Mention the name “Costa Del Sol” and most people think immediately of hot sunny days relaxing on the beach or at the pool side with no thought of work back home. However, when you look beyond all this you will be able to see there is a great need spiritually. Spain is a country covered so often in glorious sunshine drawing millions of visitors to it each year, but yet is one which is in spiritual darkness especially among the Spanish people themselves.
For some time C4C have been burdened for this vast country, and on Sunday 28th August 6 football coaches arrived in Spain to engage in a week of evangelism through football coaching.
Our hosts were Michael & Julie Chitty who are serving God in Velez Malaga. This is a large town 30 minutes east of Malaga on the south coast and sits nestled in the hills behind the seafront town of Torre Del Mar.
Entering into the unknown God exceeded all expectations as approximately 70 kids and teenagers heard the good news of Jesus Christ over the 4 days of coaching. In addition to this many parents listened in daily to the message being proclaimed and were very receptive of it. Perhaps for many of them it was the very first time they heard the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our morning session each day with 5-10 year olds was held indoors due to the excessive heat outside. In between short breaks for water the kids thoroughly enjoyed the football drills and games but the greatest joy of all was seeing them listen so intently to the talks on Creation, Sin, Jesus Christ and Salvation.
The late afternoon session was held on the beach in Torre Del Mar. The beach was somewhat quieter due to school term being just around the corner but a consistent number of young people returned each day to play football and listen to the gospel. Again, it seems for most of them if not all, it was the first time they heard it, and what a joy it was to see the way they listened.
In the evening time we returned to Velez Malaga where we coached 10-14 year olds. Coming from areas where drugs and alcohol abound it was a privilege to be able to draw alongside them and share our message with them also.
One of the main barriers for us was the language but this didn’t hinder trust being built between the coaches and the players. Michael did an excellent job in translating for us, but all were treated to the lesson in full in Spanish as David Graham, one of C4C’s very own coaches, spoke in their native language which was a first for him.
Michael Chitty is also a presenter on Coastline FM as he hosts a 2 hour radio show each Sunday morning in English. On the Friday evening Michael interviewed each of the team individually regarding their association and role with C4C, and this was aired on Sunday morning.
Overall it was a week of great opportunity in reaching un-churched folks especially. God helped us in many amazing ways. New doors have opened for Michael and Julie into their local community and our prayer now is that God will give the increase.
About Andy Harris
