ETBU Tigers make impact in Poland, Croatia

MARSHALL—Student-athletes and coaches from East Texas Baptist University led sports camps, worked on a demolition project for a church and led worship in Central Europe.

Head coach Mark Sartain and the mission volunteers spent a week in Krakow, Poland, to work with a semi-pro team, the Krakow Tigers, and conduct American-style football clinics in the area.

Another group spent several days in Croatia, helping a church in Beli Manastir tear down an old structure in order to build a worship building as part of an effort spearheaded by Advancing Native Missions.

The latest excursions marked the fourth consecutive summer the ETBU football program has been involved in mission trips.

“It’s a part of what I want in our program,” Sartain said. “We’re a part of East Texas Baptist University, and I think our whole focus as an institution is to send people out with a message. So, I think it’s very appropriate that we do that with the football program. It’s about more than just the game.

“This is just a part of the experience, learning how to serve, learning how to use the opportunities and influence that we have as football players and coaches. It always gives a different perspective on life, and faith, that I think is healthy for our young men.”

East Texas Baptist University football players Andrew Boyce of Livingston and Brett Peddicord of Allen run football drills with youngsters in Krakow, Poland. Members of the Tiger football team went to both Croatia and Poland recently for international mission projects. (PHOTO/ETBU Football)

In Krakow, Poland, the ETBU Tigers were guests of the Krakow Tigers, part of a 32-team semi-pro league in Poland. The ETBU players and coaches spent two days conducting practice and helping the team with its grasp of American football.

“We saw over 2,000 Polish kids that came through our area, and they got to put on a helmet and shoulder pads, learn how to kick and throw and catch an American football, knock down blocking dummies, that kind of thing. It was a really neat deal,” Sartain said.

The ETBU group also visited three middle schools and spent time with students talking about football. Sartain was invited to speak at a local university about football and sports marketing.

The ETBU group also toured Auschwitz, the largest Nazi concentration camp in Poland. From 1941 to 1942, the gas chamber at Auschwitz was used to kill an estimated 60,000 Jews and Polish prisoners, as well as Russian prisoners of war.

“It was just a chilling, indescribable experience that I personally will never forget, walking on that ground and knowing history and what took place there,” Sartain said. “It really, really puts everything else into perspective, and I think it affected our young men very deeply.”

East Texas Baptist University head football coach Mark Sartain and team members spent a week in Poland on an international mission project.

In Croatia, the ETBU volunteers helped a church tear down of an old facility so a new one can be constructed. Volunteers cleared 16 tons of debris in three days.

During ETBU’s first summer trip to Croatia in 2008, the Tigers come to the aid of a local church congregation with the construction of a new church building. This year, the team worshiped at that church.

“It was just neat to see all those people again and see what our work there accomplished,” said Sartain. “We sent them a signed football from our team, and they had it proudly on display. It was a nice worship time and we really enjoyed seeing some friends again.”

The Tigers also conducted worship in three churches in the area.

Sartain noted  he wants to continue making the trips available to his players in the future, and would also like to see ETBU groups travel in the United States to aid in recovery and reconstruction after natural disasters.

“Doing these types of things is always very inspiring and humbling,” he said. “We always come back feeling like we’ve gotten more than we’ve given. It’s always worth it.”