Testimony: Terry Lymbilo, Tanzania

My name is Terry Lymbilo from Tanzania. I was born in Mbeya on 9th august 1992. My father was pastor of Tanzania Assembles of God. My mother passed away when I was two years old, and I lived with my father until 2001 when my father remarried, and I got my adopted mother. My father passed away 2013 when I was going to college and my adopted mother passed away six months later. My parents left my older sister and I with two younger sisters.

I started Inspire Football Academy in 2012 with under 13 kids. Since then, we have grown to having U13, U15, U17, U20 and U23. In 2017 our region was the champion of secondary schools in the country and 8 out of 17 players were part of the team. In 2019, four of our players helped the regional team to be second runner-up in the national secondary school tournament. Our U23 team is now in the division 3 league which is playing across the entire region, hoping to represent the division 2 league at the national level.

Even though I was born in Christian family, and had a pastor for my father, it was not enough until 2018 when I first attended the Football Club of Grace Soccer Coaches course. It was then that I realize that I did not have Jesus living in me. It took that course and Bob discipling me on Zoom to understand that truth, after realizing the truth I accepted Jesus. From then on, I have been able to hold the love of Jesus and to love my players. I love my players and they love and trust me enough that they are willing to share their difficulties and hurts, what they are facing in life.

In 2021 Bob taught the lesson of forgiveness and I realized that I needed to forgive my sister. When my father and mother passed away, my sister promised me that she will pay my school fees. When the money was due for my second year, she refused to pay and I was not okay with her. Bob walked me through a forgiveness prayer, and I forgave her. After that, we talked, and continue to have a relationship. FC Grace help my organization to start the small company which raises chickens in the Songwe region of the southern highlands of Tanzania.

From FC Grace:

By the time we planned our next trip after COVID, Terry had assembled a team of instructor coaches who now make up our Tanzania ground team, coordinated all the details of each conference at multiple locations, and has become an integrated and very valued part of our team. He and the rest of the ground team continue to teach the Core Messages around the Mbeya region, driving hours and staying over at coaches’ homes to spread this unique Gospel message. Terry continues to gather coaches together in the local regions around Mbeya to fellowship and learn.