A God who Pursues His Sheep

The sun beat down on the dusty soccer fields of Zimbabwe as players sprinted across the pitch, the energy of competition filling the air. It wasn’t just any game—this was a tournament, and the stakes felt higher with every goal and every cheer echoing across the field.

During a break in one of the matches, the coach of one team gathered his players around. Holding up the soccer ball they had been playing with, he asked, "Do you see what this ball says? It says 'Jesus loves you.' Do you know what that means?"

The players leaned in as the coach shared the Gospel—the Good News about who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and the new life offered through faith in Him. His words cut through the noise of the day, and among those listening was a young man named Tongarai.

Tongarai had grown up attending church, but over the years, he had drifted away from his faith.  

Life had become increasingly difficult, and recent personal loss weighed heavily on him. The message he heard that day was timely, stirring something deep within. He was overwhelmed with conviction about the direction his life had taken.

After the game ended, Tongarai stayed behind. He approached his coach, expressing a desire to reconnect with God and learn how to grow in his relationship with Him. The coach welcomed this step and began meeting regularly with Tongarai, guiding him in his renewed walk of faith.

Today, Tongarai is not only actively involved in his church but is also stepping up as a leader. He now serves in these very sports outreaches, sharing his story and the transformative power of Jesus with other young people in Zimbabwe.

His life has come full circle—from hearing the Gospel on the field to proclaiming it to others.

Praise God for the incredible work He is doing in Tongarai’s life! His story is a powerful reminder that God can meet us in any season and use even the simplest moments—like a message on a soccer ball—to bring us back to Him.