About Global Soccer Ministries
Global Soccer Ministries International Global Soccer Ministries International USA (GSM) was founded in 2001 by Paul Banta, a former NCAA Division 1 Soccer Coach, Coaching Educator and Author. After more than thirty years of successful coaching, both in the United States and overseas, God
led Paul into soccer ministry both in coaching education and through his mentorship with coaches that work with disadvantaged youth and adults at GSM’s international ministry sites in both Kingston, Jamaica and Guatemala City, Guatemala.
God challenged him to combine his passion for soccer and Christ, and Paul moved
forward in the belief that soccer is one of the greatest tools in the world to win the lost to Christ. World-wide, coaches seek out his unique approach that focuses on both coaching players in training sessions that get playing results and developing player-coach relationships that open up the spirituality of the player and deepen their faith in a loving God.
GSM is a 501(c )3 organization with its headquarters located in Pawleys Island, SouthCarolina and ministry locations in Guatemala and Jamaica. GSM is governed by a Christian board of directors, with both ministry locations working independently under the nonprofit bylaws of each country, with their own individual board of directors.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to share Jesus Christ to youth and adults through the game of soccer, soccer education, soccer activities for youth and adults and use Biblical principles to bring those participating in our programs the passion of Christ and the passion of soccer together so players and coaches would want to know Christ as Lord and Savior and grow their Christian walk with Christ by using soccer as a tool to perpetuate the Gospel.
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
We believe there is one God who reveals Himself in three separate and distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe mankind was created good and upright but, by voluntary transgression, fell and are now separated from God, lost and without hope unless they come to know Christ as their personal Savior.
We believe Jesus is God in the flesh, fully divine and fully human.
We believe that through the shedding of His blood at the crucifixion, Jesus made salvation and His righteousness available to all who will believe, thus bridging the gap between God and mankind.
We believe Jesus died, was buried, and bodily rose from the dead (the resurrection).
We believe that after the resurrection, Jesus ascended to the Father and is presently engaged in preparing a place for us and interceding for people here on this earth.
We believe Jesus will return to earth to take His Church (those who believe in Him) to Heaven and will judge those who do not know Him as their Savior.
We believe salvation comes by repentance for sin and a heartfelt faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, resulting in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by the grace of our Lord, not of works. Works are excluded except as evidence of salvation; because the Bible is very clear the faith with out works is dead.
We believe water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances of the Church.
We believe water baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a symbol of identification with Jesus in His death, His burial, and His resurrection.
We believe the Lord’s Supper is to be regularly done by believers in remembrance to the death, resurrection, and Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that all believers should seek, as the early disciples did, to live a life separated from the evils of the world and live for Christ. The Believers standard of conduct should honor our Lord and His Church.
We believe the Bible clearly teaches eternal separation from God for the unsaved and eternal glory and service for the saved.
We believe the Holy Spirit comes to convict man and women of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into all truth, and indwell and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they may minister as Christ would to men. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers believers for lives fully devoted to God.
We believe each believer is a minister for the Lord and has direct access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Church (body of believers) is the bride of Christ and that the local church is the means that God intends to use to evangelize the world and to disciple the believer.
Jeremiah 29:11-12 say, "I know what I am planning for you. I have a plan not to hurt you, but plan to give you hope and a great future if you pray and seek me whole heartedly."
Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who give me my strength."
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in everything you want to accomplish you must acknowledge and lean on God and He will make your path straight, just as He has always had it planned for you."