Hi all,
This is my first post on the board, but I have been reading the board for a while. To the other Nathan's on the board I apologise for increasing our number (but it is a fabulous name isn't it).

My reason for joining the board and posting here is to share some wonderful encouragement. Whilst the league is obviously great fun and we all enjoy playing footy on a Saturday morning, the most important thing is that we glorify God and bear witness to his gospel. That is why we set up Grace FC and I know that is also the motivation behind all the other teams too.

In that vein, I thought I would share some of how God has been using our opening weeks in the league:
We have had some great conversations with some of our players (and random passing spectators in the park) who have been challenged by our desire to honour the Lord through our conduct on the pitch.

We had a prayer breakfast a week ago before our game against Powerhouse and 2 of our non-Christian players came along.

Yesterday one of our non-Christian players came to church for the first time in his life. He really enjoyed it, had lots of questions and has said he wants to come next week too.

Praise the Lord! Isn't he wonderfully gracious to allow people like us to participate in his Gospel through playing the beautiful game.

Please pray for us as we continue to share Christ with our players and their families.

Nathan R
Grace Church FC Team Manager

P.S. It would be great to use this board more to share encouragements and prayer requests so we can spur one another on and partner with each other in the gospel. I would love to know what is going on with the other teams so I can pray for you specifically.

Woah, woah, woah!! It's one thing having lots of Nathans on the board, but now we've got another Nathan R!!! I thought I was reading my own post, and had had a senior moment and completely forgotten what I'd been up to.

But thanks for posting, and it's good to hear what God has been up to with your team. It's a good reminder of what the league should be about.

Right, I'm off to change my signature.....

Nice one Nathan. Inspirational.

Definitely worth sharing these things on the board rather than just league meetings, because it's more than just the managers' responsibility to bear witness, and therefore more than just the managers who would benefit from this encouragement.

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Very good point! Sounds like your congregation is a bit like ours on this front.