Lasting Legacy Of World Cup Church

FIFA’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa proved to be a landmark moment for the ministry of Operation Mobilisation (OM) ministry across Sub-Saharan Africa. Nowhere is this more evident than village of Makwati, a community in Zambia where OM workers erected a tent to screen several of the matches on a large screen. During the half-time interval, the missionaries shared from the Bible and their own experiences of knowing God. Today, Makwati Community Church stands on that spot.

When the tournament ended, local residents who had become Christians through the outreach considered the tent to be their place of worship and were reluctant to see it taken down. When the canvas was finally removed, a shelter was built to replace it and OM worker Chris Welman reports that this new building is used all the time, even attracting crowds for morning prayers at 6am. At the same time, the congregation continues to grow; three people have undergone a two-month discipleship course and have joined a teacher training programme for a new community school that Makwati’s residents now see the need for.

These developments have changed the life of Akinyi (name changed), an orphan from the area who after being abused had stopped going to school. Having come to faith at the new church in Makwati, she realised how much hate she had toward her abuser. She has since found the courage to forgive this person and is today attending the new community school. “Somebody who had no hope now has it in abundance and you can see it in her face,” explains Chris.

Sub-Saharan Africa is just one of the many regions where OM’s 6,000+ workers are living out their faith. Leading long and short-term outreaches, they are sharing the Good News through sports, youth activities, relief programmes and more.