Simon, originally from Germany, came in touch with SURGE for the first time in Austria. As part of SRS, a German sports missionary organization, he helped to run refugee / kids soccer camps. He then went on to play College soccer at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City. Early on there, Simon became a captain and discovered his passion to use a leadership position to influence other people’s lives positively. Over the years Simon went back to Austria and Greece to similar refugee camps, to share, mostly on the soccer pitch, what it means to have hope in Jesus Christ. In addition to that, he was a part of the Torch FC for two summers in a row, a ministry team in the summer league NPSL in Pennsylvania.

On top of playing himself, Simon was able to gather valuable experience as a coach for different clubs and High Schools in Oklahoma. After a successful 5 years in the States, God opened up a door for him to move to Cairo, Egypt, to use his soccer experience to work for the organization Wellspring Egypt. He was hired to be a part of the non-profit organization as a full time soccer coach for their affiliated club “Life Sports Club”.