Board of Directors
Dave Smith
- Board Chairman
- Tustin, CA
Dave Irby
- CEO, Surge International
- Salem, OR
Al Lotz
- Senior VP
- Rome, GA
Phillip Markley
- Treasurer
- Huntington Beach, CA
Erik Schulz
- Secretary
- Corona, CA
Advisory Board
Rev. John Boyers
- Chaplain, Manchester United; Director of SCORE, Chaplaincy Program
- "Why should a football club have a chaplain? What would a chaplain do?" asked Watford and future England manager Graham Taylor to John Boyers. . . . . .Through a series of "God ordained" circumstances John became the Chaplain for Graham Taylor and the Watford Football Club where he provided spiritual and pastoral advice and support to the players and staff during their amazing rise to the top league in England in the period 1977 onwards. He was asked to move up to Manchester in September 1992, to be Chaplain to Manchester United.
John had stepped forward in faith to begin SCORE in 1990/1991 (a UK based Sports Chaplaincy program) which now works across the UK and seeks to resource over 200 ministers who serve local sports clubs as chaplains.He now has a more international role with SCORE but still serves as the Chaplain for the Manchester United Football Club.
John has traveled extensively as a "Sports Chaplain," including to the Vancouver Olympics. He has written a fascinating perspective on life and the world of football in "Beyond the Final Whistle". He currently lives in Manchester with his wife Anne, whom he met at the Christian Union during his college days. They have two grown sons: Andrew and Jonathan.
You can find out more about John's past and current travels as a "Sports Chaplain" and learn more about John and his work at: http://www.sportschaplaincy.org.uk
Rev. John Prim
- Chaplain for Real Salt Lake (MLS Cup Champions in 2009; Prim on right in Photo)
- John was born and grew up in San Diego, California. He fell in love with soccer in high
school under the influence of his best friend who was from England. John played in high
school and later in college for UCSD (72-75). He played on the first Athletes-in-Action
soccer team; helped start Sports Life in its infancy and subsequently played on the first
Seahorse soccer team for Missionary Athletes International.
While a missionary to the country of Uruguay in the early 90s, John played two years for Club Atlético Juventud de Colonia (then in the First Division of the Interior of Uruguay) asa goalkeeper.John is also a writer, having finished his first book, Righters Block, in 2009 with Crossbooks Publishing.
He currently is the Pastor of Education and Worship at the Southeast Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. With almost 30 years of pastoral ministry experience, he also serves as the chaplain for Real Salt Lake (2009 MLS Cup Champions). John continues to play regularly at his advanced age (56) and his love for soccer is only superseded by his love for Christ and for his wife and children.
You can read more about John's exciting experiences with Real Salt Lake at: <a href="http://www.slba.org/saltnewsletters/JanFeb10/JanFeb2010.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.slba.org/saltnewsletters/JanFeb10/JanFeb2010.pdf</a> and can read excerpts and purchase his book Righter's Block: The Challenge of Doing Right Even When It Hurts at: www.amazon.com
Sylvie Tarpinian
- Miss Oregon USA 2009
- Sylvie Tarpinian was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She grew up with a deep appreciation
and interest for the arts, having had gymnastics, dance, theater, and fashion design play a major
role in her life. She accepted Christ at the age of fifteen. Involved as a Student Leader for Campus
Life at North Eugene High School, she participated in a mission trip to Mexico to build an
orphanage for battered women and children.
Sylvie earned her degree in Psychology from Western Oregon University focusing on
child development and family processes. Throughout her college years she has been a volunteer and advocate for the Head Start Program, The Children's Cancer Association of Portland, and worked as an At-Risk Youth worker in a drop in shelter in Salem. Sylvie has made it her mission to reach out to at-risk youth by getting involved with programs that provide support and resources to financially disadvantaged families.
After being crowned Miss Oregon USA 2009, Sylvie traveled throughout the state making appearances, public speaking, and raising awareness and support for such programs as Susan G. Komen, Operation Home Front, Show Mercy International and Smartway Advisors. As a youth group leader at her church, she continued to be a mentor and role model for teens, teaching weekly and participating in events for High School age youth. Sylvie is a strong supporter of Surge International as it "Gives young adults the opportunity to use soccer as an outlet to travel, share the gospel, and connect with youth as a light for Christ. It also creates an environment where our soccer players to reach out to their own communities, particularly to those that need it most. It's a wonderful thing to see soccer bringing people together this way. It's a movement for sure."
Sylvie now resides in Denver, CO working as a flight attendant for Skywest Airlines. She hopes to continue to be a light for Christ, serving in her community. He current projects include partnering with faith based organizations combating the human and child sex trafficking industry."
