News

December – Okubo to join Surge

Gifted Bible teacher, experienced youth minister and soccer coach Ryan Okubo joins Surge staff.  For now Ryan will be involved on a part time basis, assisting with recruiting, development of soccer camp events and some travel overseas.  Ryan and wife, Donna, have three children and liv in Rome, GA.  With Ryan’s passion for reaching people for Christ, we are privileged and blessed to receive his skill set as a member of Surge.  We are truly grateful to God for this development.

First GPI-Vienna Surge players

View first GPI-Vienna Surge players, Grant Knight and Nate Brewer and the Surge Team on the Amazon River and in Salem, Oregon. See also the team’s honorary captains, the Roloff family.

Kosovo

In partnership with church planter and pastor, Mark Yocom, Surge soccer has on-going events to encourage the people of Kosovo. While Mark is a chaplain for NATO forces he also is actively involved in the local community, part of which is reaching out to children through the sport of soccer. Surge staff (and friends) visit Kosovo regularly and actively build relationships with boys and girls in the process. The final phrase of our theme verse “defend the rights of the widow” (Is.1:17) was recently fulfilled in that we were able to assist widows …

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Stories That Inspire

“With God all things are possible” (Jesus in Mt 19:26)

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Here are their stories…

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Surge plant flag in Austria

Jan. 23, 2006 :: SALEM, OR — The Surge have opened a new permanent branch of their organization in Vienna, Austria. The base will be the European headquarters for the Surge’s youth outreach and soccer relief work (newly named SOS Soccer) into Eastern Europe and Africa . . . View Full Article

More than a title for USL-2 contenders

Aug. 20, 2008 :: TAMPA, FL – On Saturday, there may be many who would prefer to refer to the USL Second Division Championship game as the Irby Humanitarian Cup . . . View Full Article

Soccer Players serve as Mentors at Local Schools

They’re not only great soccer players, they’re also great guys . . . The players have served as excellent role models to students by reading with them, by helping them solve math problems, and by being friends in the classroom.

Surge partners with Local Schools

June 2009 :: SALEM, OR – The Cascade Surge partnered with Swegle and Washington Elementary Schools to bring Sammy’s Team on campus this May. The players have served as excellent role models to students by reading with them, helping them solve math problems, and by being friends during lunch and recess. View Full Article 

The Cascade Surge Closes its Doors

“Irby has been a great influence on American soccer”, Tredway continued as he praised his former boss. . . View Full Article 

Surge International Ends PDL team

Oct. 2009 :: SALEM, OR – “It is with much sadness, we announce the terminiation of our Cascade Surge PDL soccer franchise.” said Surge President Dave Irby. “For fifteen years we have entertained fans and spent quality time with youth throughout the area; but changes in the economy made it harder to keep the team operating.” …

Surge meant more than soccer to Mid-Valley

Oct. 18, 2009 :: SALEM, OR -The Cascade Surge has folded as we reported last week. Should they be mourned? Why should anyone care . . . There are plenty of reasons to care . . .

Interview with David Irby

APULIFE Summer 2010 :: A poster, the Cougar soccer team, a chapel service, and a trip with APUs Mexico Outreach Program were all important pieces of a puzzle that led me to 36 countries around the world.

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Surge News Feb 2012

Surge News Feb 2012 Allen Lotz, our Senior VP, just returned from from the jungles of Peru. He was part of a seven person group that traveled 10 hours by plane, 10 hours by bus, 10 hours by truck, then throw in a canoe ride! The purpose was to help provide medical care, minor construction and begin to explore the idea of using soccer for leadership training, similar to our project in Mongolia.

Seahorse Team to Uganda

See Coach Irby  as he traveled with their Seahorse Team to Uganda, as the civil war was ending.

Alumnus Facilitates Global Soccer Ministry

June 26, 2010 :: As an incoming freshman, David Irby 75 had no idea how much impact APUthen Azusa Pacific College would have on his life. Thirty-five years later, he is founder and CEO of Surge International, a ministry that uses soccer to bridge political and social gaps around the world in order to spread the Gospel. View Full Article