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06-19-09 Champions for Christ Play in Peru

Date: June 19, 2009
Description: Photos of Smith County’s interdenominational Champions For Christ basketball team on its tour of Peru were received at th Tyler Morning Telegraph office on June 19, 2009. They include photos of the team at area public and church schools; team members meeting and encouraging young boys and girls teams; outdoor games and the attending crowds; prayer and “testimony” times of the player; competition against professional teams; being interviewed for national Peruvian television; autograph seeking by enthusiastic young fans; traveling to games and out on the town in Lima, and encouraging young people learn the game of basketball. Pastor Pepe Selem, a Peruvian national champion powerlifter (the bald man in the green sweats) is a “national hero,” said Champions For Christ of East Texas founder Daniel Devisscher. Selem was the main force drawing the Smith County team to Peru, the games being broadcast on national television and “throughout Latin America and playing the top professional teams in the nation,” said team administrator Roland Heddins, missions director at Smith County’s Community Christian Fellowship. The team lost to the Peruvian national champions by two points this week, Heddins said. Champions For Christ is expected to return to Tyler on Monday.