In addition to discovering and developing athletic ability, the purpose of Champions for Jesus’ basketball tournament is to enable young men to step out of the world filled with drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence to which they are accustomed. Through the tournament, we are motivating them to discover a different way to live. God is doing great things!

Francisco López is one of many participants with a story to share. In Francisco’s words, his life had been a disaster, but in the course of the tournament he realized that he is good at something and that God had given him talent for basketball. He decided to visit a church and shortly afterward accepted Jesus as his savior. Other participants like Francisco have shared stories of addictions conquered, marriages healed, and spiritual lives renewed because God used this touched their hearts through this ministry.

In the timeless words of Frederick Douglass, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Champions invests in the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of children ages 6 to 14 by offering weekly basketball lessons and games paired with spiritual mentorship and discipleship.

Champions supports and provides spiritual nourishment to existing soccer leagues in the community by lending sports and technical equipment and leading weekly devotions.

As we are able, we are expanding our activities to meet the needs of the community. Adult basketball teams attend a small group Bible study on a regular basis. Periodically, we offer special events for both children and adult participants and even their family members. For example, we have offered a 3-day mini-VBS for members of Champions Academy, awards ceremonies open to the whole family, and a “ladies’ night out” workshop for mothers and wives.

All year long, we occupy an office space about a block away from the community park where we hold practices and games. Children and adults are welcome here to find a safe place, to talk with someone trustworthy, to hold small group devotional meetings, or to work on homework. Our office now houses several desktop computers for students to learn how to use a computer in an environment where access to computers is very limited. We are also hoping to gradually build up a small children’s library for the community. Our office is a great destination if you’d like to donate something other than sports supplies!