It’s amazing to know that we all have been gifted in a certain area of life.  About 4 years ago Pastor Zac Nazarian came up to me, kind of paused, and then asked me if “I considered coaching soccer my ministry?”

I paused because I never really thought about it; typically I lived my life as a Christian and at the same time taught the kids what I knew about soccer.  I didn’t put the two together and it really made me question my life and how I was living it.  Was I separating my work and my ministry?  Or was Soccer my ministry?

This was a turning point for me and how I looked at coaching soccer.  It wasn’t just about getting another paycheck or letting people see me live my life differently than the world, but now it was a push to actually find opportunities and teaching points to tell the people that were in my life, about the most amazing thing ever!!!  Jesus Christ and how Loves us so much that He died so we can have life.

I have been to many places in the world and one thing that I know is that Soccer is a universal language that draws a crowd.  So why not use the knowledge that God has given me for the purpose of the kingdom of God.  So on July 23rd, 2012 a small team headed out to Puerto Escondido, Mexico to do just that.  We came together to put on a soccer camp for the locals teaching them about the basic fundamentals of soccer while also telling them about Jesus Christ.  This opened up more doors then I could have imagined while allowing relationships to be built.  Because of God using Soccer, we were able to preach His good word to people that were strong into the world and wanted nothing to do with religion.

We all have been given gifts and talents,but are you using them to further the kingdom of God or are we using them to exalt ourselves?  I hope you are encouraged and begin to seek out opportunities right where you are daily so that the word of God will be heard.  God Bless you.

In His Name

Travis Silva