Westbourne (Calgary, AB) ministers through Soccer Camp
The happy buzz of children’s voices filled the air on the school playground, the church’s parking lot and the sanctuary from August 15 through 19. Westbourne Baptist Church, Calgary, was holding its soccer camp for children aged 4 through 10. Pastor of Family Mininstries, Dave Winter, and a dedicated group of people from Westbourne guided the children through technical drills, games, Bible stories and snacks. Each morning the excited children arr
ived, and each noon equally excited children returned to report their adventures to happy parents in the community.
Because Westbourne doesn’t have space for such a lively program, arrangements were made to use the schoolyard nearby. This provided an actual grass field on which to practice the skills related to this active sport. Most of the time each morning was spent on the field, teaching proper kicking, dribbling, passing and all the other skills that make up this interesting game. College students and career people, both men and women, some older, some quite young, took charge of their groups to guide them through their drills.
Where did these kids come from? Westbourne runs a preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds, so advertising went out to the students in this group. This, in addition to word of mouth, provided 60 eager kids, plus a waiting list.
On August 21, the Sunday following the conclusion of the day camp, parents and friends were invited to attend the morning worship service, where a pictorial report of the proceedings was shown. As had been the case throughout the week, home-baked cookies, made with prayer by those who attend the church services, were served following the service, this time providing fellowship for the parents that attended with their families, as well as children who could be seen prancing around with hands full and chocolate-smeared faces.
Many of those that attended camp did not attend the service, as they were not from Christian families. Outreach continues to those families as part of the work of the church. Some of the children, however, had made decisions to allow Jesus Christ to come into their lives and “play his game” in them. The church also continues to uphold these young lives, both chronologically and spiritually, in prayer, that the seed that was sown will sprout and grow and produce fruit for eternity.
The Westbourne Preschool prepared the way for all of this, and satisfied parents came by to let the staff know that their children were having fun. Positive relationships were built up in the community, whereby new families registered their children for the preschool classes. The spirit of the soccer camp, therefore, continues into the coming school year, where the same families can be reached in a more continuous way. Sylviane Jones, the director, and her staff will see to that.
At Westbourne, people matter, and that provided the motivation for this unique outreach into the community surrounding the church.
By Dick Derksen