From Nebraska to Sierra Leone: Faith, Football, and a Boy Named Sullay

Sponsorship continues to serve as the heartbeat of The Raining Season. We are continually grateful for the many people who choose to support the children in our care. One of those sponsorship stories comes from Seward, Nebraska, where the Concordia University Nebraska football team has been sponsoring Sullay since early 2025.

The sponsorship is coordinated by Head Football Coach Patrick Daberkow, who first learned about The Raining Season through one of his assistant coaches. What began as a simple introduction quickly became an opportunity for the team to put their faith into action.

Photo Credit: Concordia University Nebraska Athletics

"We have a lot of able-bodied young men in our program, and James 1:27 calls us, in no uncertain terms, to care for widows and orphans," Coach Daberkow shared. "We are trying to live that out with our team in tangible ways. With the connection and introduction to The Raining Season, it seemed like a great opportunity for our guys to live that out collectively."

The sponsorship is truly a team effort. Inside the locker room sits a wooden box with Sullay's picture next to it where players can contribute cash whenever they are able. Each month, enough is collected to cover Sullay's sponsorship. "It also helps demonstrate strength in numbers," Coach Daberkow explained. "The financial burden is very light when we shoulder it together, even for a group of broke college students."

While financial support is important, the relationship that has developed is even more meaningful. In April, the team had the opportunity to join a video call with Sullay and The Raining Season's in-country Director, Sorie Kamara. During the call, players learned more about Sullay, life in Sierra Leone, and The Raining Season's work. They asked about his favorite foods, the games he enjoys playing, and even what the beaches in Sierra Leone are like.

For Coach Daberkow and the players, seeing and speaking with Sullay made the sponsorship feel personal. "I felt like that FaceTime call was the most impactful aspect of it," he said. "To see that Sullay is not just a picture on a box in our locker room, but a real, living boy that we can encourage and support, and a young man that we can have a relationship with, was very impactful. He is a similar age to a lot of our players' younger brothers and our coaches' kids. Getting to talk to him was a big deal for all of us."

For Sullay, it was a special opportunity as well. What began as a name and a photo for the football team became a virtual meeting. The players enjoyed learning about his life in Sierra Leone, and Sullay enjoyed getting to know the team that faithfully supports him from thousands of miles away.

Looking ahead, the team hopes to continue investing in Sullay's life and perhaps expand their support even further. "I would like to see us continue the sponsorship," Coach Daberkow said. "Hopefully we can expand it someday to more than just one kid!"

This fall, Sullay and the Concordia football team are hoping he will have the opportunity to watch part of a Concordia Nebraska football game.  The children at The Raining Season love soccer, but have not had as much exposure to American football, so this would be a fun experience.

Stories like this remind us that sponsorship is about so much more than financial support. It creates relationships, broadens perspectives, and reminds children like Sullay that there are people around the world who know their name, care about their future, and are cheering them on.

Thank you, Coach Daberkow and every member of the Concordia University Nebraska football team. Thank you for choosing to invest in Sullay's life, for living out your faith in practical ways, and for demonstrating the power of strength in numbers. Your partnership is making a difference, and we are grateful to have you as part of The Raining Season family.

Many blessings,

The Raining Season