Mission at a Chess Club

It’s Friday night at Casa Adobe, a ministry house in Costa Rica, and the loudest chess club ever is meeting.

Resonate Global Mission missionary Micah Schuurman and his friend, José Mario, just explained how to checkmate with two bishops. As the kids start their games, birds chirp in the garden, a German Shepherd barks at the front gate, and someone strums a guitar nearby. But the kids are definitely the loudest.

“Jokes, laughter, and victory dances are all pretty common,” Schuurman said. “When two kids finish a match, they might sit quietly and watch what’s happening in another game. But they’re just as likely to start distracting the other players with fart noises.”

Schuurman said that there are few extracurricular opportunities for children in Costa Rica who aren’t into soccer. That’s why he started the Friday-night chess club.

“A chess club is a place that can be hospitable to those who don’t necessarily fit in in other settings,” he said.

Schuurman started the chess club in 2016, a couple of years after he first moved to Costa Rica to serve with Resonate. He has spent many Friday nights with young people in his neighborhood, teaching them how to play chess, explaining new moves, playing games with them, and teaching them life lessons.

While Schuurman and Mario don’t preach the gospel verbally at chess club, they share it through their actions, such as praying before every meeting. The kids know the leaders are Christians, and Schuurman has seen God at work. Chess club is making a difference in the children’s lives.

Some come from unstable homes with few male role models. Schuurman and Mario have been able to mentor them—they listen to them talk about their lives and give them advice.

Some have faced hunger. At chess club, they get to fill up on snacks.

Some struggle socially in school. They’ve made friends through chess club.

Some have learning disabilities. Learning chess helped them improve their performance in school. Some students’ grades have improved, but mostly the kids have learned to work hard, persevere, and think positively. Schuurman said a number of kids have made the equivalent of the honor roll at school for the first time.

“I work pretty hard to encourage a growth mindset. It’s a big deal in education right now,” said Schuurman, who also teaches at a seminary. “Instead of focusing on innate ability, you focus more on hard work and how we’re always improving. There can be a hierarchy in chess—so-and-so is good or bad at chess—(but) we try to keep the focus on celebrating improvements, no matter how small. We focus on celebrating hard work, not winning.”

As the kids come to more and more meetings, Schuurman said he sees kids display ownership of the club, responsibility, and a willingness to serve.

“Some are quick to volunteer to help mix the juice. Others help me bring in the bags of snacks. When it’s all done, they help with the clean-up without being told to do so,” he said.

Thank you for sending and supporting missionaries like Schuurman through Resonate and helping to make a difference in students’ lives, one chess game at a time.