project is estimated at $200,000. (at the end of 2019 approx $140,000 has been raised with about $40,000 additional pledged!)
Will you consider joining with us through a special gift?
It’s easy to give on-line at: