June 2012 Update
Life-on-Life Discipleship
Oscar is 16 years old and lives in Gichagi slum outside of Ngong, Kenya. As is common in Gichagi, his family is poor and his parents are underemployed laborers, searching for work day after day in hopes of earning enough money to pay for food and other necessities.
Oscar discovered Vapor’s center in Gichagi shortly after it opened in 2010 and soon began playing in the soccer leagues. At the Vapor center, Oscar and his family have access to fresh, clean water to drink. They are also exposed to other aspects of Vapor’s humanitarian outreach, including health education and disease-prevention training. In Vapor’s soccer leagues, Oscar has his very own uniform to wear and he is able to play soccer on lush, green fields instead of playing in the streets.
Most importantly, Oscar is being discipled and learning about Christ at the Vapor center. His coach, Rafael, teaches him from the Bible after every practice and game.
“Since I came to Vapor, I really thank God for the opportunity that I have to be a student at Vapor Sports Ministries,” Oscar says. “Ever since I joined, I have learned more of the Word of God. I now know that Jesus is Lord and he died on the cross for our sins and he gave his life on my behalf.”
All of Vapor’s indigenous staff members who teach in the sports leagues, like Oscar’s coach, have also been discipled at the Vapor center. The model of life-on-life discipleship begins when Vapor field representatives move to a community to begin establishing a center. These representatives spend about two years discipling local leaders within the community who will run the center upon its completion. The leaders then disciple Vapor coaches, who in turn, disciple children and youth like Oscar, with the hope that these children and youth will also disciple others.
“We have been taught a lot in life-on-life discipleship after every training session,” Oscar explains. “And that has helped me to know that Jesus is the Messiah. He came to present himself as the Prophet, King and High Priest. I now know that God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is my Helper, Guide and Protector. I have also learned that he is three in one person: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Vapor’s coaches seek to provide practical application of what the Bible says. The aim is for each child’s character to develop through Vapor’s mentoring model, for children and youth to demonstrate Christ’s love to those around them and for these children to become strong Christian leaders in their communities.
“My coach has been teaching me how to love one another just as Christ loves me, [how to] respect our elder brothers, sisters and parents," Oscar says.
Children who are enrolled in Vapor’s leagues, like Oscar, each find a safe place to play their favorite sport. While they are playing the sport they love, these children hear — many for the first time — about the One who loves them. Through utilizing the local sport of choice in communities where centers are established, Vapor seeks to multiply disciples by equipping local children, youth and adults to not only be discipled, but to also disciple others.
Vapor’s mission is to establish self-sustaining centers for humanitarian aid and disciple making in third-world environments. To learn how you can partner with Vapor to alleviate poverty, equip the unequipped and multiply disciples, call us at 256.208.2060 or visit us on the web at www.vaporsports.org.
Life is a vapor,
Micah McElveen
Oscar discovered Vapor’s center in Gichagi shortly after it opened in 2010 and soon began playing in the soccer leagues. At the Vapor center, Oscar and his family have access to fresh, clean water to drink. They are also exposed to other aspects of Vapor’s humanitarian outreach, including health education and disease-prevention training. In Vapor’s soccer leagues, Oscar has his very own uniform to wear and he is able to play soccer on lush, green fields instead of playing in the streets.
Most importantly, Oscar is being discipled and learning about Christ at the Vapor center. His coach, Rafael, teaches him from the Bible after every practice and game.
“Since I came to Vapor, I really thank God for the opportunity that I have to be a student at Vapor Sports Ministries,” Oscar says. “Ever since I joined, I have learned more of the Word of God. I now know that Jesus is Lord and he died on the cross for our sins and he gave his life on my behalf.”
All of Vapor’s indigenous staff members who teach in the sports leagues, like Oscar’s coach, have also been discipled at the Vapor center. The model of life-on-life discipleship begins when Vapor field representatives move to a community to begin establishing a center. These representatives spend about two years discipling local leaders within the community who will run the center upon its completion. The leaders then disciple Vapor coaches, who in turn, disciple children and youth like Oscar, with the hope that these children and youth will also disciple others.
“We have been taught a lot in life-on-life discipleship after every training session,” Oscar explains. “And that has helped me to know that Jesus is the Messiah. He came to present himself as the Prophet, King and High Priest. I now know that God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is my Helper, Guide and Protector. I have also learned that he is three in one person: God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Vapor’s coaches seek to provide practical application of what the Bible says. The aim is for each child’s character to develop through Vapor’s mentoring model, for children and youth to demonstrate Christ’s love to those around them and for these children to become strong Christian leaders in their communities.
“My coach has been teaching me how to love one another just as Christ loves me, [how to] respect our elder brothers, sisters and parents," Oscar says.
Children who are enrolled in Vapor’s leagues, like Oscar, each find a safe place to play their favorite sport. While they are playing the sport they love, these children hear — many for the first time — about the One who loves them. Through utilizing the local sport of choice in communities where centers are established, Vapor seeks to multiply disciples by equipping local children, youth and adults to not only be discipled, but to also disciple others.
Vapor’s mission is to establish self-sustaining centers for humanitarian aid and disciple making in third-world environments. To learn how you can partner with Vapor to alleviate poverty, equip the unequipped and multiply disciples, call us at 256.208.2060 or visit us on the web at www.vaporsports.org.
Life is a vapor,
Micah McElveen
WATCH THE VIDEO
To learn more about life-on-life discipleship at Vapor centers, click here to watch a short video.
To learn more about life-on-life discipleship at Vapor centers, click here to watch a short video.
