Soccer Ministry Continues in Ukraine

SportQuest Belgium ended the summer with a lot to celebrate. Kevin and Jenni Verstraeten marked 10 years of ministry in Belgium. Marnus and Carolijna welcomed a baby girl. And across the country, six weeks of ministry brought SportQuest leaders alongside local churches, children, teens, families, young adults, and a Vision Team from Betenbough Homes. Before the city outreach began, 16 young leaders joined SportQuest leaders for the annual training camp. They spent the week in adventure, team building, and sessions designed to help them grow as sport disciples. That mattered because the summer required more than a schedule of activities. Each city asked the team to show up, serve alongside the people already there, and use sport as a way to build trust. In Antwerp, SportQuest served with Biblehouse during a week of record high temperatures. More than 50 registered kids and teens joined, with many more taking part in activities throughout the week. Rance Bland, Jacob Susud, and Laura Susud also joined the week, serving alongside Kevin and the Belgium team in a project that combined sport, relationships, and faith. In Bilzen, no one knew what to expect. SportQuest had never led a project there before, but the new location became SportQuest Belgium’s largest first-time project. The Betenbough Homes Vision Team helped with work projects for families from the church and community in the mornings, then joined the local SportQuest team for a Play Camp in a neighborhood park each afternoon. More than 50 children came daily. In the evenings, dozens of teens and young adults gathered in the local soccer cage. By the final tournament, more than 150 people attended. Other locations showed the strength of returning year after year. Herentals reached its fourth year, and many teens already looked forward to the team’s arrival. More than 30 kids came each day to the neighborhood park and soccer field for hours of sport, games, and connection. Geraardsbergen, SportQuest Belgium’s most established project location, continued to grow with the help of the local youth group. The Plage, the town’s well-known soccer cage, again became the center of the outreach. More than 75 players entered the final tournament, and many stayed afterward for a celebration at the church. The final two weeks took the team west. In Maldegem, near Bruges, SportQuest continued to support the local church’s effort to connect with its community through the local sport park. The team has not built the same established group there as in other locations, but the week showed momentum, and many young people came to the church for SportQuest night. The summer closed in Ghent, where three churches worked together to serve young people in the city. More than 40 young people, both with and without church backgrounds, joined on the soccer field in the afternoons and evenings. More than 50 young people took part throughout the week, especially on the final night. Six cities did not produce one identical story. Antwerp brought heat and neighborhood outreach. Bilzen opened a new door. Herentals and Geraardsbergen showed the value of long-term trust. Maldegem and Ghent showed local churches continuing to reach for young people in their communities. In every place, the same pattern kept appearing: local churches opened the door, SportQuest leaders served alongside them, and sport created space for relationships and conversations about faith. That is what Kevin saw across the 2026 SportQuest Belgium summer. Not just activity. Ongoing ministry. Young leaders growing. Churches serving their communities. Children, teens, and families gathering around sport and hearing about Christ. What a summer. Take the Next Step SportQuest Vision Trips connect organizations and families with trusted local Partners around the world. Teams join ministry already underway, serve alongside local leaders, and build relationships across cultures. To learn more about hosting or joining a SportQuest Vision Trip, contact Jacob Susud at jacob.susud@sportquest.org .