Launching Surge Soccer Liberia
We believe soccer is a powerful way to connect with people, to understand their needs, and to form lasting partnerships to meet those needs – spiritually, socially, and educationally.
When a fellow coach first called and asked, “Would you consider working in Liberia?” I politely said I’d pray about it – but honestly told the Lord, “I’m not going to Liberia.”
Four years later, we’ve been there multiple times.
What started with one trip to lead a seminar for Liberia’s top football coaches has grown into Surge Soccer Liberia. We’ve come alongside existing efforts in education (Beautiful Beginnings School), leadership training (Elite Teacher Training), soccer/educational development nationwide, and even trauma care – learning, serving, and building trust along the way.
In that first step, we visited a school, were involved in training Christian leaders in sports ministry and we assessed how could we be of service to the existing leaders and coaches in Liberia.
After Al, our VP and I took that first trip, Roy and Roberta Reed joined us. Roberta brings her expertise in educational development and Roy brings his experience in trauma counseling.
Roy and Roberta also oversee and recruit sponsors for our Liberian Leadership Interns. They have also expanded our educational and trauma relief efforts by helping us add more volunteers in the USA.
We love people. We love connecting through soccer. And we love partnering with others in Liberia and the USA to serve the people of Liberia, guided in Jesus name.
Learn more about our work and vision here on this site.
We invite you to pray with us, donate as you feel led, and consider having us speak at your church, group, or event.
Continue reading to discover more about our experience in Liberia…
Our powerful 5 minute Liberia video. Another compelling reason!
This is a series of blogs from Roberta (and Roy) Reed, who joined Surge founder Dave Irby on his second trip to Liberia. The Reeds, former Surge International Board, members live in Colorado. Roberta is an “educational specialist” and Roy is a “trauma specialist.”
Stories and Updates from Liberia
As we venture back out into the world, we all know it is not without risks. Preparing for the unexpected and adapting is critical in accomplishing our goals…. First my return flight was canceled, then changed. Next my departing flight was canceled, then changed. Yesterday I went to check in at PDX and much to the suprise of the Delta Ticket Agent she couldn’t check me in for my flights to Monrovia, Liberia. Air France had canceled my new flight. Almost 2 hours later my Thursday flight was now on …
– Follow our journey – Learn about Key Meeting with Minister of Education – About Training top Soccer Coaches in Liberia – Training Pastors in Sports Ministry – Developing partnership with Beautiful Beginnings School sharing hope through soccer, Dave Irby US Soccer ‘A’ License
Irby and Lotz preparing for first trip to Liberia – February 2022 Surge International is pleased to announce a new project that will give you access to helping us shape the world we live in! Partnering with Ollie White, Beautiful Beginnings School; Doco Wesseh, the ONE GOAL Foundation; and Rochell Favor Woodson (One GOAL/President, World Girls Football Club) we hope to impact Liberia through education & football and through local churches. Meet Ollie White; a learner, reader, and leader who by the grace of God is revolutionizing reading in Liberia. …
Surge International is pleased to announce a new project that will give you access to helping us shape the world we live in! Surge Soccer Liberia has been launched; along with partnering with Ollie White, Beautiful Beginnings School/Elite Teacher Training we are impacting Liberia through education & football and through local churches. Your donations will help us, Lord willing, shape Liberia for years to come. Learn more about Ollie and our Surge Liberia directors Amos Gayflor and Darius Barrolle in their video interviews posted here on our website.
Two sisters traveled five hours by bus from a jungle area to attend our training program. Their area was known in the past for its “headshrinkers.” As a child, another one of our coaches was shuffled around to seven different orphanages. Abuse during that time of his life led him to a life of alcohol and drugs. As an adult he met Jesus and is now serving the children of Riobamba, Ecuador through soccer. After two years of waiting to travel, Al Lotz and I trained twenty-three coaches in soccer …
[tds_council]“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”[/tds_council] Dear Friends, IF the Lord wills the long wait will be over and in November I …
Join David Irby on on Facebook Live tomorrow at 10:00 am PST by the Vice-President of Sports Journalism in Liberia. We are starting new initiatives in Zambia, Liberia, Kenya and Haiti to train pastor and coaches in evangelism & discipleship through sports. Varmah Kamara, will be the host, from Facebook.
