Kansas City hosted six World Cup Games throughout June and July, drawing over 413,000 to the games and another 400,000 to the Fan Fest at the World War I Memorial grounds.  Four teams chose the KC metro as their official base camp during the games.  People from all over the world visited Kansas City, and according to nearly every exit interview, they loved our city and our nation, and felt they were treated with the utmost respect and hospitality.  In fact, so many had been fed a negative view of America by their nation’s media that they were pleasantly surprised to find that the United States was nothing at all like they had been told.  The goodwill created by the U.S. and our city hosting the World Cup Games is invaluable.  Imagine the interest this has generated in our way of life, including the gospel.  Consider how this could completely change how receptive some nations and their people will be in the future when Christian missionaries attempt to spread the gospel and plant churches in those nations.  The Gospel fruit of hosting the World Cup will continue to be seen for years to come.

In preparation for this onslaught of visitors, BR-KC Baptist Association in partnership with the Missouri Baptist Convention held several outreach events at the Stadium, at Fan Fest, at off-site parking areas, and at local churches.  Soccer camps were held, special services were offered in Spanish for those visiting from Central and South America.

A special “Thank You” is due Connection Point Church (Raytown) and their Missions Coordinator, Carmen Kraus, for taking the lead in hosting and coordinating many of the outreach events.  Rob Pochek, Prayer and Evangelism Team Leader for the MBC, was also helpful and supplied most of the evangelistic resources which were distributed through the games.  Also, we are so grateful to pastor Nicolas Wilson of Peculiar First Baptist who stepped forward months before the World Cup and served as the coordinator for the many ministries going on throughout the city.  Nicolas submitted the following report:

Thank you for all you and BRKC did to support World Cup outreach. Churches and mission teams in our association work together to do the following:

  • Handed out over 25,000 Gospel tracts
  • Sent out over 500 missionaries
  • Handed out hundreds of Bibles
  • Prayed with thousands of people
  • Shared the Gospel with people, resulting in over 10 known confessions of faith

Our churches served alongside other local teams, as well as teams from Montana, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. We also served alongside teams from the Clay-Platte association and churches on the Kansas Side. Other ministries, including Team Jesus and YWAM, worked parallel to our groups. Across the nation, we know that 120,000 yellow card Gospel Tracts were handed out, resulting in at least 70 confessions of faith.

Another church which engaged visitors during the World Cup was South Haven Baptist Church.  Victor reports: “Our team was able to pray with many FIFA fans.  On one occasion, five young Argentinian fans stopped to get a free water bottle, and we handed them gospel bracelets, too.  I told them there was a story behind that bracelet and they asked me to tell them.  I began a simple gospel presentation, and they hung on my every word. They were very moved and thankful for our ministry presence.  We then were able to pray with them and encourage them.”