DBU golf team scores hole-in-one with kids in Scotland

Dallas Baptist University’s golf team and members of the university’s athletics and global missions staff scored a hole-in-one with a group of children in Scotland during a recent mission trip.

The DBU athletes participated in the trip as part of the university’s Global Sports Mission Initiative, partnering with the Greater Europe Mission agency.

Abbey Bradley, a Dallas Baptist University junior from Montgomery, plays games with children at the Holiday Club, a morning children’s program provided by Newton Wallacetown Church in Ayr, Scotland. (PHOTO/Courtesy DBU Athletics)DBU’s Global Sports Mission Initiative, launched in 2007, allows DBU athletic teams to take part in mission trips around the world. Teams have traveled to Korea, Peru, England, Brazil, Guatemala and Chile. This trip marked the second time the golf team journeyed to Scotland.

After brief training in Glasgow, the DBU team left for their home base during their 10-day stay at Newton Wallacetown Church in Ayr. 

Each morning, the team served as leaders for the Holiday Club, a church-sponsored summer children’s program. The students played with the children and led team devotions, prayer, memory verse exercises, Bible stories, Christian songs, craft time, puppet shows, quizzes and games.

“We have created amazing relationships with kids in the area through camp and sports. It is so awesome to see God working in the lives of people across the world,” graduate student and golfer Charles Gibson said.

Participants praised the way children engaged in the learning activities.

Connor Smith, Dallas Baptist University director of athletics, leads children in an energetic activity as a part of the Holiday Club, a morning children’s program provided by Newton Wallacetown Church in Ayr, Scotland. (PHOTO/Courtesy DBU Athletics)“It has been great to see the kids and their involvement through the Bible stories and activities each morning,” said Kenny Trapp, DBU head golf coach. “The kids are beginning to speak about these messages and memorize the verses that are given to them—what an amazing experience.”

Each afternoon, the DBU volunteers played games with youth and children in a public park. Those experiences offered the mission team opportunities to reach out not only to the children, but also to their parents and others, explaining who they are and why they came to Scotland.

“It’s been amazing to see the people whom God has brought from all over to unite together under the banner of Christ and to proclaim his gospel to the lost,” DBU senior Johnny Antle said.

Participants reflected on individuals who saw first-hand the love of Christ, and they considered the mission trip’s impact on their own lives.

“It is truly amazing to see how God can do more work in 10 days than we can imagine with both the people that we set out to serve and also our student-athletes,” said Connor Smith, DBU director of athletics. “Our teams travel to various areas of the world each year to serve and love on the people in need. However, our student-athletes are usually the ones who are impacted the most through these trips.”