Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Kimball.
Hi Josh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The vision for All Nations Soccer started in 2017 in Jacksonville, FL through a local Burmese refugee soccer team who believed there were many more refugees in our city who would want to be in a soccer ministry community if the game they love was made accessible to them. Cost, location and game times were huge barriers to soccer being available to the immigrant community. This Burmese team had personally experienced players getting out of gangs and off drugs and into a thriving new life through starting a relationship with Jesus. While they were extremely passionate about soccer their goal went beyond the game—they had a message of hope to share: that we can all find freedom from difficulties in our past and be restored, unified and empowered in a new life with Jesus. Over time, we worked together and gathered a core group of team captains, referees, and board members from Burma, Eritrea, Iraq, Paraguay, N. Ireland, Nepal, Rwanda, Sudan, and the USA who collectively shaped our soccer ministry vision. This team decided that the ministry would provide faith-based soccer programs that share the love and good news of Jesus with refugees and people of all nations in our community, thus giving us our name, All Nations Soccer (ANS), and in January, 2018 we launched our first league season with 8 teams and players representing 25 nations.
Today, ANS, operates year-around serving over 2,000 players from over 100 nations playing on over 75 teams. We are blown away by the diversity, need and incredible opportunity we have to serve and build life changing relationships with people literally from all over the world trying to start a new life here. Over 30% of our players come from the top 50 nations considered most unreached and highly persecuted. We get to share the good news of Jesus at over 450 games yearly and be a bridge to the local church as we serve together. It is truly a privilege providing a soccer ministry community and pathway for these players to grow up with us from youth through adulthood and participate in our soccer ministry programs.
ANS welcomes players of all beliefs and backgrounds and is a safe place to explore belief in God, while forging healthy community through playing soccer. Our goals for ANS are:
help refugees and people of all nations in our community discover Jesus through soccer
help restore refugees from the persecution and devastation they’ve experienced
forge unity by breaking down racial hostility
mobilize local churches to do local missions
create awareness for local refugee aid
build bridges for refugee employment opportunities
empower young adults to follow Jesus, positively impact our city and be leaders in their families
To accomplish this ANS looks to meaningfully partner with local churches, refugee agencies, businesses, schools and other charities in the city to collaboratively support uplifting refugees in our community.
We are so grateful we’ve been able to serve local players from these 109 different nations so far:
Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, , Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Panama, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Congo, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, we have faced challenges finding fields, fundraising for equipment and operations costs and to scholarship players and sponsor teams, mentoring players of different languages, cultures and beliefs to be united and work through conflicts, and to engage church volunteers serving with us to share the good news of the Bible with players from many different religious backgrounds.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the founding director of the nonprofit soccer ministry called All Nations Soccer. I specialize in using soccer as a tool to build a community of players from all nations that is focused on growing healthy relationships with each other and God. I am known for playing soccer all around the world and using it as a ministry tool to reach the nations. I am most proud of supporting seeing God work to transform people’s lives through a growing relationship with him. I just believe that we should use our gifts and talents to serve others and help share the good news of the Gospel.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I look to seek mentors who have been in ministry longer than me and farther along in their personal, family and ministry life than me so I can learn from their experience.
Pricing:
- Player Sponsor $70
- Half Team Sponsor $700
- Full Team Sponsor $1400
- League Sponsor $2000
- Championship Sponsor $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allnations.soccer
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allnationssoccer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allnationssoccerans
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-nations-soccer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allnationssoccerans
