Charles McGalliard
CSO
Charles McGalliard: cmcgalliard@csosports.org
CSO Website: www.csosports.org
Ministry Description
CSO’s mission is to change the world through sports. Our vision is to build the kingdom of God in local churches and sport team chaplaincies through the universal language of sports. Charles’ primary focus will be on CSO-International (one of four areas of CSO ministry).
The mission of CSO International is to mobilize local churches around the world to build bridges for the gospel through the language of sports. Our vision for CSO International is to assist every evangelical church movement in the world to utilize Sports Outreach to mobilize their local churches. We plan to accomplish this by teaming with those movement leaders to construct country or region sports outreach strategies and to develop leaders and provide resources to implement that strategy.
Charles’ Story
(Also See Articles in the Huntersville Herald- Sept 2007 & Feb 2008)
After losing my job of 18 years on June 6, 2007, I have started a new chapter in my life. For many people that would be a devastating time. It was unexpected, but I can say in many ways it was a welcomed event. I had struggled with feelings of unfulfillment in my job for many years. I could have pursued a position in the Information Technology Field where I had worked for the past 25 years, but that was not where my heart led me. God has spoken to my heart about international evangelism.
I have always had a heart for evangelism. This has been born out in spiritual gift surveys over the years. A few years ago my employer began outsourcing IT work to India. Through those working relationships I developed a rapport and a heart for the people there. In October of 2006 I was part of a two-man mission trip to visit with and encourage a local Indian Pastor in Northern India. LFC helps to support his ministry of pastoral training and church planting. We met and worshiped with those Pastor Nandu has trained who live in remote villages in the Southern Himalayan Mountains, most without electricity. That experience confirmed my call to work in international evangelism. Now 7 months later I find myself in a position to test my faith and follow a path through a door I feel God has opened.
In connection with my trip to India in 2006, I met a number of times with Bob Dyar. Bob is our contact at Joe Gibbs Racing that partners with my church in supporting Pastor Nandu. During those pre and post trip visits, I heard Bob’s passion for the work he was doing internationally with an organization he founded in 1996 called CSO.
This has led me to where I feel God is calling me, to international ministry through sports in Africa and Asia with CSO. I anticipate traveling to each continent twice a year. This will include trips to restricted countries where persecution has resulted in the growth of the underground church movement.
Through this process two verses have become meaningful to me:
Hebrews 11:1 :
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
This defines the workings of faith in ones life. Through this verse I sense God is asking me to step out to my waters edge and trust Him even thought I don’t see all that lies before me as clearly as I would like.
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This tells us that God has a plan for all Christians for which he has already prepared us. When I look back over the past few years of my life I can see how God has been preparing me for this time.
I feel the most alive when I am in the international field seeing God work in the lives of those we serve in countries where worship is not taken for granted. They are such an inspiration to me, allowing me to see God in a different light, outside of my everyday comforts and routines at home. I feel that my gifts of Helps, Encouragement and Evangelism come to life while spending time with these brothers and sisters, helping to Change the World Thru Sports.
Prayer Requests
Personal
Like many mission organizations, we need to raise our own support. CSO does not charge for any of their services or materials that we give away to churches in countries all over the world. Please consider supporting me through CSO International for the work that God has called me to. I would be glad to speak to your personally about CSO and my role there.
Pray for me as I continue to grow both spiritually and in knowledge. I claim this verse: Philippians 1:6 …Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
For CSO
Pray for the safety of the CSO International team as we travel to restricted countries and for the safety of those that we work with there as they work and worship at a cost. Pray for wisdom as we make plans for our visits to Africa and Asia in 2008. We have trips planned for Vietnam in April and for Africa in the summer.
As we do the work that God has called us to we create relationships with our brothers and sisters around the world. These words of the Apostle Paul stood out to me recently as they reminded me of relationships made in Vietnam in November of 2007. Paul was anxious to return to Rome so that they could have mutual encouragement. We have received word that many of those trained have been successful in their first Sports Ministry Initiatives.
Romans 1: 8-12: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.