Maranatha Outreach - Thailand

Competitive Edge International is a sports ministry organization that desires to share the life and love of Christ with those in the least evangelized areas of the world through women’s fastpitch softball. Using the sport of women’s softball CEI teams up with churches, ministries, missionaries, and sports federations around the world through short term summer mission teams. With a background in softball and a heart for missions, Ellen and Jessica Eubanks teamed up with CEI to share the Gospel and the game of softball to the people of Thailand.

The first stop of the trip was at Van Guard University in Mission Viejo, California. Here the team first came together, getting to know one another, preparing their hearts to share the gospel and becoming familiar with the Thai culture. After three days of spiritual and cultural training the team flew from Los Angeles to Thailand. Eighteen hours later, the team arrived in Bangkok for a short rest before continuing on their journey. Each morning and night the team members would meet for praise and worship, prayer time, and a devotional. Having a musical background, Ellen led the team in praise and each teammate was responsible for sharing a devotional one night of the trip. “This was such an important part of our day," says Jessica. “This time allowed us to get to know our teammates better. It also gave us time to pray over the things we were asking God to do in Thailand, to claim them and in faith as a team believe that they were going to happen. Although sharing the gospel with the people in Thailand was our main goal, often times God would use this time to minister to us and our teammates. It was so amazing because we were meeting in our hotel rooms and each night it was evident that the Holy Spirit was right there among us. God did some great things in our lives and the lives of our teammates."

After one night in Bangkok, it was aboard a plane again for a flight to Chiang Mai where the CEI team conducted a three day softball clinic at one of the local schools. The clinic consisted of several hours in the morning teaching the basic fundamentals of softball and developing relationships with the Thai children. After lunch it was back to the field for an afternoon session. Following the afternoon session one of the CEI teammates would share her testimony and present the gospel. Jessica recalls how the children responded. “We would use simple things to share the plan of salvation, such as colored bracelets or an old torn up softball that represented our life without Christ, and a new softball which stood for our life after accepting Jesus. Each day many students responded by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior." The next stop for the team was Udon Thani where clinics were conducted at a local school and the local university, ending with a friendship game with the university team. Many students were led through the prayer of salvation and other students responded by wanting to know more about the gospel. Thai bibles were passed out as were pamphlets containing the plan of salvation. One memorable event of the trip was the day the team visited a Buddhist temple. The temple sat atop a mountain overlooking the city. By the structure of the temple one could tell it was important and highly respected by the Thai people. It was adorned in gold, the mood was very solemn and everyone had to remove their shoes before entering. "This experience was so sad because we saw the Thai people being very devoted to a religion that has no eternal value," says Jessica. "As a Christian, this experience reiterated how blessed and fortunate we are to be able to serve the Everlasting God."

Jessica thinks everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of a mission trip. "If you have never been a part of a mission team, I encourage you to take this step. Your life will be forever changed. I feel very blessed to have had this experience. Without the support of our church family and friends this would not have been possible. We greatly appreciate those who gave to the Kingdom of God."