Byne Christian School

Well its been a while since I posted, we have three games to cover.  I am going to try to be more timely even if its short.

Well on 9/1, we played Open Bible and lost 6-1.  This was a frustrating game we tried a 3-4-3.  It didn’t work out to well.  There was communication issues is all I will say.  I was very livid after the game.  We worked out the issues the next day.

On 9/3 we played Grace Christian with a co-ed team and lost 7-0.  Some of our goals were met.  Girls played good.  Attack was looking more deliberate.

On 9/8 we played Killian Hill and lost 9-0.    These were the state champions in the past.  This is the best team we will face.  We learned very much by playing against them.  We realized how much work we have in front of us.

On 9/10-9/11 I was out of town and Jason Schultz worked practice for the team.  These two practices weighed heavy on my mind because these were the first practices we had since games started.  We had so much to work on.  I remember on Tuesday before opening my email, I said God “This is your team, let your will be done”.   Then there was an email that he would be able to fill in.  It was another blessing from God!!!

Ok, this catches us up!!!

Keep praying for the eight acres and great soccer camps.

Coach

Well we needed some scrimmage games to gel our team and gain much needed experience. It was an answer to a prayer. So out of no-where Stan got a call from a coach in Hinesville about a 3 game tournament.

So we go Saturday with one man down, after our win on Friday night. It started around 4:30 AM Saturday and didn’t end until 2:45 AM Sunday morning.

Well we start out to our first tournament with 10 players. After a four hour ride we ended up in Hinesville. It was hot, the fields were in a swampy area, and it had just rained. It was like a sauna. Well we had our first game, it was close we won 1-0. Matthew scored. It was a tough game, we had three fullbacks who did awesome defense (Quinton, Kazim, and Kasey). Midfielders went on the attack and got back on defense. They shut the other team down. The keeper (Josh) kept the ball out of the back of the goal. Everyone did great. No one ever got tired. I was beginning to think this team couldn’t lose. After that game we talked about what we could do better and they drank some power-aid, ate lunch, and rested. Kazim got the first yellow card.

At 3:00 PM we had our 2nd Game. Kasey was goal keeper. This game was a tough one. Matthew scored two early goals. One he dribbled through 7 of the other teams players. Their coach was livid. It was spectacular. Kasey made some awesome saves. Josh played right forward and scored a nice goal speed dribbling past the keeper and tapping it in. It was sweet. It was 3-0 at half. The other team came back strong in the second half. They scored 2, but the FB’s (Robbie, Kazim, Quinton and for a little while Josh) held them off. Jake made a ran for the goal and dribbled all the way down the field and took a shot on goal. Ralph got a yellow card. LOL The celebration was short in favor of some shade and power-aid. The guys ate and drank power-aid while watching our final competitor play. Just to tell you how much they sweated, Matthew wrung his sock out like a wash rag and water came out like a wet wash rag.

At 5, we played our final competitor. Josh in the goal. 4 strong backs (Kasey, Kazim, Robbie, and Quinton). Matthew was playing striker. Well we gave it our best. This team was very experience and had perfect fundamentals (trapping, passing, overlaps). Their backs were pretty fast too. We had a few runs at their goal, but we ended up on our side of the field most of the time. They pounded our Keeper(Josh) and our backs, but they hung in there. They scored 5 in the first half. At half time, the team was falling apart mentally, short tempered, and down on themselves. After a little speech, they got back out there and took a pounding again. They never stopped hustling and again I was proud of these young men. Josh H. really work very hard even when he we exhausted. The host came over to congratulated and give the team a trophy. He let the team know they played good with 10 players and he was very impressed.

Then Matthew suggested we go to Chilis. We are not going to let him pick again. 2 hours later we ate. LOL

At the end of the day I was so proud of these young men. I have never seen 10 men work so hard so consistently. They never complained or drug around. They worked very very hard in tremendous heat. Kasey, Kazem, and Quinton had blisters on their feet. They drank over 13 gallons of power-aid.

This helped the team tremendously. Thanks to Mrs. Teresa Smith for all the power-aids. Thank my wife for all she did. Thank those youg men for all they did. Finally Thank God for it all!!

Coach

Below is a story of a great God blessing his people and their children for their faith.  It is long, but read on.

Events are moving fast now.  I don’t know if I can keep up the posting.  I have so much work to do.  But something tells me God wants us to continue documenting his greatness.  Psalms 145:6  explains it, because we will speak of his Power and greatness.  “And men shall speak of the might and of they terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.”

Another verse comes to mind:  Matthew 17:20

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

We started out with a few students who wanted to play soccer.  One in particular had a great influence on bringing the boys team about.   I will not name that person here. BCS decided to have a soccer team.  The praying started.    God blessed our summer camp tremendously.  We needed goals and a field.  God blessed with His timeliness.  (Read Blog)

We started practice with 7 players on July 20.   We have 11 now.  I am confident that God picked those 11.  We reached 11 the week before the game.  Again God blessed with his timeliness.  (Read Blog)

We have had scrimmages at the level we needed every time.  It was God’s strategic providence.  Every game was just what we needed at that very time.  Again God blessed with his timeliness. (Read Blog)

So this past Friday we had our first soccer game in the history of Byne Christian School (BCS).   It was storming that morning and looking bad, but there was one man out in the rain marking the field.  He faith was not deterred.  He continued to prepare the field.  Our white jerseys came on the day of the game.  We had to scramble for sliding shorts, but we succeeded.   A few had to run around to get the right shinguards.  Nevertheless, the field was prepared, the uniforms arrived just in time, and the 11 players took the field fully dressed out.  Again God blessed with his timeliness.  (Thanks R&S for working with our young program)

So now the game.   The field was wet and soggy.  Old Suwanee arrived and they had huge team.  At least 16.  There was some big boys.  When I told the other coach that we were excited that this is the first game in BCS history.  He said, “We have had a team for the last 3 years.”

Our guys suited with their new uniforms.   We prayed and took to the field for warm-ups.  The boys finished putting the sandbags on the last goal.  The game began.  The team put everything into the game.  I am not sure they even got tired.  They looked beautiful.  We WON 2-1!!!  I was the proudest coach in the world of my team.   At the same time I was humbled by God’s gracious providence that he would put the wickets of growth to get the team to this point.   I am so THANKFUL that God blessed these athletes faithfulness by preparing them for a win in the first BCS Varsity soccer game ever.  Nothing can ever change that, not many teams can say that,  and it is a testament to their hardwork, commitment, and dedication.  This is the legacy that these athletes are leaving.

After the game, the families threw a tailgate party to celebrate the athletes hardwork and the first game in BCS history. We had pizza, watermelon, and boiled peanuts. It was great fun!!!

So here’s the bottom line:  God’s people had faith(must of been at least the size of a mustard seed) that there would be a soccer team at BCS.  God is faithful to His promise and has fullfilled the prayers in His time.  The student athletes faith was immeasurable.  Their faith helped me move forward several times.  They would practice and condition hard with 6 or 7 or however many people was on the team just like we had 11.

I will say this, God has His providential hand on these students and families at BCS.   These students use every ounce of athletic ability God has given to them.  They are good stewards of their own bodies.  They also  have absorbed everything that is taught to them and have been good stewards of that knowledge.  They are also respectful, accountable, and responsible.  Finally, they are committed, dedicated, and have tremendous work ethic.  If I had money and wanted to put it in the next generation, this group of kids have earned it.

Well if I could answer the Albany Herald’s Question again.  “How do you feel winning the first game in BCS Varsity Soccer history?”  I would say, “Makes me want to praise a great God for great students and athletes, great families,  great school, and a great church striving to follow His leadership!”

Now read “What is a saint?” and let me know if there are any around BCS.

If this does not convince you God is on His throne, continue to follow the blog.  I haven’t talked about the tournament we played this weekend and won 2 games and lost one with 10 players.  “Stand by for News”

Thanks everyone and continue to pray for the soccer program and list of items.  God is listening!

Coach

In the news:  Story in the Albany Herald.

Saints #1

We have 11 Players and a game on Friday! Jake L is our 11th man.

We still have our challenges, but thank the Lord. He is answering prayers. Continue to pray we could use at least three more.

Great meeting with families tonight. Something about great families making great kids.

Coach

It was an exciting evening for BCS Soccer. God was glorified! Lot’s of fun for the athletes, families, and community!!! Another first for BCS and a legacy being made!!!!

We had our first full-sided soccer scrimmage for the Varsity Boys. It was a great game against a pickup team. We had 23 players. Just enough. Thanks to Sean Morrison who rounded up some good athletes to play. They certainly contributed a huge milestone for the program. “Iron sharpens iron…” Prov 27:17

Great game Varsity Boys, Hannah H, Victoria D, Hannah K. They pulled out a great victory. 7-4 (Go Saints)

Katie P, Katelyn G had to play against us. Thanks for playing though!!

If anyone has pictures, please send them. Might have to steal some off facebook.

Thanks,
Coach