OAKLAND SOLDIERS' Former Players & Coach Travel To The Philippines For Christian Mission Trip

Many young kids dream of becoming a "Big Basketball Star" and making it to the NBA.

Well, Oakland Soldiers' Alumni Collin Chiverton and Tim Harris, along with the former Executive Director of the Program, Carl Foster -- were like a lot of those kids, except with a different twist to the story.

In late June this year, this trio will embark on a journey to impact the lives of many in the Philippines to serve as members of a Christian Mission Trip. They will leave on Friday, June 27th out of San Francisco International Airport on a fifteen (15) day trip to serve the people in this foreign land.

During the trip, they will serve as members of the "EMBRACE & REACH" Basketball Ministry Team which will play ten (10) games against various opponents in different regions of the country.

These "Goodwill Games" allow the Mission Ministry Project Team to reach out to thousands of Filipino Natives with a message of LOVE & SUPPORT; for the survivors of Hurricanes, Floods, and Typhoons, which have hit the islands in the past year.

Additionally, they will help conduct a number of free Sports Clinics for kids who live in depressed areas on the island. They will also serve as Speakers for the Campus Ministry Team which goes to Grammar, Middle, and many High Schools to share a strong word of encouragement.

There will be doctors, dentists, teachers, singers, performing artists, also on the trip serving in various capacities. This is the sixth year for the Basketball Ministry Sports Team.

If anyone would like to help Collin, Tim or Carl by serving as one of their sponsors; they can make a donation to the Ministry to help offset their expenses. Each of the fifty plus (50+) volunteers slated to go on this years' trip are required to raise $2,700 each to join the trip.

For more information on making a donation please contact Carl Foster (510) 520-1926. All donations are fully tax-deductible. Checks or Money Orders can be made out directly to the host church for the Mission Trip:

FAMILY CHURCH OF PRAISE
c/o  Carl Foster
6900 Valleyview Drive, Suite # 260
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Special Notes:

Collin Chiverton starred at Archbishop Mitty HS in San Jose. He earned a scholarship to St. Mary's College in Moraga. He spent one year as an All-State Performer at City College of San Francisco. They won the JUCO State Championship during that season. He transferred to Eastern Washington University where he starred & graduated in 2012. He played last year professionally in Saudi Arabia. This will be his 2nd Mission Trip. He went to Africa while a HS Junior.

Tim Harris starred at Valley Christian HS in San Jose. He earned a scholarship to St. Mary's College in Moraga. He struggled with health issues during his two (2) seasons as a SMC Gael. Later he transferred to Concordia University in Southern California. He led them to an NAIA National Championship in 2012. He is currently working and preparing for opportunities professionally abroad.

Carl Foster is a graduate of San Francisco State University. He is employed by Kaiser Permanente in Bakersfield, California. He served as a Director with the Oakland Soldiers for over thirteen (13) years & helped many young people achieve their dream of going to college & playing collegiate basketball. Additionally, he served as the Vice Principal of the Attles' School of Basketball (ASOB) for over a decade. In that position he taught classes on fundamental skill development. This will be his seventh Mission Trip. He has been to the Philippines on five previous occasions and to the Island of Haiti, once. Each time, sports ministry has been the conduit to take him abroad.