View more photos of the women’s training camp

PRETORIA, South Africa — Suicide. Grief. Abuse. These are some of the issues faced by the women on the South African national soccer teams. About 27 female soccer players from Athletes In Action (AIA) came from the United States and Canada to train with and minister to over 30 members of the South African teams — Banyana Banyana (the national team), Basetsana (the Under 20 team), and Bantwana (the Under 17 team).

A large part the training camp was spent on drills, skill building and simulation matches, while relationship building and group sessions aided in the women’s emotional growth.

During the sessions, some South African players opened up about their social and familial exploitation, such as rape and lesbianism, which they experience on a regular basis in their living situations. The young women are exploited through rape and sexual abuse from various sources, mostly family members, teammates or boyfriends. There is a very serious issue of the women exploiting the younger team members’ naivety, causing confusion about their sexual orientation through peer pressure and sometimes more aggressive methods.

However, as the week progressed, a number of the women began to truly sense the healing peace that is only found in Jesus Christ.

A strong wind blew through the camp as the women walked from their cabins to the conference room for the final morning session. On this, the last day of camp, many of the South African players were given a chance to accept Christ.

Just as the wind rushed across the field, the Holy Spirit blew through the lives of several athletes at the camp, who decided to commit their lives to Christ. Several others are now seeking Him more closely.

“To be a part of something like that, it’s indescribable,” said Brianna Roth, a student from the University of Alberta. “And these girls just are so excited, like after they gave their lives to the Lord, they were just jumping and dancing and so overjoyed.”

The new believers are now allowing Christ to help mend the hurt from abuse and violence that has scarred them. One element that stuck out to Roth was their joy: “They can have so much joy and laughter and smiles. They’re just so full of life after all they have gone through.”

It is a testament of God’s faithfulness, as well as a challenge to the North American women to see those who have been hurt show joy in spite of their hardships. Roth recalled one of the South African players, age 15, who lost her parents when she was 7 years old, and yet she sings, dances and praises the Lord for what He has done.

Please pray for the new believers and seekers, that they will pursue Christ more and more and look to Him for complete healing in their lives.