Ultimate Frisbee, Floorball, and Team-Building Games in Ukraine

This past weekend, OM SportsLink Ukraine presented sports ministry, particularly team-building games, floorball, and Ultimate (frisbee) to over 100 Baptist churches at a pre-camp training seminar. The seminar attendees viewed a short presentation and lecture about sports ministry and then were able to participate in the games and get to know them "hands-on." The following day, the team presented floorball and Ultimate frisbee to a local church in a nearby city. Already, one church has asked the OM team to help lead such games in their upcoming summer camp.

Pray that more churches will see the value of adding sports ministry to their church's outreaches, to reach the new generation in Ukraine. And pray that God will strengthen and give wisdom to the team in Ukraine as they seek to equip and encourage the local Church in sports ministry.

Swedish Team Helps in Ukraine

This week OM SL Ukraine hosts a team of 43 teens and adults from more than 6 different churches and cities in Sweden. The group is helping with floorball and orphanage ministries in Rivne. Besides giving hands-on training and playing friendly floorball matches against teams in the city, the Swedish group donated 150 floorball sticks and balls for the ministry here in Ukraine, among other items. The group has also been working with over 200 children in various orphanages, presenting small gifts, playing sport, and interacting with the children (some of whom are disabled or have special needs), as well as helping to make much-needed repairs in a local orphanage and a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

When asked what they thought about their time in Ukraine, the Swedes responded that they were excited to be here and were very touched by how happy the children in the orphanages were, even though they had so little compared to those in Sweden. Many of the teens expressed their realization of how materially blessed they are in Sweden. Several of the group have been challenged by this experience them to become more involved in missions after returning home. One girl told her mom, "This is the best day of my life! Thank you, thank you, thank you that you let me come." Tears came to the eyes of one of the leaders as she watched the teens and orphans interacting and saw how this experience was really touching the hearts of her group and blessing both them and the orphans. Overall, this experience is one that has challenged, changed, and blessed the lives of those involved.