Giving God an assist
Staff writer
Two local basketball players traveled to the Ukraine to share God's word as part of a sports ambassador program.
Bruce Jost and Bryan Wichert were part of an outreach ministry program of sports ambassadors.
Ten basketball players went on the trip through OC International's sports ambassador program. The idea is to share testimonies as an outreach tool, according to Jost.
The other eight basketball players were all from California but there was a Hillsboro connection.
Phil Goertzen, a Tabor alumni, and son of Gaylord and Peggy Goertzen of Hillsboro, had been on the trip two years ago and contacted Jost and Wichert about taking part in the mission this year. The trip to the Ukraine was Goertzen's third.
A former Tabor student and Hillsboro resident who made the trip was Kyle Fast, son of Dennis and Connie Fast. Dennis is the former pastor of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
"I was hesitant to go," said Jost, "but deep down I knew I would go. I couldn't ignore God knocking on the door."
Jost was hesitant at first because there were so many firsts for him. International travel, mission work, and sharing his testimony were all new things.
Jost's wife Kim was insistent. In fact, she would have loved to have gone on the trip herself.
"She was completely supportive of my going," said Jost.
Wichert had been on similar trips before and they had always been good experiences.
"I felt like since I'm able, I should be willing to serve God in this way," said Wichert.
Before the trip began, the challenges began. Each basketball player needed to raise $2,500 for expenses.
Both Jost and Wichert accomplished their goal by writing to friends and family. Jost was able to raise more than the needed money and tied the donations to his church, Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren, by promising to donate any excess funds to the church building fund.
Another challenge before leaving was getting into shape. The basketball players needed to be physically fit enough to play eight games in 10 days.
Jost worked out at Tabor, played basketball, ran, and jumped rope.
He had been doing all these things before the trip came up, "the main thing was trying to be more consistent with it."
Wichert and Jost also were able to visit the other eight players in California, where they met and played some ball.
According to Jost, the California meeting really helped.
"We got to know about the culture, things we should and shouldn't say, and found out what we would be doing," he said.
The group was told they could expect some tough questions and they should prepare themselves for how they would answer. They also had to be ready to give a 90-second testimonial.
Besides playing basketball and sharing their testimonials, the group would visit orphanages, English classes, and youth centers.
Jost and Wichert flew to Los Angeles where they joined the rest of the team. From California, the group flew to Frankfurt, Germany, then to Kiev where they took a train to Kryvh-rih, the town where they stayed.
The days were full of activities, according to Jost, and that was good.
The team would get up, have a big breakfast, visit an English class or orphanage to share their message, have lunch, give a basketball clinic, play a basketball game, have dinner, then go back to the hotel.
During half time at the basketball games, two of the players would come forward to share their testimonies. The testimonies had to be translated so the players needed to get directly to the point.
Jost's testimony was that he is from Kansas and he has happiness and joy in his life because he has Jesus Christ in his life.
To help share their message, the ambassadors would hand out salvation flyers. The kids would sometimes use the flyers to get autographs after the game.
Jost was hopeful the kids would keep the flyers and maybe pin them up in their rooms. It was a "seed planting trip," said Jost.
Another way the team shared its message was at The Shelter, a new youth center. The hang out is based on the Christian faith and had its grand opening while the team was in the Ukraine. The basketball players attended the opening, talked with the kids, gave testimonies, and did ball tricks.
Wichert said the staff at The Shelter was one of the things on the trip that impacted him the most.
"It was really something to see these young people on fire with such passion for their work," he said.
A teacher from one of the English classes came to the grand opening of The Shelter. The next day he was there again, and when they did an altar call, he was one of the 17 people who made a commitment to Christ.
"What an incredible influence he can have on others as an English teacher," said Jost.
Another young man from a basketball team they played also came to The Shelter the day of the altar call. He didn't accept Christ that day, but he had traveled three hours each way to The Shelter.
"We can only hope the words we had to say had an impact on him," said Jost.
Wichert said that a lot of times on mission trips people go with the impression that they will convert a lot of people, "but we knew this would just be a seed-planting trip."
Both Wichert and Jost felt the trip was an overwhelming success.
"I can't imagine it going any better than it did," said Jost. "with the elements of basketball, testimonies, and the way we as a team represented the Lord. A lot of the guys said it really exceeded their expectations."
The team played some college club teams, a professional basketball team, and even a handicapped team in wheelchairs.
"That was the most fun game we played," said Jost.
The ambassador team played in wheelchairs too, and according to Jost, "they pounded us, they were better in the chairs."
The team won five games and lost three, but "it's not about the wins and losses," said Jost. "It's about the message."
