Echo Reach is a soccer ministry serving kids in the red zones (dangerous areas) of Guatemala City.
Roblans and Jessi Mejia are passionate about providing a safe, structured environment for kids to learn soccer skills and, ultimately, hear the Good News of Jesus.
The ministry serves to motivate kids to stay in school and to work hard while they are there. They use soccer to combat gangs and drugs. The program also serves to fight violence in that the boys and girls learn how to have self control while they play. They learn how to react appropriately when they are frustrated, get fouled or are losing. They also learn to respect each other and themselves.
The kids of Guatemala City already love the game of soccer, and Roblans and Jessi use that love in order to keep them in school and to motivate them to work hard in school. Above all, they want the kids to hear and see the love of Christ so that they might come to know Him and pursue the purpose He has for them in their lives, rather than pursuing the paths of gangs and drugs. They care deeply about investing in the kids that are passed over and therefore exposed to the risk of being recruited by gangs.
The program currently serves 160 boys and girls in 6 different schools. The kids train with Echo Reach once a week and then also participate in a soccer league that is formed between the different schools.
It is their vision that the same "Echo" that is spread to the kids in the program would then echo out to more kids like them in the future and reach more and more youth. Roblans and Jessi are very excited to have two previous participants bringing this vision to life as current employees with Echo Reach.
The Mejias have three children, Eli, Rachel and James. Check out their
website or
Facebook page for more information. Thank you for your prayers and support for their ministry!
