Panama City Partners Bring Together Kids of All Ages to Play and Pray
The Pacora Gardens community is a quiet, impoverished neighborhood on the east side of Panama City, Panama. The area is known as a “dormitory city” as residents work in the city during the day and return to the community late at night to sleep. There are many children and teenagers who live in this area with their parents and are often left alone at home during the day.
Seeing an opportunity to share the gospel through sport ministry in Pacora Gardens, SportQuest Partners, Enrique and Zuleyka Catalan, are helping to build a faith community where children, teenagers, and parents can all grow in the knowledge of God and His purpose for their lives. “A large number of children and young people identify with sport; it is universal to play soccer or basketball,” said Enrique. “Play is a magnificent tool that has allowed us to establish relationships within the community and share the message of hope through Christ. Ultimately, our goal is to establish a church in this neighborhood of about 500 homes.”
The Catalans and 20 members of their own church coach and minister to the children each week. The children range in age from 4 to 15 years old. About 30 to 50 boys and girls meet once a week to play games, learn the fundamentals of faith, and what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Five-year-old Angel Navarro was reluctant at first to learn about the Lord. But, as the days and weeks went by, he continued to learn more about what it means to be a follower of Christ and to be free from sin. He enjoyed playing with the other kids and after a few weeks, he asked Christ to come into his heart.
“We hope that Angel can continue to know and grow in God through this mission,” said Enrique. “We’re excited to think about what God has in store for his life.”
