If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

-Proverbs 21:13

Lynn Pelton, founder and president of GGM-USA with one of our many friends in Sierra Leone.

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The Founding of Greatest Goal Ministries

Soccer and Hope!

The following is the story of how a soccer ball connected two individuals on opposite ends of the world together.  The  Greatest Goal Ministries organization of today was a direct result of this early alliance. 

Watch the video on the "Press Releases" page;  it shows the Sierra Leone Amputee Soccer Club in action – amazing!

In January of 2001, Dee Malchow, a Seattle nurse, visited the war-torn country of Sierra Leone, West Africa. This beautiful country had been ravaged by an eleven-year civil war which was just winding down. She arrived in the country to find thousands of people homeless and surviving in refugee camps. Over 10,000 people, all ages and both genders, had barely survived brutal amputations.

At one of the amputee camps Dee was attempting to encourage survivors and chose to remove her own prosthetic leg (the result of a boating mishap while in nursing school). While speaking to one young man named Joseph, she explained how single leg amputees play soccer on crutches. The modified game, originally developed in Seattle, is now active in many countries.  Joseph was encouraged and Dee left him with her card. 

A local young Pastor, Mambud Samai, had been visiting the refugee camp to minister to the children. Joseph approached Pastor Sumai and asked if he could contact the one legged white woman who had suggested soccer on crutches. The pastor agreed and contacted Dee via email. She was overwhelmed to learn that over 60 people wanted to play soccer. She sent them the game rules, a video and a box of single shoes. By late February, the Single Leg Amputee Sport Club (SLASC) of Sierra Leone was born.

Many other needs were identified from the amputees and their families. The hand of God led Pastor Samai and Dee to formalize their outreach to all amputees. The name “Greatest Goal Ministries” was decided upon and Pastor Samai set up the organization in Sierra Leone in November 2006.

Dee, now retired, wondered how she would do the same in the U.S. But God’s plan was just unfolding. By March of 2007, Lynn and Dr. Jim Pelton heard for the first time of the horrific amputations and Sierra Leone’s eleven-year conflict. After hearing Dee’s story and much prayer, they felt God calling them to take part as founders of Greatest Goal Ministries. And on May 18, 2007 Greatest Goal Ministries USA (GGM USA) was founded.

GGM USA Mission Statement:

Greatest Goal Ministries-USA is a Christian humanitarian, 501c3 charitable, non-profit organization committed to walking alongside the disabled and the war-affected amputees, and their families in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Founded in May of 2007 GGM/USA has been learning to walk alongside and serve the people of Sierra Leone.  With our international headquarters in Bellevue, WA, USA, GGM USA has been working with various national and international partners. 

Up until March of 2011, GGM USA worked with a partner organization, GGM-SL, a national organization which was supported by GGM USA in Freetown.  Due to administrative misuse of funds in Sierra Leone, this relationship was severed in April 2011 and GGM USA registered as an International Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).  GGM USA is a registered NGO with the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Government Organizations ( SLANGO) and has duty free tax clearance for shipments to the country.

By identifying projects that allow for sustainable development and focusing on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the amputees, disabled, and war affected we help these victims as they move from a life of dependency to a life of independence.