|
This year Missoula Montana's
team grew by adding a strong contingent of players from Biose,
Idaho; and the Vancouver team was joined by a disciple from Calgary.
Sunday service was deeply moving with Eric
Parmelee sharing an honest account of how God has set him free from
a life of abuse and bitterness. Greg Bodzioch shared a personal
example of perseverance and love in teaching the Word: that
notwithstanding these unstable times in the kingdom, a woman in his
bible talk was being baptized at that very moment. (Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the
joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart. Heb. 12:2-3)
One of the tournament founders, Patrice
Adjibly made a plea to help raise funds for thousands of refugees
(mostly women and children) in the war-torn Ivory Coast. The NW
Medical Teams International has committed to donating $5 million in
relief medical supplies for clinics in the Ivory Coast if Patrice
can raise $54,000 to ship the supplies. The 40-foot containers
include syringes, bandages, antibiotics, respiratory medications and
IV start-up catheters. It costs about $6,000 to ship each
container. Contributions can be made to the Ivory Coast
Medical Relief Fund/Northwest Medical Teams at any Bank of America
branch. To God's glory, the Portland church donated $1,580.10 raised
from the Sunday service needs contribution to the Ivory Coast
Medical Relief Team. If you can help, please contact Patrice at padjibly@icmrt.org
or visit the website www.icmrt.org
Financial gifts can also be made by calling Northwest Medical Teams
at 1-800-959-4325, online at www.nwmedicalteams.org,
or by mail at PO Box 10, Portland, OR 97207.
Truly, the best part of the tournament was
how much the love and faithfulness of the disciples greatly
encouraged everyone in the fellowship. If you would like to play or
send a team from your church to next years tournament, please
contact duanecarson@mac.com
Highlights from the Game
• Young teen Ryan Scheibley (SF United) bravely popping
his knee back into place and had a gutsy performance against a
strong Seattle team
• Calgary goalie Glenn Sullivan (formerly with Canada's
2001 national champion team, "King of Donair" from Halifax
Nova Scotia) putting it all on the line and saving his team again
and again despite pulled muscles
• Novice Portland players Sandy Lunde and Jerusha Canning
played a determined, tough game
• Photographers and videographers working two full days
capturing the event on film, thanks to James Heidingsfelder, Shion
Ikizake, Ray Delarosa, John Mitchell and others.
• S.F. United's Duane Carson slicing through the opposition with
near perfect execution to score 5 of 8 goals for his team (plus
refereeing 2 games)
The 2004 tournament is scheduled for July
10 -11th to be held in Portland,
Oregon.
Quotes from the coaches, players...
- "Thank you so much for the great
weekend....it was a blast....I missed my Major league game last
night due to injury...but my spirit is refreshed beyond my
expectations...thank you to all who proved that God's kingdom is
an immoveable force...that will last forever...and I want to say
that our homes and our lives in Calgary are always open to any
of you, if you are ever in the area...see you next year...Hey
Carson...still got the offer to play for San Fran? Hahahahaha."
-Glen P Sullivan
- "Vancouver thanks all the players
and the Portland organizers for their efforts in making this
tournament a success. Thank you Jay & Angel as well as Alan
for their added efforts!! If it helps to bring great fellowship
and stronger unity then I say Amen.
Congratulations Seattle, a great effort to get the win!" --
Ed Tu
- "This is the kind of week ends one
remembers the rest of his/her life. Many thanks to the mighty
Portland church of Christ, and its awesome members. You truly
took this event to a different level. The entire Seattle Spirit
very much appreciated your hospitality, love, and generosity.
The service was excellent in many ways, and hearts were changed
in our team. Thank you all for the opportunity to share about my
family...You refreshed my heart with gratitude and gave me once
more a taste of how great God and his kingdom are." --
Patrice Adjibly
- "First of all, I want to thank all
the Portland guys again for hosting the NLI tournament this
year. It was so much fun and we had such a great time! Second of
all, I know for me the one thing that has caught me the last 2
years is that the Church services have probably been my favorite
and the most impactful of any I have gone to in the last couple
of years....All of us that were able to come up from San
Francisco had a great time, even though we had to surrender our
trophy :-)." -- Duane Carson
- "God is awesome, He loves us and
it shows. Hats off to Jay and his team and all the Portland
brothers and sisters who organized a first class tournament. I
had a lot of fun and was refreshed in my faith by a joyful,
humble Sunday Service. No doubt a big party was going on in
Heaven also because of the brotherhood and servanthood displayed
during those 2 days... And it's so encouraging to think that God
could use us and the tournament to save a soul or more!!! The
Vancouver team came back home with tons of memories to share to
inspire and encourage the Church." -- Manuel Labridy
|
