A Project Called “Mundialito,” the Little World Cup
By Sandra Patricia Alfaro
Shortly into our lockdown and thrust into the world of online connections, as a ministry we began to seek how we could use this virtuality to benefit evangelism, discipleship of children, and affect families. We who work with children agree that the important thing is for children to come to know Christ, be firmly grounded in biblical principles, and be able to imitate the correct pattern established by Jesus in His Word.
We set our hearts to hear the voice of God and share the ideas of the heart with our pastor, colleagues, leaders, and our ministry teams, to know their advice and receive their support. How can we gather the children under our influence, from church, Bible clubs, family, sports, schools, and etc. to play, eat, share, and teach about the one who died for them?
After much counsel, prayer, and with the participation of nine countries, 13 delegations, almost 500 children, one coordinator per delegation, and 12 leaders of discipleship to mentor each child, an idea was born… Mundialito!
We gathered by Zoom for four Saturdays to enjoy dynamic teaching, sing praises, have refreshments, play, and set challenges for the following week, along with a devotional from the age-appropriate SLM courses that each discipling leader would tutor.
Preparing the worship with themes relevant to the core teaching, using mimes, music, and choreography, was very exciting and inspiring for the team. Seeing the children through the cameras singing and praising God, and being encouraged by their teachers, was one of our best rewards.
Each week we had teaching based on the life of Joseph (from Genesis 37–50), prepared and prerecorded themes full of emotion, with illustrations of interest to all children, interviews of soccer players, play acting, and interactive games.
We met seven weeks before the World Cup to arrange delegations to send each child, each house, and each family: a snack for every Saturday, the implements for games and activities, a Bible, Source of Light courses, and a t-shirt that would identify their country or church, and thus, give them a sense of belonging and competence.
This work of discipling the leaders was essential for the encouragement and follow-up of each participating child. Their task during the four weeks would be to help his/her disciple meet the challenges, learn verses, and do the devotional, developing the Source of Light courses together with his parents. There were two lessons per week to complete. This discipler’s support would be essential during the virtual meetings.
Through the challenges that were assigned for the week, we managed to get the families to work together and share the Word, by making billboards, posting verses and family photos on social networks, games at home, and other activities, allowing the child to testify of Christ to others.
Seeing impacted children, affected families, and churches motivated to fulfill the command to “go and make disciples,” challenged us to continue seeking God’s will and to glorify His name.
Now the challenge is to persevere in continuing to teach the children through the Source of Light discipleship program, and other activities that allow us to see their growth and development in knowing Christ.
Testimonies from the World Cup
“Today, four years ago for the third time, God tore a piece of my heart by taking our third child,” wrote the mother of one of the boys from Argentina. “I have so many questions that I may never find answers to this side of eternity. But today, I could cry out Ebenezer; His plans for His children are for good and not for evil. I have understood that I do not need to understand, but to trust.” After one of the family memorization challenges from Jeremiah 29:11, this mother was finally reconciled to God, after several years of spiritual confusion and anguish.
Florence, a discipling leader, had the privilege of seeing the conversion of two girls after having studied a Source of Light lesson, Melody and Noraly, whose parents are not believers.
