The group came mainly from Holland and arrived into Israel on the beginning of August for a sport outreach project. Athletes in Action - the Netherlands recruited the 350 young men and women. They came to serve local churches through sports - both in Arabic churches and Messianic Congregations in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

The project started with a preparation conference at the Sea of Galilee. They held seminars that included cultural issues (given by locals) and ways to how to serve through the local church. They had the Sparks worship team who came with them to take care of the worship time.

Brother Andrew (The Smuggler) joined the Gaza team, and he was the special guest in the conference. On August 10, they all went to Bethlehem to meet the Local Christian churches in this Palestinian City. The idea came out since the Palestinians could not come and accept the invitation to visit the Athletes group in Tiberius because of the political situation and the separation wall that was built recently. At the meeting in Bethlehem, Brother Andrew shared many testimonies and had given encouraging words for the churches. In additon, Alex Awad (A Palestinian Pastor) and Evan Thomas (a Messianic minister) shared too, to emphasize the unity in Christ. Around 800 hundred people attended this powerful meeting.

During the next 2 weeks, 17 Arabic churches had the chance to bring hundreds of kids together for sport camps. Every church had invited children and had a camp for them in their own cities or villages. The Athletes in Action teams shared the good news with the children and helped with sports, drama and songs. At the end of all the camps a festival was held for all with around 100 kids attending.

During the same two weeks, Athletes in Action teams held games with basketball, soccer or volleyball with kids from Jewish cities, cooperating with local Messianic Congregations.

This project was held with the cooperation of Life Agape, a local outreach Ministry. R. Samawi, a Life Agape staff was the coordinator of this project for the 17 the Arabic churches.

We need always to find new ways to share the Good News with locals", Samawi says. "There are great struggles and difficulties that are not found elsewhere in the area, and so sports may be one of the tools that can take the attention of the people. The last project was a proof for that. It was a real success and blessing for all. We will continue with the follow up during the year and for this purpose that 2 Athletes in Action staff members will stay for a year here.