Reverend David Smethurst has returned from South Africa having met with the 2010 World Cup of Soccer organisers to establish a Christian ministry for athletes.
“A longstanding colleague of mine from South Africa, Pastor Terrence Hanafey, set up a meeting with the heads of the 2010 World Cup Soccer Series,” Reverend Smethurst explained. “Terrence was a teenager in the youth church that Margurita and I pastored in Durban, South Africa 42 years ago. He now pastors a lively church in Kwazulu-Natal and is a very fruitful evangelist.”
Pastor Hanafey asked whether the South African organisers had thought of having chaplaincy and counselling for the world’s soccer players. They had, but were not sure on how to proceed, and so he mentioned that Reverend Smethurst had been a chaplain at the 2000 Sydney Olympics & Paralympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the 2004 Athens Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and the director of the Pastoral Care Centre (chaplaincy) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“He suggested we meet with Dr Victor and Dr Ketso at the hotel where I was to stay,” Reverend Smethurst commented. “At this meeting, we presented them with a protocol for setting up and operating a chaplaincy and counselling service for the players and officials.”
This was met with a warm positive response, and was followed by discussions about the calling and training of local ministers and sportsmen of different faiths to counsel the world’s soccer players who may have problems.
This will necessitate training counsellors and chaplains in the nine different cities where the games are to be played, and notifying all the team managers of these chaplains to be able to call on them.
The games will be played in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane/Pretoria between 11 June and 11 July 2010.
“I offered to be in South Africa for a period of two months before the games and then for the month of the games,” Reverend Smethurst noted.
“Dr Victor will be presenting this protocol to the FIFA board. Each chaplain, including myself, will have to raise their own sponsorship to cover expenses that will include airfares, accommodation, transport and food costs,” Reverend Smethurst detailed.
In addition to the 2010 World Cup Soccer Series, South Africa will be hosting the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Soccer Series which takes place from 14 to 28 June 2009. The organisers wish to include the chaplaincy to extend to this event as well. This will also require David Smethurst being in South Africa for three months in 2009.
“This is a privilege to be able to win these top soccer players to Jesus. God alone knows who they will reach from their high levels,” Reverend Smethurst stated.
'Basil Sellers' Press Service International
Ministries
World Cup Soccer Ministry, 2010 South Africa
By: M. V. Tronson
Christian Today Australia Columnist
Christian Today Australia Columnist
Sunday, 11 January 2009, 19:36 (EST)
Have your say on this article
Added: Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 19:44 (EST)
We would like to help or assist in anyway - please let us have the details. Thanks Shalom
SHIRLEY, S.A.
Added: Thursday, 13 August 2009, 22:25 (EST)
CESE Australia (Christian Educational Student Exchange) who is part of Christian Exchange Group, has a program for evangelism for the 2010 world cup in South Africa. We will be sending a group of 400 Volunteers, to the world cup as a mission trip with a 10day stopover to Tanzania. We are encouraging youth groups and Churches to get involved. Email contact@ceseaustralia.com for more info
Stephen Licciardello, Sydney
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