Ambridge Lacrosse

This weekend begins another adventure for Ambridge Youth Ignite. Since, Shea and I moved to Ambridge in 2006, I have hoped to create a lacrosse team here. It hasn't happened. However, this weekend is the start of our registration for the Ambridge Area Lacrosse Team. I am excited and nervous and also curious to see what happens. Let me tell you a little about why I think lacrosse could be an important addition to the ministry we have here in Ambridge.

First, lacrosse doesn't exist in Ambridge, it didn't exist in the county up until a few years ago and there is now one girls team near Beaver Falls (not near Ambridge).

Second, lacrosse is known as a privileged sport, as in people who have money or status or both play lacrosse. US Lacrosse is trying to break down that wall and I'd love to help them.

Third, we have had lacrosse for 5 summers of Ambridge Sports Camp and the youth love it, but they really can't play it outside of that one week of camp.

Fourth, I know that I can connect with youth and show them Christ through lacrosse.

Fifth, I believe in God who wants to be worshiped in all parts of our life, why not lacrosse?

Lacrosse for me and bringing it here to Ambridge, is like taking the sports & arts camp to Peru. In both, we want to give the youth something that they have never had...bring them joy through it...help them make new friends...connect with loving leaders...and connect with a God who loves them.

Final thoughts on Peru

“I never thought the camp would go this well"

Many times over the week of sports and arts camp at San Mateo Church in Lima, Peru, I thought, expressed and prayed thanksgivings that included these words. All week long I was in awe of the way God made a way for us to speak about Him through sports and arts in another culture. The youth were receptive to everything we put in front of them. They excelled at the arts portion of the camp and loved being exposed to sports like American football. The week in Lima went better than any week I have had leading sports and arts camp in Ambridge. It was truly amazing and our team hopes that we can be fire starters that helped begin a new youth ministry at San Mateo. Please pray for the youth and their leaders at San Mateo.

We have been back for several days now, the youth and the camp have never been far from my mind. As I pray for the youth and San Mateo, I can’t help wonder why in the world things went so well in Lima. With that I am praying about the possibility of starting sports and arts camps in other states and countries. If it works in Pennsylvania and Peru, why not Jordan and Mississippi or Michigan and Uganda? Pray for us as we seek God’s direction in this area. Pray also that God’s Kingdom will come and all the people of this world will know of his love, grace and that God desires to be in relationship with each of them.



My surprise that I have been waiting to tell you all about (you may have forgotten by now) was that we did a traditional Peruvian dance our last day in Lima. We practiced after camp each day we were down there. A few of the practices were very difficult and taxing (I have a new respect for dancers). I hope to have the video up in a few days...its definitely something to see :).