BSO exists to share the Good News of Christ with the children of Belize through the vehicle of “sports clinics”. Building on the principle of Loving Christ and Loving Others.
This is accomplished by visiting public schools during school hours and offering half day clinics teaching the fundamentals of softball and sportsmanship. Unfortunately there are very minimal recreational sports opportunities offered to the children in the mainland of Belize. The children are so excited to see us bring out the equipment and teach them the basic skills of softball. Sports has proven to be a huge barrier breaker allowing for a gospel presentation to be intertwined into the clinic by our coach’s and mission team members. Staying Balanced on the Cross is highly emphasized throughout our clinics, in fact we spray paint crosses on the ground at each station to reinforce the importance of “balance” when playing softball but also in relation to living a life “Balanced on the Cross!” In our past clinics it has been such a blessing to present a “Gospel Invitation” and witness many of the very children we had just played ball with turn their HEARTS toward Jesus! Children that show an interest in hearing more about a personal relationship with Christ are then teamed up with one of our team members at which point questions pertaining to the “Plan of Salvation” are answered and further encouragement is given to them by our team.
Not only do we want to bring the Good News of Christ, BSO will also distribute school supplies to the children and their teachers of each school we visit. With the hope of not only blessing the children but also those who have invested their lives to teaching the next generation.
In the words of Mark Tatko, founder of International Sports Outreach, “High energy and Love” he would always encourage us to bring high energy and love to the children no matter how tired we were. That will continue to be the plan for “Belize Sports Outreach” as we travel to schools throughout the entire country of Belize bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This is accomplished by visiting public schools during school hours and offering half day clinics teaching the fundamentals of softball and sportsmanship. Unfortunately there are very minimal recreational sports opportunities offered to the children in the mainland of Belize. The children are so excited to see us bring out the equipment and teach them the basic skills of softball. Sports has proven to be a huge barrier breaker allowing for a gospel presentation to be intertwined into the clinic by our coach’s and mission team members. Staying Balanced on the Cross is highly emphasized throughout our clinics, in fact we spray paint crosses on the ground at each station to reinforce the importance of “balance” when playing softball but also in relation to living a life “Balanced on the Cross!” In our past clinics it has been such a blessing to present a “Gospel Invitation” and witness many of the very children we had just played ball with turn their HEARTS toward Jesus! Children that show an interest in hearing more about a personal relationship with Christ are then teamed up with one of our team members at which point questions pertaining to the “Plan of Salvation” are answered and further encouragement is given to them by our team.
Not only do we want to bring the Good News of Christ, BSO will also distribute school supplies to the children and their teachers of each school we visit. With the hope of not only blessing the children but also those who have invested their lives to teaching the next generation.
In the words of Mark Tatko, founder of International Sports Outreach, “High energy and Love” he would always encourage us to bring high energy and love to the children no matter how tired we were. That will continue to be the plan for “Belize Sports Outreach” as we travel to schools throughout the entire country of Belize bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Meet the BSO Board
Stan Roach
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My love for the country of Belize began back in March of 2009, it was then I was introduced to the concept of a “Sports” oriented mission trip. International Sports Outreach invited me to join them as their camp pastor in 2009 as our team traveled from school to school throughout the country of Belize teaching children the basics of softball and telling them about Jesus. I instantly fell in love with this type of mission’s concept and the country of Belize. Since then Tammy and I have not missed a year! As time passed the overwhelming feeling that the Lord was leading us down a new path became more and more evident. So by faith in 2017 Belize Sports Outreach was birthed. Believing this journey would not be a temporary journey but a lifelong venture made for a prayerful decision. Using our experience of over 20 years in full-time ministry and a passion to share our faith Tammy and I are excited about serving our Lord through the mission efforts of BSO. Tammy and I have been blessed with two great kids who have given us 6 AWESOME grandkids (the joy of our lives). Currently, I am a full-time employee at FedEx in Memphis, TN and Associate Pastor at Colonial Hills Church (Olive Branch Campus) in Olive Branch, MS. |
Tammy Roach
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Hi, my name is Tammy Roach. I serve as the Vice President of Belize Sports Outreach. It is my pleasure to serve alongside my husband Stan Roach as we allow the Lord to be the Master Builder of BSO. My duties as VP range from assisting with finances, trip logistics, marketing, fundraising and many other areas of the ministry.
I have had the pleasure of traveling to Belize for the past 10 years sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through many different areas of service such as sport clinics, marriage conference speaker, leading classes on abstinence and building construction. I am very thankful for the burden of the mission that God has called me to with BSO. I am very blessed to serve alongside my husband Stan of 34 years and we have two children: Brandon Roach married to Katie Wilson Roach and they have two boys Wilson and Walker, and a beautiful little girl Sadie. They live in Hernando, Mississippi and currently worship at Life Fellowship Church in Southaven. Amanda McPhail married to Ryan and they have three children Grayson, Ellie and Anna. They live in Olive Branch, Mississippi and currently worship at Colonial Hills Church at the Olive Branch Campus. My mission field on a daily basis is with Desoto County Schools as the Bookkeeper in the Transportation Department since 2013. Serving my Savior, husband, family and Belize brings great joy to my life and I pray that the Lord will grant me strength to fulfill my calling each and everyday. |
Cary & Stacey McRae
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We are Cary and Stacey McRae, and are honored to serve as Board Members for Belize Sports Outreach. We have been married for 28 years, and have been blessed with two children: Taylor, who began his eternity in Heaven in 2004, and Madison, our 21 year old full time college student. We first got involved in mission work in Belize in 2005. Between 2005 and 2018, Cary has been able to go on a total of eight trips to share the Gospel with the people of Belize. Stacey and Madison were both able to join the team for two trips. Cary has been a Package Car Driver for UPS since 1988. Stacey, an Executive Assistant, has been with FedEx since 1989. Outside of work, Cary and Stacey love spending time with family and serving faithfully in their church body at Colonial Hills Church in Southaven, MS. |
Ryan & Amanda McPhail
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We are Ryan and Amanda McPhail, we have been married for 11 years and have three beautiful children: Grayson age 9, Ellie age 7, Ty’Anna age 4. Ryan is a Senior SAP Finance Analyst with Methodist Le Bonheur and has been working for them for the past 11 years. Amanda serves at NICS (Network of International Christian Schools) as the Human Resources Director she has been there for 5 years. We have been a part of many mission opportunities and have found a love for the country of Belize through Belize Sports Outreach. We are currently serving on the BSO Board and absolutely love it. It is such a blessing to live out the Great Commission by “going” and spreading the Gospel to the people of Belize. |
John McEuen
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My name is John McEuen and I’ve been married to my wife Megan for nineteen years. We have three children—Sean (18), Grace (15), and Hope (6). I serve on staff at Broadway Baptist Church as the Children’s Pastor since 2014. I first encountered Belize when I joined the team for the 2019 mission and my connection to the people and the country was almost instant. Before that week was over, I knew that Belize was the international mission field that God has called me to. It is an honor and privilege to serve on the BSO Board, to serve the Belizean people, and to serve the Lord by humbly going where He sends me. |
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Meagan Hoover
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My name is Megan Hoover. I married my husband, Brad Hoover in 2016. We have three great kids- Dakota, Hunter, & Conner. I am a member at Broadway Baptist Church, and serve on the Pre-school Council for the last two years. I am also a Registered Dental Assistant. I work at Happy Smiles, a pediatric dental office, in Horn Lake, MS. I just love working with kids! In 2018, I first learned about the BSO ministry at my church. A team had just come back, and it was a night of sharing and testimonies. I felt God strongly calling me to go. In 2019, I and my husband Brad went to Belize for the 1st time. I fell in love with the country, the people, and the BSO ministry all by day two. After much prayer and a 2nd trip in 2020, I knew God was calling me to be apart and serve the the people of Belize through the BSO ministry. It is a great honor to be able to serve on he BSO board, and to serve the Belizean people. What a blessing it is to be doing the Lord's work by spreading the gospel to the people of Belize and to just simply love on them.
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Jonathan & Caroline Waggener
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Meet Jonathan and Caroline Waggener, they were married July of 2022! Jonathan is a firefighter/EMT in Hernando MS. and owns his own lawn care business. Currently, Caroline is in college to be a social worker and will graduate May of 2024. She babysits children when she is not attending class. They have two dogs that are treated like their children! Jonathan and Caroline are faithful members at New Day Fellowship Church and are involved in multiple areas of ministry: they serve on the worship team, with the children, and in their Young Adults group. Caroline went to Belize in 2022 for her first mission trip and Jonathan went for the first time in 2023. In such a short time, they have fallen in love with Belize and the people. They love playing softball with all the kids, but most importantly sharing their faith! The Waggeners love Belize Sports Outreach and their passion for spreading the gospel!
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Jeremi (JJ) Downs
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Hello, my name JJ Downs and I am an elementary physical education teacher and coach in the Desoto County school district located in Olive Branch, MS. I have been involved in the teaching and coaching profession for over 25 years. I have a passion for teaching our young people about life and how to be lifelong learners through many different sports activities. I feel that it is my job to empower all the students I teach with the knowledge to become successful adults that contribute to society. I truly believe we are “Building Champions For Life”. I currently worship and attend Colonial Hills Church at the Olive Branch Campus. My love for the country of Belize was first sparked back in March of 2010 when I first traveled there with the International Sports Outreach Mission Team. God placed a calling on my heart during that trip and I knew I must return one day. As my professional commitment as the Head track and field coach at Center Hill High School grew each year, I was unable to travel back to Belize on a mission trip for the next twelve years. But each year my heart would ache when it was time for the mission trip, and I could not go. I continued to pray and stay faithful in the seasons of coaching that God had me in until the spring of 2021. When God told me it was time to give up coaching and focus on spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through mission work in Belize. I was able to travel back to Belize in 2021 and 2022 with the Belize Sports Outreach Team and will go each year moving forward. Because this is a lifelong commitment for me, God used the past twelve years preparing my heart for this journey. I am so honored and forever grateful to be part of the BSO board and excited to continue to spread the gospel and serve the Belizean people.
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