The first WSM Newham Adult Fives was a great success recently (Mon 2 August). Five teams from various Churches in Newham battled it out in entertaining but hard fought games for the World Sport Ministries Cup.

Two players stood out for their skill, effort and sporting attitudes and received player of the tournament medals. Jason from Cliff Walk Rovers and Nikead from Bonny Down’s Summer Scheme were the two stars. Other players catching the eye were Dipo Oni and Gareth Bebb for Cliff Walk Rovers, Joel Matthews for Cliff Walk City, Richard Marzetti and Pete Laing for Bonny Downs Church.

Despite losing all 4 games the Summer Scheme lads showed great spirit throughout their games. Bonny Downs Church, Cliff Walk City and Cliff Walk Rovers all won 2 and lost 2 games each. Cliff Walk Rovers taking second place on goal difference. The inaugural and comfortable winners with 4 wins from 4 games and a goal difference of plus 12 were the Gateway City team. Leader Dan Grassham’s pretournament quote “I’m quite confident of victory” was quite prophetic!

After the tournament Referee Mark Blythe shared how his thoughts about Suarez of Uruguay went from very high to low during the World Cup. What a shame that a superb player will now be remember just for his cheating, like Maradona, and not his amazing ability.
Mark shared how God had proved himself to him and how his life is now transformed through his belief in what Jesus did for him. Sadly his footballing ability didn’t improve but being able to deal with disappointment has!

The players were challenged to ask their team manager to find out more about what Jesus really did and why.

Results:
Bonny Downs 4 Cliff Walk City 2
Summer Scheme 1 Gateway City 4
Cliff Walk City 5 Summer Scheme 3
Cliff Walk Rovers 2 Bonny Downs 1
Gateway City 3 Cliff Walk Rovers 1
Bonny Downs 4 Summer Scheme 3
Summer Scheme 1 Cliff Walk Rovers 5
Cliff Walk City 1 Gateway City 4
Gateway City 6 Bonny Downs 1
Cliff Walk Rovers 3 Cliff Walk City 5

It was the second of WSM Bath’s monthly men’s football outreach called ‘Kick Off’. This 5 a side tournament grows from strength to strength with 4 teams from Holy Trinity Combe Down, St Michaels and Bath City Church competing for the July prize. There was a great spirit of ‘competitive fair play’ with St Michaels beating one of the BCC teams in the final on penalties! Over 30 men (plus some adoring family and friends!) enjoyed the football, fellowship and a ministry talk from Ndiana before he jetted off the following to return to Nigeria. James Faux from St Michaels was voted ‘Player of the Tournament’ and many teams brought guests that don’t currently attend church.

This month’s tournament is Thursday 26th August, 6.30pm at Ralph Allen School, Claverton Down Road, Bath. Please call Kick Off Co-ordinator Nelson on 07578 930942 if you would like to come and play or watch.

WSM Bath and Bristol partnered with volunteers from local churches to stage 8 different Get Sported Camps over four weeks of the school summer holidays in Frome, Bath, South Bristol and North Bristol. A brilliant time was had by all  including 15 different daily character qualities built into ‘Teamwork’, ‘Changing Teams’, and ‘Winning & Losing’ ministry curriculums plus great sports coaching and fun games through football, rugby, tennis, cricket, softball, athletics, baseball, volleyball, basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Ringo, team building, dodgeball, handball, dance, arts and crafts and performing arts through a partnership with Freedom Theatre Company.

Over 300 different children between the ages of 5-12 attended the camps in total, all hearing the good news of Jesus and many making decisions to follow Him. It was wonderful to have so many volunteers from local churches helping on the camps including over 25 ‘Young Leaders’ who joined to assist and be mentored over the summer.