Ministry Update: Brazilian Baseball Association (Brazil)

The Brazilian Association of Baseball and Softball (ABBS) is working to transform the lives of underprivileged children and youth in the city of São José dos Campos, Brazil. Located in a region with many low-income areas and limited opportunities, ABBS provides a haven for young people who are at risk of getting involved in drugs, crime, and trafficking.

The impact of ABBS goes far beyond just teaching sports skills. ABBS intentionally integrates biblical principles and Christian values into every aspect of its program. As the young participants learn discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship through baseball and softball, they are also being transformed by the love of Christ. In addition to the sports and Bible study programs, ABBS also seeks to address the practical needs of the children and families it serves.

ABBS’s activities have continued through the summer and fall, with weekly Bible study cell groups and practices. ABBS has received invitations from other churches and local leaders to expand the baseball program into new areas, so its leaders have been visiting these neighborhoods and villages to explore options.

The work with Venezuelan immigrants continues as the flow of new refugees increases. Many of these boys are still asking their parents when they will return. Not expecting to find baseball in Brazil, most of them left all their baseball gear behind when they left. They have been encouraged to find community around a familiar sport, even though they are in a new country.