Indian Rocks Christian Soccer Team Is On a Mission

boys soccer team will travel about 1687 miles from Tampa to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia for a gospel mission and soccer exhibition.

Beginning Friday morning at 4:30am, 23 players and coaches will begin their weeklong journey. 

“We’ve got five matches against high school and club teams…and we’re hoping to work in the schools that we’re playing (in),” Coach Ben Futoran said.  “We plan to do some street evangelism…and share the Gospel.”

The faith-based trip came about when Futoran realized that many of his players had to complete the mandatory service mission that is required of all Indian Rocks high school students.

Combining his love of the sport with his desire to spread the word about the Christian faith around the world, the coach came up with the St. Lucia trip as a way to fuel both passions that exist in his players.

“One of my favorite trips I ever went on was a soccer trip. I got to spend three weeks in Ireland, playing club teams…during the day…and having that as our vehicle to share the Gospel,” he said. “I wanted to give these guys the same opportunity.”

While the five soccer matches versus world-class players from the St. Lucian national and club teams are important to the growth and development of the team, Futoran and his players acknowledge the sport is merely a tool to allow them to accomplish more important goals.

“The soccer is great, and I’m looking forward to going to another country…but what it’s all about is spreading the Word to other people,” said senior defender Craig Money, following the team’s light practice Tuesday. “That’s what we’re going for.”

When they aren’t involved in activities on the pitch, the team will assist wherever they can in the country that was ravaged by Hurricane Tomas last October.

“There may be some individual houses...that still need help cleaning up or repairing. If there’s any way we are able to help out, then the missionaries are looking for opportunities for us to do that,” Futoran said.

While the soccer may be secondary, the team hopes to win matches too.

In fact, they’re bringing along a couple of former IRC players who now play collegiate soccer as a way to insert a much-needed veteran presence in a squad that’s inexperienced with international play.

Ultimately, the purpose of the trip is to help people, not win games.

“It is about our character, it is about showing Christ through our actions, and if we lose matches and win souls, big victory there,” Futoran added.