A growing number of Christians are embracing the ... - Biola University

Biola Women’s Soccer Players
Join Outreach Trip to Japan
Preseason team-building trips are nothing
new for college athletes. Most of the time,
these trips involve a trip to the beach,
camping together or hanging out for a weekend at
someone’s cabin in Big Bear.
However, this year, the Biola women’s soccer
team took a different approach, using its preseason
to travel to Japan with the Southern
California Seahorses for team-building and
ministry opportunities.
Seahorses director and former Biola soccer
coach Paul Gizzi and his wife Vickie helped guide
the group through the 12-day trip to visit two
cities: Osaka and Iwata.
“Our purpose was to provide those members
of the Biola women’s soccer team that
make the trip with an opportunity to dynamically
minister in an environment that combines
soccer with the purpose of sharing the Good
News of Christ and encouraging Japanese
believers,” said Gizzi.
This was the second time the Eagles have
partnered with the Seahorses on a mission trip,
but the first time for the majority of the players.
However, the experience was one that won’t soon
be forgotten.
“The whole trip was a time for physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual growth for me
and the rest of the team,” said Brittany Neill,
1 6
Biola’s lone senior on this season’s squad. “It
helped bring to the forefront a lot of issues for us
regarding religion and another culture. It really
opened our eyes!”
The traveling party made its way through the
two towns, partnering with several pastors and
offering matches, clinics, “Soccer Night” outreaches,
meals and relationship-oriented activities.
“It was hot, humid, and yet a total blessing,”
said Gizzi. “The girls played eight matches against
college and high school girls, junior high boys and
several men’s teams.”
After the matches were over, the group led
the players and fans in a praise song and another
song they learned in Japanese, closing with one of
the players sharing their testimony. They would
then take a group picture and distribute team
tracts and gifts to everyone in attendance.
The opportunity to minister was the highlight
of the trip for the women’s soccer team, most
of which had never been on a ministry trip before.
“On the plane ride over, I sat next to a young
Japanese woman who was an English major,” said
Neill. “I had a great time learning about her culture
and talking to her about my faith.
“I saw that a lot of people in Japan are hungry
for something,” said Neill. “The youth there have
tried everything possible, but haven’t found what
they are looking for until they get plugged into
Christ. It really inspired me to get the word out
about him.”
One of the players making her second trip to
Japan was junior Zoe Zappas, who joined the
Seahorses on a trip last summer.
“It was a really moving experience for me,”
said Zappas. “Before the trip, we had different
groups that hung out together on the team, but
this trip really united us. Japan served a good
purpose to get us on track through our ministry
and communication with God.”
The women’s soccer team kicked off the season
on Aug. 20.
-Jeff Hoffman
B I O L A