This San Diego Impact Trip was an opportunity for me to see God work in powerful and unexpected ways. It was so cool for me to be a part of this group and see how God could use us collectively, despite our weaknesses. We weren’t the most experienced team. We weren’t a group of veteran Christians who have been all walking with Jesus for 20 + years or something. We weren’t the most eloquent, but yet, God used us so missionally for His kingdom. It was a fresh reminder to me that God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called. I was able to see how God could use some of us who were new in our faith to do Kingdom work for Him by simply having faith and taking a step of obedience forward. For myself personally, I haven’t always been the strongest at evangelism. I always felt like I needed to know everything about the Bible, apologetics, scientific arguments for defending the faith, so forth and so forth, in order to have a conversation with some about Jesus. I was able to see on this trip that really all I needed to do was meet someone where they were at, love on them, tell them Jesus loves them too and the rest was in God’s sure hands. It was a reminder too that God could use the areas where I was lacking, purposefully for Him. 

​

I came into the San Diego Summer Impact Experience lukewarm in my faith. I listened to worship music every day and was in church weekly, but I drove past the homeless person on the corner and never took time to listen to others’ stories that didn’t look, act, think and believe like me.

Well, beginning June 7, 2019, all of that changed.

Our first couple of days in Carlsbad, CA, were filled with tremendous professional and spiritual development sessions at the Daniel Summit. I learned so many valuable lessons from men and women of faith in the sport industry. Perhaps the biggest blessing I took away was how each leader was focused on making time for his or her family outside of the office, no matter the position. Even the President of the San Diego Padres takes games off to spend time with his wife and boys. How cool is that?!

The next day, on Sunday, I believe, we did evangelism on the beach in Oceanside. I had a couple of surreal encounters with spiritual warfare. The first encounter was with a man – we’ll call him Jason. Jason was homeless and originally from Colorado. He had saved up just enough money to take a tram all the way to California. He was recovering from a heroin addiction and trying to get back on his feet. You could tell he was searching for something . . . more. A few other teammates and I shared our faith with him. When we got to the main points about Jesus, his face and eyes would lock in on me, and he would
get visibly angry. So angry, that he got up and walked away while yelling. While this wasn’t the result I wanted, it was cool to see that Satan has to flee at the mention of the name Jesus Christ. I still pray for this man, that he would ultimately find the One who loves his soul the most. The second encounter was with a couple – we’ll call them Jim and Jan. Jim was struggling with an alcohol addiction and couldn’t get clean. Jan was overwhelmed with life’s circumstances – battling cancer, six weeks pregnant, homeless and addicted to methamphetamine. My heart was crushed to hear of what they were staring head on.
Fortunately, in the prior interaction with Jason, we had linked with a Christian ministry that does beach outreach, drug rehabilitation and counseling. After conversing with the couple for several minutes, they agreed to walk with us to meet with the ministry called “U-Turn4Christ.” After about ten minutes of getting information, Jim and Jan were booked into a rehab program as a couple and are now in the process of recovering from addiction. Please continue to pray daily for these three individuals – for healing, salvation and ultimate freedom.

Monday was a professional development day in Los Angeles. We were more than blessed to sit in the offices of the L.A. Chargers, UCLA Women’s Basketball, L.A. Galaxy and potentially the most prominent franchise in all of professional sports – the Los Angeles Lakers. While all the professional teams were very cordial with us and definitely went above and beyond to serve us, UCLA Women’s Basketball won my attention for the day. Head coach Cori Close spoke to us for a solid hour and thirty minutes. I could not believe it, because she had about thirty seconds to get to a recruiting call with a big-time recruit after speaking to us. I felt unbelievably honored. On top of the sheer amount of time she gave us, she was FULL of the Holy Spirit. From the moment she opened her mouth, nothing but Jesus came from her. The way she runs her program, her attitude towards others and how much her relationship with
God sets the tone for her life was truly awe-inspiring. I have sat on a lot of lecture with a lot of influential people, but Coach Cori’s talk has stuck with me and will stick with me forever. So, Coach Cori, if you read this, THANK YOU!

The next day, we had the opportunity to serve the homeless in downtown San Diego. We packed hygiene packs and informational pamphlets for locals to know that they are loved and welcome at the San Diego Rescue Mission. I was only able to have one conversation – let’s call him Chris. Chris was just released from prison after serving eight years. He had taken a Greyhound bus from Wisconsin to San Diego and literally lives on the street. I approached him as he was sleeping on the grass, offered to buy him a few snacks and beverage from a nearby Starbucks. He sat up so quickly and agreed to let me help. Immediately, I was humbled and realized how many blessings I have in my life. After sitting down with the snacks, Chris and I ventured into conversation about his story – because everyone has one. He told me about his childhood, where he’s been and how he got to San Diego. Despite his circumstances, he seemed optimistic about his future. After sharing my faith with him at the end of the conversation, I was able to pray with him and left him in good spirits.

On Wednesday, we had the blessing of serving the church that had/has served us so well – North Coast Calvary Chapel. We started off with their staff Bible study. We were blessed to hear from MOAM’s own-Drew Boe in the book of Jeremiah and where / if we are looking to God in the midst of our mess. Then, we were able to lead the student ministry service at North Coast Calvary Chapel. Several students accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, which was the biggest blessing. Oddly enough, the drummer for the student worship team is from Newport, TN, about 45 minutes east of my hometown in
Tennessee. So, it was cool to see the 865 represented in SoCal. New friendships were formed. New life in Christ was found.

On Thursday, we went on a group hike along the coast. This was one of the more physically demanding things I’ve done. The first 3.5 miles weren’t bad at all, but the final mile or so was at about a 95% incline. My legs have never been so strained from exhaustion. Every 10 steps, I would turn around and look to see how far I’d gone. Perhaps this is a good spiritual reminder for us. Even if we only take 10 little steps in our faith, when we see progress in our spiritual lives, we are inspired and pushed to go deeper and further.

Like that, our week was over, and we were headed to the airport. To be frank, I was pretty emotional leaving this group of people. I had bonded and formed true relationships with almost every individual there – that was special. I just wish I had a little more time to make those relationships stronger. While we were short on group-bonding time there, we did have awesome team Bible studies that, no matter how exhausted we were, always seemed to force us to press in just a little bit more and allow God to move and shape us.

In conclusion, I am beyond grateful and humbled to have gone on the San Diego Impact Experience with Managers on a Mission. To Drew, Seth and Mikey, thank you for believing in me, my broken story and everything the Lord is doing in my life. To my MOAM family, thank you for being encouragers who love to love others and desire excellence in sport. To anyone considering joining Mangers on a Mission for an Impact Experience - just do it!

Some of life’s most beautiful moments happen when things don’t go exactly as planned. Each day I encounter circumstances that force me to change my plans on the fly. Life is too short to worry and complain about these circumstances. Instead, I try to see God’s beauty in these moments which is much easier said than done. Most of the time it isn’t until afterwards that I see the beauty of the moment that took place.

For example, we planned on having 350 children for our first sports camp in Jinja only to find
out we’d only have 50 children upon arrival. However, once the camp started, kids from every corner of the streets came to join us, and the number was once again close to 350. At the time is was chaotic, stressful, and annoying. The kids didn’t always seem interested in what we were teaching, their English speaking was minimal, and the sun was beating down. When the day was all said and done, and I had time to reflect on it, the beauty was there even though I couldn’t see it at the time. That was probably the first time any of those children had experienced anything like that and something they will remember for a long time. Despite the lack of actual skills that we were able to teach the kids, we were able to change their lives in a different way, by showing them love.

Another roadblock (literally a roadblock) that we experienced happened when we were leaving from the first day of our sports camp in Gulu. Earlier that day, some of the kids had washed our bus and ended up creating a mud pile beneath it. Long story short, we didn’t leave right then. It probably took an hour or more to get the bus unstuck. There was just so much going on, so many people trying to help, and so many different ideas. For the first half of the process, the bus wouldn’t even budge, and it seemed like we were never getting out. The only appropriate response was to laugh away the worries and take advantage of each moment. When the wheels finally caught some traction, I just remember feeling the beauty and excitement of that moment.

The point of these two stories is that no matter what plans I make, God’s plans are better. If I’m not constantly on the lookout for these “unplanned” moments, I will miss out on God’s beauty in my life. I may have a plan for my life, but God’s plan will rule every time. What gives me the right to complain and stress about these wonderful moments that God carefully places in my life? This theme has persisted throughout my life, and this trip has opened my eyes to its true beauty. It is an experience that I will hold onto for the rest of my life.

As I reflect on my recent trip to Uganda, I stand in awe of God’s goodness and
faithfulness. Though we were only in Uganda for two weeks, it was eye-opening for me to see what can occur when one surrenders to the Lord and makes themselves available to be used by Him. My prayer every day as I walked around the soccer field next to our compound in Jinja, Uganda was I acknowledged Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (ESV). By praying that to start my day, I focused my attention on the Lord. Then, I would surrender myself to Him and let Him guide me through the day. These two things were vital for me because, in a distant country and new environment, it would be easy to complain about the mental and physical fatigue. I chose every day to withhold nothing from the Lord, and I believe that is why I got so much out of this trip.

There were four things that I encountered on this trip, which were the Lord, my purpose, my culture, and new relationships. At first, I expected to do sports camps, while interacting with children, and that would be our goal. However, though we did do sports activities, I found myself sharing my testimony, evangelizing, and even got to preach at church in Jinja. I got to witness the power of God, which was evident in services through our song and dance with them, and that was impactful. There were no large screens, no strobe lights, and no smoke machines. It was just a piano, a music track, and open hearts who praised Jesus. Despite the language and cultural barrier, God was glorified.

Next, I encountered my purpose on this trip where I felt the Lord reaffirm it. I have known that it is my purpose, through sports and evangelism, to inspire children and young adults with the Gospel, so the ability to do both simultaneously in a different country has moved me to pursue my goals even more. The chance to play soccer, give fist-bumps or high make beats with our hands, and share devotionals with them are what I will remember. Though the days seemed long, it was their smiles and laughter which motivated me to give it all I had.

Then, there was the aspect of encountering my culture. While growing up African
American, I was taught in school about our history which, is only acknowledged as far back to slavery and the early South as this country formed, and neither was this topic brought in my family. I took this as an opportunity to see what my African roots may be. I am not sure wheremy exact bloodline traces back to in Africa, but to step foot on the continent,  understand the people, hear the rhythms, and embrace their culture added extra value to this trip.

Lastly, I will walk away with new friendships made in both the United States and in
Uganda. Whether it is with my MOAM team or with Ugandan teachers and pastors, there were connections made that could be lifelong. I was concerned about staying with the same people for two weeks straight, especially since we had not gotten too much time to know each other, but thank God, we clicked right away when we first met in Minnesota, and things did not change in Uganda. We came as individuals but left as a family. I will not forget the bible studies, bus rides, and evening yoga sessions, which bonded us closer together and sharpened one another. Of course, there were little things like Coach Jo learning today’s colloquialisms like “bet” or “say less.” Then, there was Dan tapping into his hidden talents of relentless dancing. It was an honor to be surrounded by gifted individuals who exercised their gifts and grew in their faith.

This trip is what I believe the kingdom of God represents. It is individuals of different
backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, teaming up to use their gifts to bring joy and love
throughout our communities as we bring glory to God and lead people to Him. Now that this trip has ended and I adjust to my daily routine, I remind myself of the words of Dr. Seuss, “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.”  I thank God and MOAM for the opportunity to take part in this life-changing experience.

 My Managers on a Mission (MOAM) Summer Impact trip experience began through Twitter. I found out about MOAM because they followed me and my reaction after looking at
their profile and website was “This is way too good to be true”. I applied, got accepted to attend the Summer Impact Trip to Uganda, and every part of my experience since the moment I showed up at our Summer Impact Team training was just that: way too good to be true.

What God has done in providing a community of Christ centered servant leaders, within sport, to grow together in our walk with Him has been surreal. Meeting and connecting with so many other members of sports teams, all attempting to grow spiritually, left me with more energy than I ever have had before for my walk with God.

I attempted to approach our team’s summer impact experience without any expectations, and just accept what God had planned for us. I never thought that his plan would include us all coming together to pull our bus out of the mud, running with hundreds of African children away from the rain, myself praying over seven more people as they chose to accept Jesus Christ as their savior, and getting baptized in the Nile. The lessons that he has placed in my life through my teammates, and all the people we encountered on our journey are things I will take with me the rest of my life.

Even before our trip, I knew I was in for something special just by chatting with my teammates at training. Each person on the team brought something unique to the table and had a noticeable energy towards trying to grow in their relationship with God. I thought that there was no way that I could match their passion for Christ and was unqualified to be able to go with them on this trip. However, once we all began our journey together I realized that all of us were at different points in our spiritual journeys and no one expected me to be anything but myself.

Being able to share in the experiences God was putting in our lives, and how they were
impacting each of us, provided me with a tight community to share my faith that I never thought I’d find. Being vulnerable and sharing my true testimony for the first time to a large group of people terrified me. However, the acceptance and outpouring of love they showed me afterwards showed me I don’t have to be afraid to be myself. I can be who I am in every moment of every day because I know that God has placed the experiences he has in my life to be able to connect with and grow with the other souls he places around me.

I’m not sure what I expected from the Ugandan people that God has come to place in my
life, but I can assure you it isn’t what I found. The happiness of the people here doesn’t come from any sort of materials you have brought them, or resources you have blessed them with. They are happy because you exist and are with them at that given moment of time. They have shown me an appreciation for life, and the people we get to do life with, that I have never experienced. They are far more respectful than any other people that I have encountered in my life. When we would go out and do street evangelism, even if the people we encountered didn’t accept the knowledge we were giving them, they would give us their time and listen. They appreciated us taking time out of our days to spend with them.

My journey has been a little bit different than the rest of my teams due to the fact that
mine is still ongoing. I am in Uganda till August 8th and God is still using the people here to
continue to provide me with lessons each day. The main lesson that I have began to realize is that although my background and where I come from is so different from the people I have encountered here, we still have so much in common. Here they have grown up knowing relational blessings. In the United States we have grown up knowing material blessings. At the end of the day though, we are all people experiencing the blessings and trials that God is placing in our lives so that we may know him better, help others know him, and prepare us for eternity.

Jinja, Uganda and Gulu, Uganda are two of the most beautiful places in the world. The people who live in these places are absolutely wonderful people. The landscape is beautiful and the LOVE to LIVE LIFE is special. They are caring and loving people, who are full of energy. The 2 weeks that I was able to spend in Uganda with Managers On A Mission were 2 of the best weeks I have ever had! The group we had was unbelievable. Each team member impacted me positively and challenged me to become better in my faith and in my everyday
life. I look forward to keeping these relationships throughout the rest of my life. The relationships we were able to make with the school teachers and kids were so important to me and still are important to me. Their joy of living out everyday life is truly inspiring. I had a blast being able to do relay races and stations with these kids. Whenever something is not going my way, I think about them and thinking about them brings me a sense of peace and a sense of joy. As I have looked back on this trip, the experiences are something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The reason I will cherish these moments are because of the people of Uganda and the members of the MOAM team. To anyone thinking about going on a mission trip, I highly suggest it. The things you get to experience are truly life-changing. It will help you grow, and it will show you how God is truly in all parts of the world.

In Romans 12:2 Paul writes, “Do not conform yourself to the standards of this
world but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind.”

Inwardly. Something that happens from the inside out. Something that the human
eye may not be able to see. Something that has to occur through seeing life
through God’s view. From the moment I stepped foot in Uganda God opened my
eyes, more importantly opened my heart, to the beauty that is found within Him.
Each day my faith was transformed, I was transformed, which was not by my own
accord but as a gift from Him.

Identity. Strength. Purpose. Discipline. Focus. Intensity. Excellence. Selflessness.
Boldness. Perseverance. Accountability. Patience. Twelve days in Uganda. Twelve
lessons learned. Each morning I would read through a different set of devotionals
and throughout that day God would bring them to life right before my eyes. While
they all had a significant impact on me there were a few that I will carry with me
for the rest of my life: identity, boldness, and purpose.

My path leading up to this trip wasn’t necessarily a conventional one. There were
a lot of ups and downs, back and forth, and overall feelings of uncertainty. Where
I was confident in my identity as a woman of color and being an athlete, I
struggled to add Christian to that mix. I felt like I didn’t measure up to other
Christians and fell short in more ways then one. There were a lot of boxes I still
had to check off before I could call myself a Christian. I was on again off again
with my relationship with God which didn’t quite qualify me to spread His word
with anyone let alone the people of Uganda. Everyone around me could spout off
verses off the top of their head that fit perfectly with the current situation and I
could barely remember what books were in the Gospel. Because of this I had
planned to take the backseat to everyone else throughout this trip and let them
take the lead. I thought it would be easy to hang out in the shadows because
everyone else had so much more to offer than me. I’ve always been a
perfectionist. In every aspect of my life everything had to be perfect. Or at least
appear to be. If it wasn’t perfect it wasn’t for me. Praying. Journaling. Preaching.
Evangelizing. Not for me. I could never put the perfect words into a prayer or
write the perfect quote when journaling. I could never create the perfect message
to preach or tell the perfect testimony when evangelizing. Yet God doesn’t expect
us to be perfect. It is through our imperfections, our weaknesses, that God best
uses us. When I began to admit my weaknesses and be content with them I
allowed God to use me for his purpose. I found my voice in Uganda. And that is
the greatest gift that He could ever give me. There is no greater feeling than being
able to use my own experiences, the good and the bad, to spread the abundance
of God’s love. For me, many of these experiences occurred through sports. And
my time in Uganda made me realize that many of the lessons we learn through
sports go hand in hand with the messages we see throughout the bible. Imagine
my surprise when I realized I could use sport, a “perfect” area in my life, to share
the word of God. Identity. Boldness, Purpose.
​
Uganda, you have opened my eyes and changed my life for the better. Initially I
thought God was leading me there because you needed me but, in the end, it was
I who needed you. You taught me to find the joy in every moment. You showed
me how to truly appreciate the little things life. You reminded me to take a step
back to admire God’s beauty that is all around us. You taught me patience. You
taught me simplicity. You taught me hope. You taught me love. Uganda, from the
people to the places, every part of you I will always carry with me in my heart.

So much happened during our two weeks in Uganda that it is tough to summarize the
entire experience. However, looking back on the trip now, I can definitely say that it was a life-changing trip. What I believe sticks with me most from the trip is the pure joy and hope that the kids we worked with live with. Their individual situations are not the best, but yet they go through each day with a positive outlook and a smile on their face. When we would teach the kids football, they did not know how to throw a football. Most of them could not even catch the footballs, but they had so much fun just throwing the balls back and forth with each other. It did not matter if it hit them in the face because they still thought it was so much fun to play with. I believe that also helps to show the work that the Lord is doing in their lives. Even though they may not have the worldly possessions that they want, they are still able to live happily because of their relationship that they have with God. The positivity that all the people there had eye opening for me and refreshing to see.

Aside from the people that we met in Uganda, another impactful part of the trip was the
relationships members of our MOAM team developed with one another. As soon as we all got together, the bonds that we formed were so strong, and that was a great part of the trip. It was cool to see Henry and some of the others that we met say that they could not believe we had only met once before going on the trip. Our tight bonds with each other was just another testament to the work that God was doing with us while we were there. I hope to continue to stay in touch with people from this team going forward as well.

Finally, another impactful part of the trip was just all of the experiences that I had during
the trip that put me out of my comfort zone. Going out into the streets and speaking with local Ugandan people was a nerve-wracking situation for me, but it is something that will help me for years to come. When I am put in tough situations back home, some of them will no longer phase me as I have grown from my time in Uganda. Also, getting to see the beauty of Uganda is something I will never forget. The four-wheeling around the Nile is an experience I will be telling people about for years.

Overall, my time in Uganda was amazing, and I would suggest a MOAM trip to anyone that is able to go!

Jordan Hartman – University of Pittsburgh

Going to Uganda was my first time leaving the country, and I had zero expectations
for anything! I did not think that I was going to be at the same spiritual level as
anyone else and that was terrifying. I quickly learned that I was wrong and that I
had nothing to worry about.

My first few days in Uganda were a complete culture shock, I had no idea what to
expect. From the way that the drove, to the food they ate it was all completely new
to me! But I was so excited to learn more about their culture.

I learned the most by visiting the schools everyday and interacting with all of the
children. Their love for each other, for teachers, Christ, and us was truly amazing!!
Being able to teach them something new in the short time that we were there was
unbelievable. Most of them had never seen a basketball, American football, Frisbee,
or even volleyball. To be able to teach them the fundamentals of all of those sports
was pretty cool to see. After each sports session we would spend time with the kids
and families in the church. Listen to their stories and share some of our own. It was
amazing to hear different things that the families in Uganda had to share as well as
my own team members.

These families and children really showed me what it’s like to live a life for Jesus
Christ. And it was truly an eye opening experience!

This experience has changed my life and I cannot thank Managers on A Mission
enough for that! This will be an experience that I carry with me for the rest of my
life. And one day share with my own children.

My first time in Uganda was less than twelve short months ago, and by God’s grace, I
found myself eating my favorite again. Posho. 

Okay, no. Posho is not my favorite, unless my girl Scovia is cooking it, then it’s actually
delicious. But it is an important part of Ugandan culture and to think I had the ability to
enjoy it once again in the country that helped shape who I am, leaves me speechless. It
seems a little silly, I know, but really! This country and every piece of it has impacted me
in some way.

The marks Uganda has and continues to leave on my heart and my life are as deep as
the red clay dirt stains on my hands and feet. Being the hands and feet of Jesus is not
always easy; it’s not always pretty, planned, or put together, but the impact of my
obedience is beautifully messy and reaches far beyond my knowledge. It’s bigger than
me or whatever I am doing. I’m simply opening my hand and surrendering my life to
pursue the life that God has intended for me. 

When the Lord opened the door for me to return to Uganda on a trip as an Assistant
Director/Student/Mentor/however you want to name it, I was ecstatic. But this trip would
prove to be very different than my trip last year, and the differences pretty challenging to
me. From the outlay of the sports camps, to the places we traveled to, to the people we
interacted with, I saw Uganda with fresh eyes and perspective. I remember at the
beginning of the trip, I yearned to be back in the places I was last year with the people I
spent three of the best weeks of my life with, but the Lord showed me that He had
something very, very, special this time around. 

Team Uganda 2019 is a team of resilience, humor, card tricks, and serious go-with-the-
flow-attitudes. This team was stuck together like glue. Experiencing Uganda with
individuals who are in the same position as I back in the states was something
remarkable. On the levels of relating and getting along, we just got each other. Although
unique stories, backgrounds, and personalities, we all work in an industry that has
taught us that “teamwork makes the dream work”, and our time in Uganda was Dream
Work. 

This time around, the rose-colored glasses were off for me. I was seeing in real-time the
hardships that Ugandans face, but I was also living amongst the strongest and hardest
working individuals I have ever met. I was experiencing the joy a child experienced
when they perfectly hit a volleyball or threw an American football for the first time; but in
the next moment, I was experiencing a child feverishly wipe away her tears because the
wounds on her legs and feet would not and could not heal because of the flies and
infections that continued to prevent any type of healing. I think this time in Uganda, I
had to beg the Lord to chip away at my American expectations and perceptions of ‘living
well’. What material things Ugandans may lack, they make up tenfold in the love and joy
they express. The ways they come around one another, supporting and helping in any
way that they can for their neighbors and community.  It’s remarkable and inspiring, it’s
how I want to live in my own community. 

Uganda has taught me so much, much more than I could ever possibly express. I think
something that will always stand out to me is the fact that there is pain and brokenness
no matter where you are in the world, that’s just the result of sin. But there is also
beauty, restoration, and redemption wherever you are, as well. 

It comes in waves - missing Uganda. Some days I’m at peace with the time I was able
to spend in Uganda, with the incredible and very special people we spent any amount of
time with, or in the back of a giant school bus on some severely mangled roads, or even
wandering around the markets, taking in the not always pleasant smells. And some
days, I physically ache to be back - convinced that there is just not enough time to
satisfy my desire to be there. 

All in all, I cannot express my gratitude towards MOAM enough, for coming alongside
me during this experience, supporting me, and providing these opportunities. These two
experiences in Uganda have shaped who I am an individual, and I truly believe will
sharpen me as I pursue a career in the sports industry. Thank you just doesn’t seem big
enough for what MOAM does for individuals through these trips, but it’s where I will
begin. 

More Jesus, More Joy.
God Bless.
​
Maggie Bullard

Minneapolis, MN
November 7th, 2018     
 
MOAM is collecting winter hats on behalf of Stanford Equipment Manager, Chris Dountas. As Chris’ wife has been battling cancer these past few months, they have been inspired to help the children experiencing a similar battle. Chris shared, “During her normal treatment days we see a ton of little kids at the infusion center she goes to who are bald and don’t really have the option of getting hats to keep warm.  So, I had to the thought of reaching out to my equipment peeps and seeing if they could donate a couple of extra winter hats.  I will send them to Charlotte and make sure they get handed out at the clinic and the children’s hospital.”
​
All winter hats sent to MOAMs Clean Out For A Cause® program throughout the rest of 2018 will be passed along to Chris. Donations can be sent at any time, in any box to MOAM’s address below. Or click here to request a Clean Out For A Cause® box.
 
Managers On A Mission
6318 Cambridge St
Minneapolis, MN 55416
 
About Managers On A Mission:
Managers On A Mission (MOAM) is a 501c3 non-profit committed to developing the future leaders of sports by working with Student Managers, Interns, and other aspiring sports professionals. These individuals are engaged in MOAM’s annual mission trips, service projects, and scholarship programs. MOAM is primarily self-funded through its innovative Clean Out For A Cause program that collects new and gently used sports apparel from collegiate and professional teams and coaches throughout the country. MOAM’s vision is to see the world positively impacted by the faith, talent, and resources of the sports industry.
 
 

Name:  Seth Ralston, Malawi Trip Leader
School: Bachelors in Sport Management at Western Kentucky University (2013), Masters in Health & Human Performance at Austin Peay State University (2014)
Job: MOAM Director of Discipleship and Programs

Name: Allison Nicole
School:  University of Northern Colorado, Student Athletic Trainer 

"I'm excited to immerse myself in a new culture and to grow spiritually. ​" 

Name: Shaaliyah Lyons
School:  Seton Hall University
Job:  Director of Basketball Operations, Women's Basketball
​
"I'm excited to be able to share my personal testimony and share how I used my faith and my involvement in basketball to get to where I am today. ​" 

Name: Matthew Good
School:  North Carolina State University
Job: Student Manager for Men's Basketball

"I'm most excited about meeting the kids and being able to build relationships with them over the 3 weeks that I'm there." 

Name: Darik Artis
School:  The Ohio University 
Job: Student Manager for Men's Basketball

"I'm super excited to experience life outside of America with different cultures and learning the ways of others. Also the impact that the children will have on me. I'm curious to see in what ways I'm moved physically, spiritually, and emotionally!"

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. May 22, 2018 – 20 Future Leaders of Sport™ will participate in mission trips to orphanages in five different African countries this summer, due to a successful year of fundraising by Managers on a Mission (MOAM).  This is the fifth year the charitable organization has connected aspiring sports professionals with the needs of vulnerable children. The five teams will be traveling to Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Liberia, and Zambia

MOAM mission trips are funded by the unique Clean Out For a Cause® program and generous donations from Four13 Group. MOAM teams work in partnership with the Rafiki Foundation and spend three weeks providing educational and living services to vulnerable children and orphans. The children will be on school break, and one of the primary roles of each student missionary throughout their trip is to lead the children in sports activities each day.

Group participants will share their experience on MOAMs website in real-time throughout those 3 weeks, available at http://bit.ly/MOAMblog. 

It is with great excitement that MOAM announces its 2018 Missions Teams:

Country: Ghana
MOAM Leader: Drew Boe, Director and Founder of MOAM

Future Leaders of Sport:

• Judny Louis (Florida International University, Student Equipment Manager)
• Mara Hart (University of Notre Dame, Student Manager for Football)
• Daniel Young (Creighton University, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)
• Prince Johnson (Indiana Wesleyan University, Varsity Football)

Country: Malawi
MOAM Leader:  Seth Ralston, Director of Discipleship and Programs

Future Leaders of Sport:

• Allison Brummer (University of Northern Colorado, Student Athletic Trainer)
• Shaaliyah Lyons (Seton Hall, Director of Operations for Women’s Basketball)
• Matthew Good (North Carolina State University, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)
• Benjamin Ellison (Liberty University, Liberty University Club Sports)
• Darik Artis (The Ohio State University, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)

Country: Uganda
MOAM Leader:  Joshua Meyer, ACSEquip Director of Equipment Services

Future Leaders of Sport:

• Ariana Allison (Georgia State University, Events and Marketing Graduate Assistant)
• Maggie Bullard (Grand Canyon University, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)
• Colin Provart (University of Minnesota, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)
• James Morrison (Huntingdon College, Assistant Coach for Men’s Basketball)

Country: Liberia
MOAM Leader:  Iain Laymon, Oral Roberts University Men’s Basketball Graduate Assistant & MOAM 2017 Alumni and Stephanie Tangen, MOAM Director of Operations

Future Leaders of Sport:

• Brianne Adcock (The University of Akron, Graduate Assistant for Women’s Basketball)
• Kyle Ensor (University of Tennessee, Student Manager for Sports Management)
• Charles Alderman (University of Evansville, Student Manager for Men’s Basketball)

Country: Zambia
MOAM Leader:  Caleb Currier, University of Tennessee Women’s Basketball Student Manager & MOAM 2017 Alumni

Future Leaders of Sport:

• Grace Dooley (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Student Manager for Women’s Basketball)
• Danielle Pierce (University of South Carolina, Graduate Assistant for Women’s Basketball)
• David Walls (Western Kentucky University, Student Manager for Women’s Basketball)
• Mason Peeler (North Carolina State University, Student Manager for Football)

About Rafiki:

The Rafiki Foundations mission is to help Africans know God and raise their standard of living. They have ten Rafiki Training Villages in Africa and provide childcare programs, bible studies, widow programs, and much more. The Villages provide medical, educational, and living services to vulnerable children and orphans as well as train churches.

About Managers On A Mission: (www.managersonamission.org)

Managers On A Mission (MOAM) is 501c3 non-profit committed to developing the future leaders of sport by working with Student Managers, Interns, Graduate Assistants, and other aspiring sports professionals. These individuals are engaged in MOAM’s annual mission trips, service projects, and scholarship programs. MOAM collects new and gently used sports apparel from collegiate and professional teams and coaches throughout the country. The vision of MOAM is to see the world positively impacted by the faith, talent, and resources of the sports industry.

To learn how you or your program could help MOAM please visit MOAM’s How To Help Page, Sponsor Page, or Contact Us.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
​February 20, 2018
 
Managers On A Mission (MOAM) awarded 6 scholarships to applicants for the Read & Reflect Texon Athletics Scholarship in the Spring and Fall of 2017.
 
First place for the Spring scholarship was Adam Albert (University of Central Florida), who was awarded $4,000. Second place was Larry Taylor (Southeastern University) who was awarded $1,500, while third place was Mac Goode (McNeese State) who was awarded $750.
 
The winners were selected based on their essay in response to various sports articles.
 
Recipients of the Spring scholarship read On Top of His Game and responded to the following questions:
 

1. Name a verse or inspirational reading that inspired you to meet a goal that you set for yourself.
2. What was the end result? How do you plan to encourage this around you to meet their goals?

 
First place for the Fall scholarship was Brendon Darby (Georgia Tech), who was awarded $4,000. Second place was Adam Albert (University of Central Florida) who was awarded $1,500, while third place was Reagan Moore (University of Albany) who was awarded $750.
 
Recipients of the Fall scholarship read Former Cardinals Pitcher Rededicates His Life and responded to the following questions:
 

1. Discuss a time where you were in a tough season of life and what through you through that season?
2. What impact did that have on your life? How will you use that experience to help others?

 
In the support of these scholarships, MOAM would like to thank the title sponsor Texon Athletic in addition to the following generous sponsors: ACSEquip, Adidas, Duffy’s, Integrated Sports Specialties, Big Game, SweatX, WSI, Zono Sports, Helmet Tracker, and Stadium Frame.

About Texon Athletic: (www.texontowel.com)

Texon Athletic Towel & Laundry Supply is a leading sports equipment vendor and family owned business, which provides athletic towel, laundry and locker room supply to high schools, colleges, and professional athletics around the country.

About Managers On A Mission: (www.managersonamission.org)

Managers On A Mission (MOAM) is a 501c3 non-profit committed to developing Christ-centered future leaders of the sport industry. Student Managers, Interns, Graduate Assistants, and other aspiring sports professionals are engaged in MOAM’s annual mission trips, service projects, and scholarship programs. MOAM is primarily funded by its innovative Clean Out For A Cause program collects new and gently used sports apparel from collegiate and professional teams and coaches throughout the country. The vision of MOAM is to see God glorified through the faith, talent, and resources of the sports industry.

To learn how you or your program could help MOAM please visit MOAM’s How To Help Page, Sponsor Page, or Contact Us.

Managers On A Mission (MOAM) is excited to announce the addition of Seth Ralston to its Full Time staff starting in January, 2018. Seth will be serving as MOAMs 1st ever Director of Discipleship & Programs. Seth’s role will be focused on expanding the depth and reach of MOAMs Discipleship of Future Leaders of Sport, in addition to working with the collegiate and professional teams supporting MOAMs innovative Clean Out For A Cause program. Seth’s unique blend of experience in the sports industry and international sports ministry has greatly equipped him for this role.
​
Seth first started in the sports industry while spending four years at Western Kentucky University working 2 season each for both the Men’s & Women’s Basketball teams. Following graduation, Seth held positions in Basketball Operations, spending two seasons with Austin Peay Women’s Basketball and one season with Mercer Women’s Basketball. Throughout his career, Seth has been highly involved with global missions—participating in and leading sports camps in over 10 countries. Seth has been closely connected to MOAM throughout the past 2 years as he has led multiple MOAM teams on summer mission trips. Seth led his first MOAM team to Uganda in 2016, and then to Ghana this past summer. Seth has spent the previous 7 months in Istanbul, Turkey serving as Athletic Director for an international school.

Managers On A Mission (MOAM) is a 501c3 non-profit committed to developing uncommon future leaders of sports who will utilize the platform of sport for God’s glory. MOAMs programs are focused on Student Managers, Interns, and other aspiring sports professionals. These individuals are engaged in MOAM’s annual mission trips, service projects, and scholarship programs. MOAM collects new and gently used sports apparel from collegiate and professional teams and coaches throughout the country. MOAM’s vision is to see the world positively impacted by the faith, talent, and resources of the sports industry.

As I nervously prepared for my first day of teaching Principle #3 “Holy Sweat/Wholly Surrender” at the Rafiki Village outside of Jos, Nigeria, I came to a stark realization. The reason I was nervous had nothing to do with bringing glory to God or making a positive impact on the children and teenagers at Rafiki. It had everything to do with my own ego and insecurities. Here I was preparing to discuss the differences between walking in the spirit and walking in the flesh and I was totally consumed with my own flesh. I was nervous because I wanted the kids, who at this point we had already grown quite close with, to think I was intelligent and cool, and even, at some level, to think I was the best teacher out of our group.

It was at this point that I kneeled on the floor, literally put my face on the concrete floor of my bedroom in our guest house and, with tears in my eyes, prayed to the Father asking for forgiveness for the sin in my heart and the insecurity that was dwelling inside me. The message of “Holy Sweat/Wholly Surrender was an incredible lesson, but it would fall totally flat if coming from me. It would mean absolutely nothing if it came from the sinful heart of this man. It could only hold value if it came from the Holy Spirit who is living inside of any follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit was with me as I led our principle that day and the lessons of Holy Sweat/Wholly Surrender seemed to have a lasting effect on the students as God used this sinful man to teach about disciplining ourselves in the relentless pursuit to walk with Christ.

That lesson, this realization that Christ put in my life that morning changed my entire experience in Nigeria and has stuck with me as I’ve come back to my life in Ohio. I wish I could write about every experience I had at Rafiki over the two weeks I was blessed to be there but, like all my brothers and sisters from MOAM, that would take an endless amount of words to do. I will forget many of these things as time takes me away from those two weeks. The mindset though will never leave me and that mindset was that every conversation, every prayer, every lesson, every second that Ashton, Marea, Drew and myself had with those incredible kids was to bring glory to our Father and be a reflection of Christ’s love.

“I love you” in Hausa is “Ina son ka” (ka/ki/ku depending on the context). After about nine days at the village, it was something we started hearing all the time and that we started to say back. It was in every letter that the kids gave me when I left. And it wasn’t just words to be cute or friendly. I absolutely love those Rafiki kids in Nigeria and will always have a very special place in my heart for them.  God Bless Rafiki, God Bless MOAM and God Bless my brothers and sisters in Nigeria.

Adam Short

To God be the Glory!

Apply to join a future MOAM Mission Trip!

Request a Clean Out For A Cause Donation Collection Box!

Make a tax-deductible, online donation to MOAM!​​​

A New Outlook and Vision on Life

As I began to board the plane in Paris, to continue the rest of my destination back home, it began to get more surreal. This was the first flight where I separated from my team members- that’s when it got real that we were actually leaving to go home. It was so hard to control all of my emotions after leaving the village. I was so surprised I was able to control my emotions when saying goodbye to all of the kids. Coming from the kids telling us “though we meet to part, we part to meet again.” As soon as we got in the car, I began to read one of the many letters written by the kids. Tears began to roll down my face. I could not stop thinking about each and every one of them. All my heart wanted to do, was go back to that wonderful village!

There are not enough words to describe how incredible, powerful and amazing this trip was. I could spend an entire day telling you about everything that happened while I was in Nigeria. Truth to be told, this trip and these kids drastically changed my life! They made me realize this is the woman I have been striving to be. I became that little girl again who wanted to serve and change the world. They say that mission trips are life changing experiences and give you a different perspective. I am here to tell you that is all true! These kids loved me and challenged my faith in ways that are indescribable. By the end of the three weeks, we were holding them accountable yet, they were holding us accountable as well. We wanted to instill in them to give 100% in all they do, to strive for their dreams and goals that God has for them and to believe in themselves. The only person that can keep them from achieving what God has in store for them is themselves. What these kids did not know is that this was something I myself was struggling with. It is so easy to let the doubts in and listen all the people telling you that you can’t achieve your goals. Not only that, it is so easy to let roadblocks get in the way such as finances, resources and so on… And think it is never going to happen. MOAM was an answered prayer for me that allowed me to achieve an ultimate dream of mine which is to go and serve. I came home with a different perspective on life. Before leaving Oklahoma , I was a nervous wreck. I thought, “I am just a college graduate preparing to teach the basics of these sports. I am not a coach.” I became coach Ashton in just three weeks. Even though there were times I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, I had to step in with confidence as if I did. Talk about being pushed out of my comfort zone! But as people say, “if you stay in your comfort zone then you cannot grow.” For so long, I let the thoughts of others determine how I would respond and act instead of believing in who I was and who God created me to be.

The last day of sports, we challenged the kids to the max to show them truly how much they have in them. We finished the day with a 45 minute run after reading the story of the crucifixion. The rules were that they could run or walk but they were not permitted to talk, sit down or stop. As time drew near to a close we saw some of the team captains, which were the older boys, step up as leaders and grab the hands of others, pushing them to keep going and not give up. By the end, we saw true leadership and unity amongst all of these kids. We finished in a circle, holding hands and singing Amazing Grace. After we closed in prayer, we had some of the kids begin to cry. It was amazing to see how this team building exercise broke down walls and showed them their true capability! These kids are going to be world changers!

Each and every one of them impacted me in some shape or form in just a few weeks. I can’t even begin to imagine how many lives they are going to influence! It is safe to say I am going to miss them. I am going to miss that 6:30am wake up call, holding me accountable for my morning run. I am going to miss teaching devotions and sports. I am going to miss going to a different cottage every night for devotions. These kids loved spending every moment possible with us. To now not be there with them and spend every moment with them has been one of the hardest things I have ever had to process.
Before leaving, I told God that I want to come back a changed person and to make a difference in whatever the next step is that God has for me. I am glad to say that I have been blessed with a different perspective and a vision for what God wants me to do next. This week of being home ,I have been processing all I have learned and focusing on the areas I need to work on in my life. I am also praying for what it is that God wants me to do next. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and made this dream possible.

2 Peter 1:1-11
Ashton Billeter, EQ Manager at the University of Tulsa

Apply to join a future MOAM Mission Trip!

Request a Clean Out For A Cause Donation Collection Box!

Make a tax-deductible, online donation to MOAM!​​​

Impact
 
“Filled with Your wonder
Here I surrender
Held in Your mystery of grace
Calling me closer
Waking desire
Coming alive in Your name

Holy
Holy is the Lord
Worthy to be praised
YAHWEH
Fire rising in my soul
All consuming flame
YAHWEH”
 
Everyone makes an impact. Actors impact the movies and television we watch. Professional athletes impact the teams we cheer on and the clothes that fill our closets. Family impacts the traditions we have and the memories we cherish. Friends impact the places we eat and the activities that fill our evenings and weekends. And orphans impact the way you think about your life.
 
They make you think about the things you take for granted and the things you place too much value in. They put joy in your heart with a quick smile or a laugh. They break your heart with their stories and then put it back together with a song and a hair braid. They make you laugh with their riddles and cry when they lead their cottage in devotions.
 
It is hard to know what your impact is going to be or was.  The three weeks in the Rafiki Village in Ghana changed my life. But I am still trying to figure out exactly in what ways it impacted and changed my life and exactly what God is telling me now. Impact is complicated and hard to understand sometimes. I know that my eyes were opened to a different part of the world that I had never experienced before. I was able to love on orphans for three weeks by simply playing sports. I was able to see dance transcend any barrier. And now 5 strangers have a bond that can’t be broken.
 
But was the impact that I left on the 80+ orphans as great as the impact that was left on me? They may have shed more tears then I did when we left. They may have written me more notes then I wrote them. But it is more than notes and tears. God moved in mighty ways during the three weeks. He made a remote village in Ghana feel like home, he allowed me to memorize almost 90 names with ease and reminded me daily what a beautiful name it is in Jesus. He has made me think about what I want my impact to be in the large things and the minutiae everyday tasks.
 
God knows the impact of the things he has planned for us before it has even crossed our mind as an idea. He impacts us in ways we never expect. I think that God has a really funny sense of humor sometimes too. As we prepared for this trip and I found out I would be teaching principle 4 ‘Hurtin for Certain’ to the kids I began to wonder how to teach about suffering to orphans? Little did I know that when I got to Ghana that I needed to hear what I was talking about more then anyone else. While I am sure, and hoping, the kids were impacted by something from us studying the life of Joseph and understanding how he dealt with suffering by leaning into God and not running but I learned the most. I came up with a simple phrase for the kids to remember what I taught but I was the one that needed the reminder. Its simple “trust in God and he will help you in the good times and the bad times” and the kids embraced it completely. How quick are we to not press into Jesus and instead run? How quick am I to not really trust God with my life?
 
I want to leave you with this challenge to think about the impact you want to make in everything you do? Are you following the plan God has for you by fully trusting him in the ‘good and bad times’? I may never get to see the 80+ kids again, may never fully know the impact our team made on them or see what they achieve in life but the impact they and God had on my life in three weeks is something I wont soon forget.
 
Matthew 16:24-25
 
Impacting the Kingdom One Day at a Time,
 
Makenzie Dugger, EQ Manager for the University of Northern Colorado

To God be the Glory!

Apply to join a future MOAM Mission Trip!

Request a Clean Out For A Cause Donation Collection Box!

Make a tax-deductible, online donation to MOAM!​​​

​Three weeks in Zambia was life changing. God says in Matthew 28:29-20 “ 19Therefore, GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this; I am with you always even to the end of the age” and that is exactly what we did. We went to Africa to spread the Word. In my time in Zambia 22 kids accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
 
I think we all assumed when going to a classical Christian educational orphanage these kids already knew Jesus. We do the same thing in the states. We assume just because people attend church they are already saved, BUT that is not the case. These kids knew the bible better than anyone I’ve ever met but it was all head knowledge. They memorized and studied the Bible just like they would any other textbook but most of them didn’t have that relationship with Jesus. 22 of them were able to accept Christ in the three weeks we were there because MOAM was willing to send a group of college aged students and we were willing to go and follow what God was calling us to do. This was a lesson to take home as well, we have to trust God when He calls us to go and we have to be willing to share the gospel even when we don’t want to or feel that it is not needed. We could have stayed in the village for three weeks with the mindset that these kids know everything they need to know and those 22 kids would never had the chance at eternal life but instead we listened when God told us to present the gospel.
 
During that time in Africa, we weren’t just helping the kids or teaching the kids, God was working in our lives as well. For me, I almost feel like I learned more than I was able to teach. I was able to grow closer to God and deeper in my faith; I gained a craving for God’s word I had never really experienced before. I woke up craving time with God, craving time in prayer and in the Word and that craving lasted all day. I was able to let go of total and complete control of my life and let God have it all. 

Nichole Duncan, Athletic Trainer for Arkansas State University

To God be the Glory!

Apply to join a future MOAM Mission Trip!

Request a Clean Out For A Cause Donation Collection Box!

Make a tax-deductible, online donation to MOAM!​​

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