Board of Directors:

 

James G. Pelton MD

 

Lynn Pelton BSN

 

Anne-Marie Trombold PT

 

Michael Allman BS

 

Sue Cedarleaf

 

About Us

Founded in May, 2007, GGM USA is a newly formed Christian based charitable organization established under the 501(c)3 section of the US tax code.   Located in Bellevue, WA, GGM USA is dedicated to addressing the various economic, social, and spiritual needs for the war-affected amputees and their families of Sierra Leone in a sustainable way to reintegrate them back into society.

Soccer and Hope!

How a soccer ball connected two individuals on opposite ends of the world.  The story of GGM-USA and our partners GGM-SL and SLASC:

 

            Our story begins in January of 2001 when a Seattle nurse, Dee Malchow, visited the war torn country of Sierra Leone, Africa.  This beautiful country had been ravaged by an 11 year civil war.  She arrived in the country to find thousands of people homeless and surviving in refugee camps.  Tragically, approximately 6,000 people, all ages and both genders, had also barely survived brutal amputations.

            At one of the amputee camps, Dee was attempting to encourage survivors by removing her own prosthetic leg (her limb loss caused by a boating mishap while a teenager).  While speaking to one young man named Joseph she explained how soccer could be played by single leg amputees.  (Dee had pioneered amputee soccer in Seattle).  Joseph was encouraged and Dee offered him her business card.

            A young local 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 young men with leg amputations wanted to play soccer!  She sent them the game rules, a video, and a box of single shoes. Hand crutches soon followed.  By late February the Single Leg Amputee Sport Club (SLASC) of Sierra Leone was born.

            With Pastor Samai as the original Director, SLASC provided positive rehabilitation for the amputees and many found  hope in Christianity.  The team became inspirational representatives of unity and peace as they practiced locally and played internationally.

            But not all amputees could play soccer.  Many other needs were identified for the victims and their families.  Prayer, counseling, transportation, mobility aids, literacy, vocational training, information technology, child sponsorship, and micro-credit loans, were among the identified needs.  The hand of God led Pastor Samai and Dee to formalize their outreach to all amputees in the Greatest Goal Ministries, which was officially named in November, 2006.  With the involvement and calling of 4 other U.S. Christians, the official non-profit establishment of this outreach was created in both Sierra Leone (GGM-SL) and the United States (GGM-USA) in May 2007.

 

 “You foolish man….  Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did,

 for offering his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his

 actions were working together, and his faith was made complete

 by what he did.”

 

James 2: 20-22 The Bible

 Dee Malchow and SLASC Players

 Dee Malchow pictured with Pastor Mambud to her left and friends