As I reflect upon the last 12 years of Sports Friends’ ministry, I am amazed by how God has used the simple yet powerful platform of sports to transform lives and strengthen communities.

From our beginnings in Ethiopia, God is now touching lives in 13 countries around the world. Almost 130,000 young people are being reached out to by godly coaches and mentors each day, and many of their families and communities are also being transformed by the Gospel.

As you will see on the following pages, 2013 was a year of new initiatives, significant growth in the ministry, and great Kingdom impact.

Without your partnership this ministry would not be possible. I hope our year-end review will be an encouragement to you as you see how God has been working through sports ministry all around the world in 2013.

Thank you!

Tripp JohnstonSports Friends Co-Founder and International Director

A Message from the Director

READ MORE LIKE THIS EACH WEEK: www.sports-friends.org/blog

SOUTH ASIA - THE UNLIKELY OUTSIDE

ETHIOPIA - HOPE TO THE HOPELESS

On the outside, Sister Sachi - a widow in her early 60’s - seems an unlikely sports minister. She travelled by train a day each way in order to attend our 4-day training in South Asia. She was one of the most attentive trainees during the classroom sessions, writing copious notes, and whilst she was not able to join in the practical field sessions, she was on the sideline at every one – even at six in the morning!

Her heart was overflowing with a desire to reach out to the young people in her community. She knew they loved sport. She was desperate to reach out to them with the truth of the Gospel. She had heard about sports ministry and knew this could be a great way to connect with them.

She shared at the end of the training about how much she had learned and about her intention to return to her village and start a sports team for these young people the very next week! Because being an effective sports minister is not primarily about your sports skill or ability, or age, or gender… but about your love for Jesus and your love for the lost.

Meet Jamal, a lanky 16-year-old boy, whose biggest fear is death. Jamal’s caretaker gave him the news – like his mother and the rest of his family – she was going to die from HIV/AIDS and that he too suffered from the disease.

Three years ago, Jamal gave up hope of living and he stopped taking his medication. This summer, unaware of his condition, Jamal’s coach selected him to come to Camp Langano for a week. As the camp staff showed Christ’s love to Jamal, he sought out the reason for the love and the joy within each member of the staff, and shared the secret that had been weighing on him for years. Our staff pointed him to Jesus and explained that through a relationship with Christ, he does not need to fear death.

Oh how sweet the good news of the Gospel is to those who have experienced the depths of the harsh and sinful world we live in. Pray that the hearts of the campers will be open, that our staff would boldly proclaim the Gospel, and ultimately that the Lord would save the youth of Ethiopia!

CAMPING MINISTRY

# YOUTH PARTICIPANTS INCREASED BY 37%

INCREASED BY 42%

FIRST BASICTRAINING IN PERU

FIRST CAMP FOR DISABLED KIDS

IN ETHIOPIA

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH A DENOMINATION

TO ENTER A RESTRICTED COUNTRY IN SE ASIA

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAMS ARE IN PLACE IN

SENEGAL, GHANA & NIGER

WE’VE ALSO PRODUCED 13 SHORT FILMS TOSHARE WHAT GOD ISDOING THROUGH SPORTS FRIENDS’ MINISTRY:www.vimeo.com/sportsfriends

FIRST BASICTRAINING IN

ZAMBIA

FIRST BASICTRAINING INSOUTH ASIA

FIRST RESIDENTIAL CAMP IN THAILAND

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP TRANSITION IN NIGERIA

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

TOTAL DONATIONS / REVENUE: $624,400

EXPENSES:

SPORTS FRIENDS PROGRAM EXPENSES: $493,008CONSTRUCTION COSTS AT CAMP LANGANO: $16,417SIM ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES: $67,909SPORTS FRIENDS PROMOTION & FUNDRAISING EXPENSES: $16,075

SURPLUS FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR: $30,991

PERCENTAGE OF SF 2013 PROGRAM EXPENSES BY COUNTRY/REGION:

*

* ALL FIGURES ARE IN US DOLLARS

ETHIOPIA 41%

NIGERIA 14%OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES 8%

ASIA 25%

SOUTH AMERICA 1%

INTERNATIONAL 11%

OUR ANNUAL MINISTRY COST IS LESS THAN $5 PER YOUTH PARTICIPANT!

CAMPAIGN UPDATE;;;;;;;;;; 0 ;;;;;;;;;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

2013 COACHES CAMPAIGNRAISED FUNDING TO TRAIN 905 NEW COACHES

AT $75/COACH = $67,875www.sports-friends.org/coaches

2013 CAMPER SCHOLARSHIP CAMPAIGN RAISED FUNDING TO SEND 2,765 KIDS TO CAMP

AT $50/KID = $138,250www.sports-friends.org/camperscholarships

TOTAL FUNDS RAISED FROM ALL SOURCES:

$624,400

REFLECTING AN 11% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR!

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www.sports-friends.orgSPORTS FRIENDS IS A MINISTRY OF

www.sim.org