By Naneka Hoffman
Ambassador Football Liberia ends two days of Church Leadership & Sport Conference in partnership with Adult Education Literacy (AEL) and four evangelical denominations in Liberia.
Speaking at the end of the two-day conference held at RLJ Hotel & Resorts along Robertsfield Highway in Paynesville, Ambassador Football Liberia Director, William T. Tarpeh, explains that the conference is to establish Ambassador Football Discipleship program in the country to raise the next generation of disciples.
Mr. Tarpeh also says it was aimed at mobilizing the local church in Liberia and to be able to see God’s plans for Liberia that have been fulfilled since 32 years ago.
He narrates that God through his Bishop Augustus B. Marwieh asked his president to bring Ambassador Football to Liberia and he came in 2022 after 34 years, stepping on the soil of Liberia in fulfillment of this request.
He reveals that Ambassador Football has about over 80 persons from different local churches and denominations across the entire country, including Maryland, Grand Gedeh, and Nimba that have converts so that they will understand how Recreation Sports Ministry and the church can combine to reach communities to maximize their efforts thru evangelism.
Director Tarpeh also discloses that Ambassador Football is a global mission that exists in 32 countries around the world, including Liberia and has several programs one of which is the female football team that is now playing in the national league.
He says the conference brought churches together and they signed a memorandum of understanding to work with Ambassador Football in establishing league throughout the country and holding annual leagues here as well as in areas God will destine.
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He says Ambassador wants to see kids (6-12 years) that will come to know God, adding that the basis of the conference is to introduce little children to God so that they can have their personal relationship with Him to become good citizens and be able to make meaningful contributions to society, including the church.
Also speaking, the President of Ambassador Football, Jonathan Ortlip, explains: “When I first visited Rwanda, I visited the football federation and the general secretary at the time was a woman and she said to me, if you come to Rwanda to do a program for children don’t forget the girls, so I never forgot what she said.”
He said when the church made the request, they went there and started the program with 15 girls and 15 boys.
Mr. Ortlip says they believe in gender equality because God created both man and woman and they believe there should be no discrimination, saying, “We believe they have different roles and different purposes but on God’s side, they are the same.”
According to him, sports for girls can open many opportunity doors, as it gives women and girls opportunities they don’t have.
The director of Ambassador Football Club in South Africa Ben Marais describes soccer as an incredible vehicle for successful transformation of communities.
He says the conference helped churches to understand how football can be used as a vehicle to gain access to communities that will include boys and girls.
