Our Story
An Unseen Hand
GoodSports has never been a project of human engineering. It evolved organically—or more accurately, as a living work of the Spirit of God. Across thirty-two years of existence under the name GoodSports, there were pivotal moments when the work floundered, when resources ran thin, or when the way forward seemed uncertain. Yet, time and again, lives were redirected, key people stepped in at precisely the right moment, and resources appeared just in time. It is as if an invisible hand has been strategically moving chess pieces across a board, ensuring that GoodSports would not only survive, but endure.
A Sacred Inspiration
A key chapter of the GoodSports story began in 2006, after taking shape in an Irish pub. The vision drew its inspiration from the ancient Celtic saints and their radical approach to spirituality.
The Celtic tradition held a sacred view of humanity: it believed that every single person carries a spark of the divine, is inherently worthy of love, and possesses immense potential for good. This belief produced a culture of genuine hospitality. People who held no Christian faith were not treated as targets for conversion but as honored guests. They were welcomed into community practices, shared experiences, and genuine friendships based entirely on their own comfort and curiosity. An experiential encounter with divine love almost always preceded any formal explanation. If questions arose, they came naturally from the individual’s own wonder at experiencing something they could not easily explain.
Following this path, GoodSports deliberately adopted an inclusive, barrier-free approach. From the beginning, we distanced ourselves from any religious posturing or institutional friction that might cause a young person or parent to turn away. The goal has always been simple: eliminate every obstacle that keeps families and youth from stepping through our doors.
Relationships First, Life Happens
This value shapes everything we do—camps, retreats, parties, floorball tournaments, and after-school programs. A big event is often the first moment a teenager encounters GoodSports. From there, relationships evolve naturally. As young people continue showing up, they begin to feel safe. They share their stories, trust is built, and love takes root as real life happens all around them.
Exploration of spiritual themes is always optional, held at off-times for those who genuinely want to lean in.
Consider the story of the Cesta ("The Way") Club. It began with a handful of kids gathering on Sunday afternoons after two hours of intense, high-energy floorball in the gym. Sweaty, exhausted, and rehydrating over snacks, a small group gathered in whatever space was open. Using a Slovak translation of the Gospel of Matthew written in modern, living language, we read short passages and asked honest questions. For almost every kid in that room, it was the first time they had ever opened a Bible.
One afternoon, the text brought up the topic of prayer. Knowing that the best way to understand prayer is simply to try it, an experiment was proposed: "What is something we can pray for that could happen only if God actually makes it happen?"
One of the boys looked up and said, "Let's pray for a full-sized baseball field."
The rest of the room wholeheartedly agreed; however, to human eyes, the request was absurd. The land available wasn't nearly big enough for a regulation baseball field. But their enthusiasm was so pure and authentic that crushing it was not an option. For the next two years, as the gatherings wrapped up, a kid would be asked to "pray for the baseball field." The prayers were offered with nervous giggles, stumbled words, and childlike simplicity—but they prayed.
And God answered.
Two years later, a partnership with a local baseball team materialized. An architect was brought in who figured out how to squeeze a full-sized field into the space. It required bulldozing adjacent basketball courts, building a massive retaining wall along one side, and accepting a short center field that was made usable by installing a high fence.
Against every human probability, a full-sized baseball field became a reality.
Today, some of those original kids serve as volunteers in our program in Devinska, home for our own “field of dreams." That field stands as a physical monument—an icon pointing them to the reality of God and the undeniable power of prayer, no matter how awkwardly it is offered.
No Pressure, Just Invitation
Experiences like this reinforce our foundational conviction: when you extend open-hearted welcome to skeptics, doubters, cynics, and the spiritually weary, they encounter a divine love through our acceptance and inclusion that often changes everything. It’s a disarmingly simple way to be salt and light.
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No pressure, just suggestion.
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No manipulation, just invitation.
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No judgment, just acceptance.
This is the Celtic spirit that guides GoodSports in Slovakia. Our staff look for opportunities to bring life into everyday activities—through one-on-one conversations, small support groups, discovery groups, and quiet acts of service. It happens at weekend retreats, during summer camps, on afternoon walks, and (almost) always over a glass of Kofola.
The Way Forward
Is this approach for everyone? Probably not. Every ministry should remain loyal to the distinct calling God has placed on its heart—that is the way to be fully alive and authentic.
For GoodSports in Slovakia, this is our path. We draw from a rich, ancient tradition that embraced the misfits, the outsiders, the loners, and the ragamuffins—the kind of people Jesus chose to hang around. We are in good company.
Today, as our four full-time staff lead two vibrant youth centers, we stand on thirty-two years of faithfulness while looking toward the future. The same invisible hand that guided an Irish pub conversation into a movement, built a baseball field out of impossible prayers, and transformed the lives of Slovak youth continues to be on the move.
As we chart a way forward, let us re-ignite our imagination, embrace the courage obedience requires, and continue building spaces where every young person who walks through our doors discovers that they are seen, valued, and genuinely loved.
With utmost respect and love,
Tom and Debbie
along with the GoodSports Slovakia Advisory Council
Bob Brosch, Tyler Heitmann, Doug and Peggy Lang, and Krissy Svensson
