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new opportunity...taking the Gospel to Kosovo

Earlier this year, our school received a visit from the ambassador of Kosovo. Through the relationship built by our colleagues Brian and Pearl Williams with the Ambassador and his staff, there has developed a new and exciting ministry opportunity. Brian and Pearl have been working with the Ambassador to establish a baseball ministry in Kosovo, connecting short termers in the states with youth organizations in Kosovo to do summer baseball camps.
Ambassador from Kosovo speaking at ICSV
The organizations in Kosovo and various government officials have invited us to travel to Kosovo to "scout out" the area in order to identify potential facilities for the camps and be introduced to the partner organizations. This week long trip would be at the end of this month and would entail meeting with high level national officials, the mayor of the capitol city, the head of the dept of sports, and heads of youth service organizations.
The basic plan is to have the trip last for two weeks in the summer of 2014 (most likely July/early Aug at the latest).
   - 3 days in Vienna to get over jet lag, meet other members of ministry team, debrief/prepare, etc.
   - 5 Day camp in Vienna in coordination with Austrian Baseball Federation and potentially, the two largest clubs in Vienna (Metrostars and Wanderers- coincidentally, both these teams are the most recent ABL champions) and potential partnership with Athletes in Action.
   - 2 or 3 days for travel to Kosovo and preparation for Kosovo camp
   - 5 day camp in Kosovo in partnership with the Kosovo dept of sports and a couple of youth ministry organizations (there are limited Christian ministries at the moment as will be explained later)
Basic info about Kosovo
- Youngest nation in Europe. Formed as a result of a war of independence against Serbia (neighbor to the North).
- Liberal Muslim nation (over 90% of the population claims Islam as a religion)
- Very pro-American culturally and politically (English is 3rd official language and most of the younger generation speaks it)
- Government is very supportive of outsiders coming in and providing opportunities for the youth.
Basic info about Kosovo
- Youngest nation in Europe. Formed as a result of a war of independence against Serbia (neighbor to the North).
- Liberal Muslim nation (over 90% of the population claims Islam as a religion)
- Very pro-American culturally and politically (English is 3rd official language and most of the younger generation speaks it)
- Government is very supportive of outsiders coming in and providing opportunities for the youth.
As I said earlier, we are looking to fly to Kosovo at the end of this month to meet with some of the leaders of the country and a couple of the youth organizations and also to scout out possible locations for camp itself and we are still waiting in faith for financial partners to help make this happen.
I really hope that we can partner together with this. It's an amazing connection that God has provided and a huge opening to spread His name to the youth of this young nation.

Brian and Pearl asked me if I would be interested in joining them in this ministry given my passion for baseball and my connections with the baseball here in Europe. I said yes thinking it would be cool just to give my input and then watch God work...but I guess there is more to it.



So...I'd love to talk to you more about partnering in this ministry...it's a really great opportunity to get in on the beginning stages of  a ministry into a nation that has relatively few Christian ministries actively working.


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