M3 (Metro Men’s Ministry) Softball and an invitation to help them help Zimele USA

Metro is a member of a Christian inter-church sports league called Play for Missions (www.playformissions.org) that was co-founded by Doug Paik and several local churches 8 years ago.  The purpose of the league is to build bridges, unite, and network with other Christian churches throughout the tri-state area and empower member churches through sports fellowship and fundraising support for missions programs.  Currently, the league is focusing on using softball for men and various sports clinics for children to help build men's involvement in all our local churches and community.  Each year the league hosts an invitational softball tournament to raise funds for several missions programs of member churches.  Last year Metro fought valiantly and took 3rd place while helping the league to raise $3000 in charity proceeds.

This year, the league and member churches have designated Zimele USA as the sole beneficiary and missions program for our annual softball tournament to be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Votes Park in Teaneck, NJ.  Our goal is to raise $5000 for Zimele USA.  However, we need more help both financially and with players, and manpower for running the event.  If you would be interested in donating or sponsoring, playing (men 17-50), or helping out a little, please let us know.  Contact: Doug Paik (masterdougpaik@gmail.com) or Angela Bae (angela@zimelecommunity.org).

- Doug Paik

As a relatively newer member of Metro, I decided to join our softball team as an opportunity to plug-in more with our church.  Playing in this league over the past 3-months has lived up to my hopes and it's been a lot of fun competing alongside 20 guys from Metro.  I've played in other softball leagues, but the biggest difference that I see with this league is that at the mid-point of each game, we take a pause to have a brief time of worship and prayer with the church we are playing against.  This really helps to set the right tone and focus for the league to make it more than just a game together.

Doug has done a great job dual-hatting as our team coach and also the overall league commissioner.  While a busy man himself, he's managed find a good balance of allowing us to unleash our competitive nature while still cultivating a team culture focused on fellowship.  This environment will hopefully lead to stronger bonds amongst the men in Metro and serve as a stepping stone to strengthen the M3 Men's Ministry which culminate in good works for His kingdom.  It's well known that softball can easily be a venue men can use to disengage with their families; as highlighted by EHS.  But the encouraging atmosphere that our team has tells me that the outcome in the long run will only be a positive impact. 

- Temmy Park

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