items of interest

with contributions from Richard Dymond, Jan Norman, Matt Sedensky, Howard Manly

"THE BIBLE DOESN'T ACTUALLY mention if Jesus Christ played any team sports, but Bradenton [,Florida's] Jacob Batey, 6, thinks Jesus would have played soccer. . . . Jacob and about 50 other local children, Christians and non-Christians, are expected to take part in an On Goal Soccer Camp, dedicated to Jesus' teaching....

"On Goal believes in letting children love each other and learn sportsmanship, Butch Morley [a former semi-professional South African soccer player] said. 'We really give the kids a fun time,' said Morley, who is also the goalkeeper coach at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota. 'We do have a half-hour Bible time during the day, but we encourage people of all faiths to come. We are a Christian organization, but we would like to see Muslims, Hindus, and Jews. We don't want it exclusive to Christians.' Some parents, like Jacob's mother, Wendy Batey, like the reduced emphasis on winning and scoring points that camps like On Goal promote. . . . Asked what being Christian meant to him, Jacob said, unabashed, 'It's about loving and kindness.' "

Richard Dymond
The Bradenton Herald
"Soccer camp mixes religion and sport"
August 2, 2003

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