In the pre-dawn stillness, a quiet hangs over the now empty soccer field. Red sand dust swirls in the early morning light, the sun’s rays contrasting sharply with the lines on the field, marked out in black with used motor oil. In a few short weeks, the sidelines of the field will be filled with players and spectators alike, a myriad of brightly colored tribal robes splashing color in an otherwise barren landscape, as the third annual youth soccer tournament commences. Players will be arriving from four different villages, seemingly pouring in from every point of the compass. The players will range in ages from 14 to 21, and many will come on foot, carrying their prized possessions, a pair of soccer cleats, hung around their necks. Some of these players will pair off together once playing begins, opting to share a pair of cleats between two people, so that each will have at least one cleated foot with which to strike the ball. Still, others will choose to play barefoot, enduring whatever hardship required, just to be able to be a part of the game.
The idea for this soccer tournament was born from a very real need in the community. David, working alongside local youth leaders, recognized that the long summer holidays presented both an opportunity and a challenge. In Kenya, all secondary education takes place at boarding schools, meaning that any student pursuing higher education must leave home by age 14 or 15. When these young people return for their holiday breaks, they often find themselves with too much time and too few positive outlets.
The community leaders had watched for years as bright, promising students fell into destructive patterns during these unsupervised months—drug abuse, alcoholism, and casual sexual encounters that frequently led to addiction and teenage pregnancy. They needed something that would capture the students’ attention and energy while providing a platform for meaningful engagement.
Soccer proved to be the perfect answer. These young people are passionate fans of Premier League football, and the sport provides a common language that transcends village boundaries. But more importantly, it gives us something they actually want to participate in—a crucial element when you’re trying to reach teenagers with the Gospel.
The tournament structure itself reflects both the practical realities of desert life and the intentional rhythm of ministry. By 7 AM, players are already taking the field, racing against the rising heat that will make afternoon play impossible. The matches are intense, competitive, and joyful. But by 10 AM, when the first rounds conclude, the real purpose of the gathering becomes clear.
As the desert heat builds, everyone seeks refuge under the large shade trees that grow near the soccer field. And it’s here—in this natural amphitheater beneath the spreading branches—that sacred ground is found. The transition from athletic competition to spiritual teaching happens organically. The same young people who were shouting and celebrating moments before now gather quietly, still energized but ready to listen.
Over the years, we’ve discovered which biblical themes resonate most deeply with these students. In our first tournament, we walked through Old Testament stories where God seeks out humanity, asking the students daily: “Where are you?” We challenged them to consider where they were in life, what areas they might be hiding, and where God was seeking to find them and bring them to wholeness.
The second year brought us to Psalm 23, where we explored seven attributes of God’s character revealed in that beloved passage. Day by day, we taught them that God is their Shepherd—caring and guiding; their Rest—the place where peace can be found; their Restorer—the only one who can truly heal a soul; their Righteous Leader—even when the path leads through dark valleys; their loving Discipline—not harsh punishment but the guidance that comes from love; their Healer—binding the wounds that others cannot see; and their Overflow—the source of grace beyond imagination.
Each year, we watch as these young people—many carrying the weight of adult responsibilities far too early—discover that they are seen, known, and loved by the God of the universe. The soccer field may draw them in, but it’s under those shade trees where transformation begins.
There’s something profoundly biblical about finding the sacred in such an ordinary setting. Jesus himself understood this principle deeply—he didn’t establish his ministry in the temple courts or synagogue schools, but walked dusty roads, sat by wells, and taught from fishing boats. He met people where they were, using the familiar rhythms of their daily lives as doorways to eternal truth. In much the same way, our soccer tournament reflects this incarnational approach to ministry. We’re not asking these young people to come to us on our terms, in our buildings, speaking our religious language. Instead, we’re stepping into their world—a world of competition, friendship, and shared passion for the beautiful game. The sacred ground isn’t found in the perfectly manicured pitch or the formal church setting, but in the red dust of a desert field and the shade of acacia trees, where the eternal God meets teenagers exactly where they are. It’s a reminder that God’s presence isn’t confined to sanctuaries; it saturates the ordinary moments when we have eyes to see and hearts to recognize the holy in the everyday.
Soon, that quiet field will again burst with life, laughter, and the sound of cleats on hard-packed earth. And when the dust settles and the players return to their villages, they’ll carry with them more than memories of goals scored and games won. They’ll carry the knowledge that they are beloved children of the Most High God—a truth first whispered under shade trees beside a soccer field in the heart of Northern Kenya.
From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26-27