June 2022 - A Dream of God Fulfilled
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
Dear Friends of Sports Outreach Institute (SOI),
We are Wilson and Rose Estella, your SOI missionaries in Brazil. We have been married for 35 years and have two children, Natalia and Pedro. During our 21 years in pastoral ministry we had the joy of meeting Gui and Fe Peres (Gui is a SOI board member), whose love of Christ, love for souls lost in darkness, and love for missionary work brought us close to them. SOI Brazil was born in the heart of God, and it was in response to God's direction that SOI turned its eyes to Brazil. After a time of prayer and interviews, and also understanding that this is God's plan for us, Rose and I decided to answer this call from God by becoming part of the SOI family in Brazil.
SOI Brazil started its practical activities (sports ministry through soccer) in February 2022, and it soon grew tremendously, because where God acts we can always expect “great and mighty things.” In the first weeks boys arrived, one after the other, which filled us with great joy and certainty that God was responding positively to the missionary vision in Brazil.
The ministry of SOI in Brazil focuses on soccer for mostly school-age children. We engage them socially and spiritually, and most of them come from broken homes. Many are involved drugs and alcohol, and also suffer from limitations of food, and other social hardships. Currently, around 750 children participate every month. At the beginning of each activity Rose or I do a time of biblical meditation and prayer. We also serve breakfast, and a snack for those in the afternoons. At the end of each training we offer sports supplies for those most in need.
We count on your prayers for our SOI ministry in Brazil and for our family. There are many needs and we are entering terrain that was under the dominion of darkness. Would you prayerfully consider joining the SOI ministry in Brazil, either by praying for us, or giving financially?Our goal is summed up by Colossians 1:28, “Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ.”
Blessings! Wilson and Rose, SOI Brazil
SOI COACHES CORNER
Dan Narvaez, Domestic Ministry Director (and coach)
I was born in the Bronx, New York City and raised in Queens and New Jersey. An excerpt from my book, “Thou Shall Not Steal,” tells the baseball story that shaped my young life.
“The score was tied 1-1 after six grueling innings. Here I was 12-years-old standing at the plate at the top of the 7th inning of our little league championship. It was here where my future baseball career and winning and stealing attitude would be formed. I managed to scratch out a walk to open the 7th against Patsy Castiglia the new pitcher. I stole second, then stole third, then stole home. We won 2-1 and I had a taste of winning and stealing and these victories in baseball birthed into existence a passion to be the best.”
I led the nation in stolen bases two years in a row at St. Peter’s University (NJ), but instead of signing a major league baseball contract, I gave my heart to Christ and went to the slums of East Harlem, New York where God used me to lead hundreds of kids to Christ.
I was blessed to meet SOI CEO Sal Ferlise in December 2020, and shortly after that he invited me to be Domestic Ministry Director of SOI. Fast forward to February 2022 and my trip to the Dominican Republic—our team facilitated five baseball camps and 82 kids came to faith in Christ. In April, SOI and the Chess Advisory Board hosted SOM Executive Director, Robert Katende, at our first chess tournament. Just last month I began mentoring my second protégé in base stealing. God is on the move!
Today, SOI has coaches in nine U.S. states. We are looking to expand and connect with more churches and business leaders who want to partner with SOI by sharing the Gospel both on and off the field. Our ministry could not be done without the faithful support of our churches, businesses, and friends!
Blessings, Coach Dan
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
www.sportsoutreach.net
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SPECIAL INSERT: REMEMBERING SUE CARR
May 29, 1933 - May 5, 2022
Last month we received the sad news that Sue Carr, wife of Sports Outreach Institute Founder, Russ Carr, passed away on May 5, 2022, after dealing courageously with cancer for several years. Sue was “a strong part of the foundation for Sports Outreach for the first 20+ years,” remembered, Robby Conn, one of the founding board members of SOI. Her strengths in organization and administration laid the groundwork for procedures and protocols, most of which are still in use today. Additionally, she not only coordinated trips to the field, but often accompanied Russ or other leaderson the trips! In fact, Sue organized the very first Westmont Women’s Soccer Team trip in 2007. They visited SOI sites in Uganda, and over the years subsequent teams have taken many trips.
Upon her retirement from Sports Outreach, Sue worked as an administrator with Russ’ new endeavor, the Global School of Sports Ministry (GSSM), which he founded in 2011. GSSM seeks to train prospective sports ministry leaders in the use of sports as a tool of evangelism and especially, discipleship.
Below are some remembrances about Sue:
We will never know how many lives were eternally changed because of Sue until we get to heaven. Well done, good and faithful servant! The joy of the Lord has always been her strength.” Casey Roberts, SOI board member
“In Santa Barbara, CA the Carrs took me (Tim, orphaned at a young age) in while at Westmont College my sophomore year. As Mom, she let me be part of the family. In later years I was amazed at her willingness to change as she shared excitement in moving to Virginia. Often people look for stability and routine, but she embraced the adventure of moving to the East Coast. With the forming of SOI, her excitement bubbled of the ministry in Uganda, Africa. She stepped into this adventure with dedication and enthusiasm. Truly Sue, “Mom,” was a woman dedicated to reaching out. As I would send my prayer letters she read and edited them, commenting from time to time, taking time amongst the business of life to visit us, to smile, ask questions, be interested, and be actively involved in ministry. Thanks Mom.” Tim and Barb Wood, Founders, SOI Mexico
“Sue Carr set the stage for me to be a successful administrative director of Sports Outreach. It was a privilege to work and learn from her and I credit her practices for our excellent annual audits.” Deborah Hallgren, SOI Administrative Director
“I am so grateful to be a Christian, and to know that Jesus died for us and opened the door to heaven for us. We will all see Sue in the days ahead. Thank you, Father, for the time we had with Sue, and for the great work she did for the Carr Family, for Sports Outreach, for Westmont College, and for many other people.” Robby Conn, founding SOI board member and Westmont College alum where he played soccer for Russ Carr