From Goals to Good News: NRCA Soccer Player Finds Joy in Colombia

By Grier Herring, Shield Editor 

When junior soccer player Nathan Surface stepped off the plane in Medellín, Colombia, the first thing he noticed was how different life looked compared to home.  

Surface and a couple of his NRCA teammates went on a mission trip to Medellin, Colombia, that combined their love of soccer with spreading the gospel. The trip was organized by JV soccer Head Coach Joe Severs, who is connected to Imago Dei Soccer based in High Point, North Carolina, and was invited, along with his team, to travel there. 

Through matches, community service, and learning the culture, the players connected with local children despite language barriers.  

“They were really excited and happy to see us,” Surface said. “Even though there was a language barrier we still got to connect with them [through soccer].”  

One moment that stood out to Surface was when the youngest child on the field scored his first goal, and there were cheers from both American players and Colombian players and parents.  

“Everyone just went crazy,” Surface said. “That was something I’ll never forget. Everyone was just super happy.”  

The mission team went to three different sectors, which are neighborhoods, twice a day, partnering with a Colombian coach there to translate their presentation of the gospel message after they played. Beyond their time on the field, the mission team helped carry sand up hills to prepare a dirt pitch, experiencing firsthand the hard work and labor that shapes daily life in the community.  

“I would describe the trip as amazing,” Surface said. Surface recommended a trip like this one for soccer players who would like to connect internationally with students who share a love of the sport. 

The trip wasn’t just about soccer— more importantly, it was about sharing the hope of the gospel in the young children’s lives. “We shared the good news to them and explained how they could be saved if they give their life to Jesus,” Surface said.