Athletics are a successful outlet to serve others from all walks of life and all corners of the world — a large footprint from community outreach through camps and local events, recreational sports leagues, club sports teams, high school athletics programs, college sports and even at the professional level.
The Charlotte Eagles use the most popular sport in the world — soccer — as their conduit.
The Eagles are a division of Missionary Athletes International, an organization that has been passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people around the world through soccer since 1983.
The Charlotte Eagles, one of eight MAI divisions in major metropolitan U.S. areas, offers eight soccer programs: Rec League, Youth Club, College, Adult League, Urban and Campus.
Over the last few years, JBU has developed a strong connection to the Charlotte Eagles, employing three alumni — Collin Smith ’18, who serves as the Eagles’ urban ministry director, and Steve Teshima ’19 and Connor Georgopulos ’18, who have coached the women’s college program and the youth club. Numerous former JBU Golden Eagles have played for the Charlotte Eagles, including Ryan Williams ’19, Giovani Bejarano ’19, Kelvin Omondi ’19, Santiago Vanegas ’19, Oscar Carballo ’23, Renny Buchanan ’25 and Lauren Walter ’24.
“I played for our (Charlotte Eagles) summer team for four summers while I attended JBU from 2016 to 2019. That was my introduction to the Eagles,” Smith said. “I love the relationships our staff form with families. I love being neighbors in our community and inviting kids into a deeper relationship with Jesus.”
MAI’s mission is to see lives transformed through teams that motivate people to follow Christ and incorporate the values of joy, integrity, faithfulness and courage into the game of soccer.
These values have attracted, and continue to attract, former JBU student-athletes to play for the Charlotte Eagles, an experience similar to playing at JBU.
“JBU prepared me [for the Charlotte Eagles] by helping me feel more comfortable talking about God and creating space for those moments,” Walter said. “Both JBU and the Eagles share similar routines like pregame and postgame devotionals and praying together, which helps center everything around glorifying God. Because of that, joining the Eagles felt like a natural extension of the environment I experienced at JBU.”
The organization receives money through donors, grants and several revenue-generating programs. Staff also raise a portion of their salary and are involved in general fundraising. The Eagles have full-time and part-time coaches.
“We each have our own personal fundraising goal we are required to hit to join staff,” Smith said. “In addition, we have large organizational fundraising pushes and events.”
Teshima said the opportunity to combine the game of soccer with ministry is a perfect fit. He said the Eagles have had a significant impact on his life and his spiritual growth, seeing these two aspects of life come together on the field.
“Watching the team win a national championship while prioritizing how they can glorify Christ in their actions was a highlight for me as coach of the Charlotte Eagles,” he said. “The team was able to have conversations with its opponent, which they beat in the semifinals, in the lobby of the hotel after their game.”
And like other sports, playing soccer gives players of all ages and levels skills for living life. Teshima said that a person’s identity is still found in Christ first, whether they are a soccer player or a coach. He said soccer shows athletes and coaches how to compete, but winning and losing aren’t everything.
“Even if you make it to the top, there is always a void and a feeling of needing more if you are not grounded in Christ,” he said. “Soccer and the Eagles ministry have taught me a valuable lesson in identity and that the love that Christ and my coaches have for me is not results-oriented. Still, we should desire to continue to excel to glorify Christ.”
The ministry can be physically and mentally challenging, with many long days on the field in the heat of the summer. Still, Walter said being able to use the Charlotte Eagles to share the love of Jesus is worth the sacrifice.
“One of the more difficult aspects has been the time commitment, especially with full-day events like Charlotte FC games. While it can be physically exhausting and there’s no financial reward, the eternal reward makes it all worth it,” she said. “Getting to share the gospel and reflect Christ’s love through service is incredibly fulfilling. It’s a reminder that ministry isn’t about what we receive but what we give for God’s kingdom.”
To learn more about the Charlotte Eagles’ ministry, visit www.charlotteeagles.com.
