Basketball and Discipleship
Champions For Jesus provides children and teens in Nicaragua with basketball practices, tournaments, and opportunities to play in regional and national championships. Some of our players have even had the opportunity to travel to represent their country in international championships! Basketball offers a healthy extracurricular pastime, a supportive community, and a chance for some of our players to obtain college scholarships and professional opportunities.
More importantly, Champions provides a supportive environment in which children and teens learn about God and how to follow him in their lives. Kids are welcome at our small community center when they are not in school, which provides a safe environment for homework, hanging with friends, and small group discipleship.
About Nicaragua
Nicaragua is located in Central America, nestled between Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. With about 50,000 square miles of land area (similar in size to the state of Alabama), It is a beautiful land of lakes and volcanos, narrow enough to drive from the Atlantic coast in the morning to the Pacific coast in the evening. The population of Nicaragua is approximately 6.5 million people, comparable to the population of Tennessee. Nicaraguan people are warm, cheerful, and generous, much like the land where they live.
For more information regarding Nicaragua’s social, political, and economic situation, consider referring to the following:
Nicaragua Overview
Nicaragua Poverty & Equity Brief
5 Causes of Poverty in Nicaragua
Reforming Education in Nicaragua
Our Communities
Champions For Jesus serves Ciudad Sandino and Los Brasiles. Ciudad Sandino is a densely populated, urban municipality on the western edge of Managua, the capital city. Los Brasiles is a slightly more rural development about a 20 minute drive away, where the city continues to spread outward as new inhabitants purchase lots of land and construct more homes each day.
These communities have few spaces and organizations to provide recreational opportunities. Although parents often work long hours, children who attend school often only attend for a half day, as schools provide classes to half of attendees in the morning and half of attendees in the afternoon, due to inability to offer lunch for students. These factors along with high unemployment combine to contribute to delinquency and substance abuse. Champions For Jesus fills a significant need for safe and nurturing after-school options.
Leadership
MAC ROMERO
MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Mac grew up in Ciudad Sandino, Managua, Nicaragua and now lives in South Carolina. Champions For Jesus is the result of a dream that God put in his heart years ago to help reach people in his hometown community.
KLAIMER DUARTE
SPORTS & FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR
Klaimer has been running the on-the-ground operations of Champions for Jesus in Nicaragua since 2014, under the guidance of the Ministry Director. Klaimer is a joyful, playful personality whose love of the Lord and of young people suit him well to this mission.
EFRAM
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Efram joined Champions staff in 2025 after first serving as a volunteer. He loves helping young people develop their gifts and learn to love the Lord.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Monica Cox
Claudio Molina
Leiza Palpant
Roberta Irene Romero
Daniel Van Der Hoeven
Kelli Van Der Hoeven
