Integrity is often tested when no one else is watching. It’s not about doing what’s right because of fear of being caught, but because we want to honor God, even when the “wrong” way looks easier, faster, or even “justifiable.”

Many of the books I’ve been reading about agriculture all begin with the same theme: preparing the soil. It’s one of the most demanding tasks in the entire planting process, and so far, it’s been the most exhausting one for me. I’ve ended up with back pain, sunburns, and hands covered in dirt. From breaking up hard clumps of soil to pulling out weeds or trying not to damage tree roots, these have been long, strenuous days of preparation. All of it so that, in a single afternoon, every seed can find its place and begin to grow under daily care.

When people hear the term “futsal program,” they usually picture the training sessions, the uniforms, and the matches — a fun “kick around” that helps us connect and engage with kids in the community. You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that. We connect with numerous kids from our community through our training sessions. We’re blessed to have uniforms and compete in local competitions on a regular basis.

But it’s also so much more than that. We often say that we’re a futsal program where our lowest priority is futsal.

At our ministry, we have a garden that has produced all sorts of things, and it excites us to see everything that’s still to come. I’ve watched many plants sprout, grow, and bear fruit there—but I have to admit, I’m no expert. When they’re growing, they all look the same to me: green leaves, similar stems, even flowers that look almost identical.

If you’ve spent much time around me in the past ten years, you can probably guess where this is going. Yep — community. I talk about it all the time, and there’s a reason. Community is one of the things most often missing in the church. We’re great at running events, programs, and Sunday services, but sometimes we forget who we really are: not just individuals who believe in Jesus, but a people who belong to one another because we belong to Him.

At Red Roots, we love sharing updates about our ministry and nonprofit work through newsletters, YouTube videos, social media, and the occasional podcast. But we wanted to create a space where you could hear directly from the people living and loving this mission every day: Romon, Melinda, Ruddy, Simon, and Camilo.