PRETORIA, South Africa — Baptists in South Africa are joining other denominations across their nation to offer ministry during one of professional sport’s biggest events next year — soccer’s World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa June 11-July 11, 2010.
It’s the first time the every-four-years soccer tournament — known everywhere except in the United States as football — has been held in an African nation, and it’s generating excitement in the country of more than 48 million people.
To broaden involvement, South African Baptists have asked Virginia Baptists, with whom they have a mission partnership, to participate in outreach ministries during the month-long tournament.
Riaan Niemand, pastor of Eastside Community Church, a Baptist congregation in Pretoria, will lead a World Cup orientation meeting for volunteers on Nov. 16 in Fredericksburg. He also will attend the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, Nov. 17-18 in Fredericksburg.
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South Africa is taking its hosting role seriously, in hopes that it will polish its image abroad and help unite its people. According to The Economist magazine, the country is spending almost $1.5 billion to build nine new stadiums and billions more to build or improve roads and airports. It also will get its first high-speed railway, linking the main airport with Pretoria, the capital, and Johannesburg.
As a sort of dress rehearsal for the big event, last June South Africa hosted the Confederations Cup, which featured the champions of the world’s six regional football federations, plus Italy (the current holder of the World Cup) and South Africa (the host). The cup was won by Brazil in a 3-2 match against the United States.
To South Africans’ delight, their own national team, known as “Bafana Bafana,” though ranked only 72nd in the world, reached the semi-final, cheered on, reported The Economist, by exuberant crowds blowing the vuvuzela, a three-foot long plastic horn that has become the symbol of South African football. Some foreigners want to ban it because, they say, it distracts players with its loud and distinctive sound.
South African Baptists are channeling their outreach efforts through the South African Sports Coalition, an initiative of a variety of the country’s Christian denominations. The Ultimate Goal (TUG) is a project of the sports coalition which is developing ministry opportunities during the World Cup.
“We need soccer players, coaches and enthusiasts for clinics, pick-up games and informed soccer conversation,” said Craig Waddell, missions partnership coordinator for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, who is directing the Virginia Baptist side of the outreach initiative. “We also need creative worship teams involving the arts and drama for outreach, performance and interaction with the public. And we need helpful hearts and hands willing to support in any way, such as setting up and breaking down temporary venues.”
At least initially teams will be assigned to Pretoria and to the Free State Province south of Johannesburg.
Ministry venues will include:
- “Business zones,” which will surround each stadium with shops and kiosks during matches. Eastside church will have a tent there and will feature arts and drama productions and offer water, coffee, Bibles and prayer.
- Central Baptist Church in Pretoria, which will host worship and other gatherings.
- Municipal parks, which will provide temporary outreach sites. Eastside church is in process of getting permits to use the parks for impromptu soccer games, outdoor arts and drama performances and holiday Bible clubs (as backyard Bible clubs are called).
- “Ultimate trailers,” small cargo trailers which will be used to transport soccer goals and cones, stages and other materials for temporary outdoor events.
Waddell said Virginia volunteer teams will be scheduled in two-week shifts from June 2 to July 14. Each team will have a one- or two-day orientation in South Africa and will be lodged in either churches or the Kimiad Retreat Center, a Christian facility just east of Johannesburg. The cost for each volunteer has not yet been determined.
For additional information, contact Waddell at craig.waddell@vbmb.org or (804) 915-5000. Additional information about TUG is available at www.theultimategoal.co.za.