Hello from Abaco! If you don’t know me, my name is Sam Berg, and I am a retired educator/coach who coached baseball with a little bit of basketball for 31 years at the high school and university level.
When we first arrived on Abaco Island full-time in April of 2022, I met a gentleman named Troy Feaste who is in charge of the ABYL which stands for Abaco Youth Baseball League. He told me that God told him to start this program so the boys and girls from ages 8-18 would have healthy and positive activities such as baseball and softball to participate in. He asked me if I would help. I told him I would do this under one condition. I wanted to be able to share the Gospel each day through a devotional relating to God’s Word and sports, and pray with the young people. He said “absolutely”. Not only do I get to share my love of baseball with the boys and girls, but I get to share my love of Jesus with them! That is a win-win!! It has been absolutely great to see the young people improve their skills in the sports they love and enjoy good healthy activities and hear God’s Word!
Many Hands for Abaco had the opportunity to hold a sports camp in March in the Marsh Harbour area where boys and girls learned more about basketball and volleyball and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ declared. There was also a time during camp for a coaches clinic. We are hoping to do more camps when we have IMPACT teams that are available. Last year I was also able to host a baseball/softball clinic for local coaches. The coaches in Abaco are eager for more training and always show up to clinics with excitement and passion for their sport.
When I am not working at the baseball field, I have been breaking ground for young men’s Bible studies and leadership training with the “Lead like Jesus” curriculum. It has been going well and I am excited to continue to dig into the curriculum with those that signed up for the training.
God is at work here and it is exciting that He lets us be a part of it! God is good and worthy to receive all the honor and glory!
