{"id":71997,"date":"2022-02-04T13:24:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T19:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/?p=71997"},"modified":"2022-02-04T13:24:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T19:24:39","slug":"costa-rica-church-soccer-school-team-up-to-bless-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/costa-rica-church-soccer-school-team-up-to-bless-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Rica church, soccer school team up to bless community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los \u00c1ngeles Church of the Nazarene in San Jos\u00e9, Costa Rica, joined forces with the Saprissa Soccer School to hold a Christmas party where families could have fun and listen to the message of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Roughly 400 children and parents from the school and surrounding community attended the celebration, which included\u00a0surprises and testimonies of transformed lives. The celebration was held at the facilities of the Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (SENDAS). Families participated in different recreational activities, including a mechanical bull, inflatable games, and a visit from the Saprissa mascot, bringing a joyful atmosphere all around.<\/p>\n

They listened to motivational words from Allan Alem\u00e1n, former professional soccer player and member of the Costa Rican national team. In addition, Carlos Gabriel Salazar, a Nazarene missionary, shared his story about how God transformed his life and saved him from violence, vices, and gangs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great joy to enjoy a day with my friends; I loved the mechanical bull and the gladiator,\u201d said Josu\u00e9 Garc\u00eda Vel\u00e1squez, one of the children. “Thanks to Pastor Andr\u00e9s for thinking of us and sharing God’s blessings with so many children.”<\/p>\n

This event was put together by the\u00a0Los \u00c1ngeles Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries leadership team. They wanted to celebrate Christmas with families in the community and enjoy playing soccer, which gave them an opportunity to\u00a0share the message of God’s love with the\u00a0people. After talking with the school coach, they worked for several months to put the plan into action.<\/p>\n

Deportivo Saprissa is one of the biggest professional soccer teams in Costa Rica. The team has soccer schools in different areas of the country, one of them being the Saprissa Soccer School in Alto de Guadalupe<\/i>, a\u00a0neighborhood of San Jos\u00e9.<\/p>\n

The relationship between the Los Angeles Church and this soccer school began years ago when the pastor of the church, Andr\u00e9s Fern\u00e1ndez, met with the coach of the soccer school, Adri\u00e1n Solera. Together, they wanted to be a blessing to the nearly 200 families that are part of the school.<\/p>\n

Thanks to this association, the students\u2019 parents can receive free devotionals and messages from Fern\u00e1ndez and other professionals who discuss topics like nutrition for athletes, suicide prevention in adolescents, and more. These talks are held on the first Monday of each month, and about 100 families connect with each other.<\/p>\n

“In the midst of so many difficulties that families are going through and with so many preconceived ideas regarding the church, it is essential that faith communities find creative ways to show God’s love,” Fern\u00e1ndez said.<\/p>\n

Fern\u00e1ndez appreciates the generosity of the Saprissa Soccer School and the efforts of the church members, who mobilized\u00a0the resources necessary to carry out the Christmas activity.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we really become the arms of Christ to embrace them (people), God will do the rest,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just have to do our job and love people.”<\/p>\n