A soccer club that began 19 months ago has grown into something more than a mere sports team.
Junior Mitch McGeath realized early in his freshman year that he didn’t want to continue training to play soccer at the college or professional level. He started wondering what to do next.
“I wanted to do something with my passion for soccer,“ he said.
McGeath initiated pickup games in the evenings, at first attracting only a few Korean exchange students from Handong Global University and Junior SeongHo Park.
However, significant challenges and a sense of aimlessness marked its early days, said McGeath.
“I had no money, no one had any interest in supporting me, and three of the five Korean students that I played with were going to be gone,” he said.
As the school year drew to a close, McGeath embarked on an outreach effort. He went door to door in the residence halls, engaging with people and encouraging them to join the club. This effort added five individuals to the club.
In the middle of September 2022, McGeath officially established the “TU Soccer Club” as an extracurricular athletic club under the umbrella of Taylor Student Organizations.
At the six-month mark of McGeath’s efforts, however, he experienced a mentality shift. He said that the realization struck him that a more profound approach was needed, one steeped in prayer. The goal shifted from merely branding the club as a place for leisure and skill development, to that of an intercultural ministry.
The turning point came during a J-term trip, where McGeath went alongside his Ministry class and Office of Intercultural Programs leaders on a Civil Rights trip led by The Rev. Greg Dyson. It was there that he said he was challenged to integrate people of various backgrounds with the dominating culture being that of MidWesteners at Taylor.
“How can we faithfully illustrate that part of the Kingdom of God in Taylor's community?” McGeath said.
This was a question that kept coming back to his mind. It was then that he saw soccer as an international game that connects people of different backgrounds, regardless of language, creed or culture.
After the J-term trip, the club witnessed a surge in participation, attracting 10 to 15 players for futsal matches in the Kesler Student Activities Center.
Seniors Israel Aileman, Josue Villalobos and Jorge Martinez De Santiago joined the club, bringing their circles of friends. McGeath said that at this time, a sense of purpose began to develop. The emphasis shifted from aimless play toward combining fun with improvement. They began to view the sport as an act of worship — a means of expressing devotion to a higher purpose.
By the end of spring 2023, the club's membership had grown substantially, reaching around 30 to 45 members.
Its mantra became clear, said McGeath. They were there not just to play but also to pray. This approach allowed for deeper relationships beyond the soccer pitch, creating opportunities for the personal and spiritual growth of the men and women involved.
“The Soccer Club has given me more friends and connections,” Sophomore Michael Nando said.
This year, the largest incoming freshman class brought in soccer players who were looking for a way to keep playing the sport they loved. During International Orientation,over 30 students would seek out McGeath to play soccer.
“It was beautiful because they were all so excited to be a part of the community of Taylor,” he said.
As of Sept. 28, the Soccer Club features 50 to 60 regular attendees, with a total membership of 110 individuals. Prayer has become an integral part of their gatherings, before and after games. Away from the soccer field, the players engage in activities like watching Champions League games together, eating together and playing football-tennis.
For McGeath, the numbers are not the primary focus; it's about remaining faithful to the vision of combining sports and ministry. The club aims to balance competitiveness with a commitment to building bridges between cultures as well as deepening their faith.
The club's future holds exciting prospects, with a friendly game scheduled against Anderson University for next month, and the reintroduction of indoor futsal during the winter.
