Buena Vista Sports Academy

What Buena Vista Sports Academy does

Buena Vista Sports Academy (BVSA) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that operates soccer academies combining athletic training with daily Bible teaching, discipleship, education support, and nutrition programs. The organization serves boys and young men, primarily ages 10 to 18, drawn from impoverished communities in Guatemala (Buena Vista and Quiché), Honduras (Travesia, serving the Garifuna people), and West Africa through a partnership with Hope Football in Senegal and the Republic of Congo. Each academy runs a Training Table nutrition program serving 700-800 meals per month and integrates with local church planting efforts, including Santa Cruz Bible Church in Quiché.

The core product is the Rhino academy model: an approximately 8-year daily program pairing soccer coaching with systematic theological curriculum sourced from 9Marks, Ligonier, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and The Masters Seminary. Supporting programs include the Rhino Sponsorship Program (individual team or missionary sponsorship), the Quiché-based missionary and church planter training center, and the seasonal Las Rinas girls soccer program in Guatemala. The organization has no proprietary technology systems, APIs, or digital platforms; operational infrastructure consists of a Jimdo website, missionary family blogs, Instagram accounts, and Gmail-based communication.

BVSA's revenue model is entirely donation-based. Funding sources include tax-deductible individual donations, the structured Rhino Sponsorship Program (monthly or one-time giving designated to specific academies or missionaries), and support from a network of partner churches primarily in Florida, Georgia, and Montana. Missionary families are required to raise their own support teams, embedding a community-led GTM motion. Administrative operations are handled by a small Saint Johns, Florida stateside office under a Stateside Office Manager, while field operations are led by indigenous staff and missionary families. The organization is led by co-founders Brock and Kerrie Johnson (Johnson brings prior NFL executive and sports agent experience), with Jeff Abegglen as CFO and a board including co-founder Mynor Leiva.

Name

Buena Vista Sports Academy

Legal name

Buena Vista Sports Academy

Website

https://bvboys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Youth Soccer Academy Ministry

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Faith-based youth ministry
• Youth soccer training
• Discipleship programs
• Nonprofit sports academy
• Church planting initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Johns

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and supporters. Donors can give to specific academies, missionaries, or the Greatest Need fund. Checks can be mailed or online payments made via the website.
2. Rhino Sponsorship Program: Structured sponsorship program where donors sponsor Rhino teams at specific academies or individual missionary families. Monthly or one-time giving options with designated purposes.
3. 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Funding: BVSA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States. All donations are tax-deductible. Funded by a network of friends, family, and local churches.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BVSA operates soccer academies in Guatemala (Buena Vista and Quiché), Honduras (Travesia), and West Africa (Senegal partnership and Republic of Congo partnership) that combine daily soccer training, Bible teaching, education support, and a daily nutrition program (Training Table) for boys typically aged 10–18. The original Buena Vista, Guatemala academy opened in June 2011; BVSA-Quiché opened in early 2022 as both an academy and a missionary/church-planter training center; and BVSA-Honduras was established in 2014. Supporting offerings include the Rhino Sponsorship Program, a Missionary Training Program, and church planting initiatives (e.g., Santa Cruz Bible Church).

Product overview

BVSA is a sports ministry organization operating a multi-academy platform focused on using soccer to disciple boys and young men. The core offering consists of four regional academies (Guatemala, Honduras, Quiché, and West Africa partnership) that combine soccer training, daily Bible teaching, education support, nutrition programs, and long-term discipleship. Supporting programs include the Rhino Sponsorship Program for individual team support, a Missionary Training Program using systematic theology curriculum, and Church Planting initiatives. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit with administrative offices in Saint Johns, FL, and operates under the nickname 'The Rhinos' with teams called 'Rhinos FC' competing in Central America and USA tournaments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rhino FC: Soccer club brand used for BVSA academy teams competing in tournaments across Central America and the USA.
• Las Rinas

Products and services

• BVSA-Guatemala Academy (Buena Vista) The original BVSA soccer academy in Buena Vista, Guatemala, founded in 2010/2011, discipling boys and young men through daily Bible teaching, soccer training, education support, and the Training Table nutrition program. Boys typically enter around age 10 and graduate around age 18.
• BVSA-Honduras Academy (Travesia) Soccer academy in Travesia, Honduras on the Caribbean coastline serving the Garifuna people group; combines soccer training with Bible teaching and addresses community challenges of poverty, drug trafficking, and HIV.
• BVSA-Quiché Academy and Training Center New academy and church plant in Quiché, Guatemala serving the K'iche' Mayan people. Functions as both an academy for local boys and as BVSA's missionary and church planter training center.
• BVSA-West Africa Partnership (Senegal and Republic of Congo) Partnership with Hope Football in Senegal and the Republic of Congo; teaches the Bible and ministers to boys through soccer alongside local coaches, integrating with local church ministry.
• Rhino Sponsorship Program Donor sponsorship program enabling individuals to fund specific Rhino teams at BVSA academies or individual missionary families. Funds academy operations including nutrition, education, Bible teaching, and soccer training.
• Missionary Training Program Spanish-language training program that equips individuals to serve as missionaries and pastors, built on systematic theology curriculum from 9Marks, Ligonier, Bethlehem College and Seminary, and The Master's Seminary. Operates out of BVSA-Quiché.
• Training Table Nutrition Program Daily nutrition program providing nutritious meals to Rhinos (beneficiaries) and staff at each BVSA academy in extreme poverty areas. Each academy feeds 700–800 meals per month, addressing malnutrition and supporting health and academic performance.
• Church Planting Initiative

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hope FootballcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017BVSA works alongside Hope Football in Senegal and Republic of Congo. Hope Football Centre was established by Robert and Kyla Cuthbert since 2017. The partnership oversees soccer initiatives through a local church in Congo. Hope Football is undertaking a Cycle for Hope in the USA to raise awareness and support for the Yakaar (Hope) Football Center in Senegal.
• Local Church in Travesia HondurascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Local church partnership in Travesia, Honduras. Three brothers and a sister began a soccer program to help keep boys off the streets, which led to BVSA-Honduras establishment.
• Mountain Bible ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Mountain Bible Church in Livingston, Montana sent the Briceño family as missionaries to BVSA-Quiché. The Briceños were active members for 9 years where Luis served as an elder.
• Santa Cruz Bible ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Cruz Bible Church (Iglesia Biblica de Santa Cruz) is the church plant associated with BVSA-Quiché. Founded by BVSA missionaries including Luis Briceño as elder. See www.iglesiabiblicasc.com
• Ambassadors InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUlises Maltez previously coached with Ambassadors International before joining BVSA. He traveled to Quiche with a group of coaches from Ambassadors to partner in hosting a soccer camp.
• 9Marks, Ligonier, Bethlehem College and Seminary, Masters SeminaryminorOthersBVSA uses curriculum and resources from these theological organizations for missionary and pastoral training. Key for preserving foundational doctrine while making it understandable for those with limited educational backgrounds.
• Local Churches in GuatemalacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBVSA works with local churches in the villages where academies operate. Local church plants are a key goal of the ministry model, with healthy churches continuing to serve communities after academy programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hope Football: Faith-based soccer ministry in West Africa with which BVSA has a documented mutual partnership in Senegal and Republic of Congo. Operates the same soccer-plus-Bible model and shares coaching staff, making it the closest operational peer to BVSA.
• Ambassadors International: Faith-based sports outreach organization that has previously partnered with BVSA (e.g. coach Ulises Maltez) and runs soccer camps internationally. Directly comparable as a soccer-anchored missions ministry.
• Athletes in Action: Sports ministry arm of Cru that uses athletic platforms (including soccer) for discipleship globally. Direct functional peer to BVSA in using competitive sports as a discipleship entry point.
• SCORE International: Long-standing sports missions organization that combines athletic competition with evangelism and discipleship, often in Latin America. Directly comparable model and beneficiary population to BVSA's Central American academies.
• SportQuest: Faith-based sports missions organization that mobilizes coaches and athletes for overseas ministry. Closely comparable in combining sport, missions and long-term discipleship outcomes.
• Back2Back Ministries: Christian nonprofit serving orphaned and at-risk children through long-term relational ministry in multiple countries. Comparable to BVSA in long-tenure youth discipleship, holistic care, and international footprint.
• Street Soccer USA: Nonprofit that uses soccer as a vehicle for youth development and life skills in underserved communities. Directly comparable to BVSA in using soccer academies for at-risk youth outcomes, although secular rather than faith-based.

Broad incumbents

• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA): Large, well-established faith-and-sports organization serving athletes and coaches globally. Broader in scope than BVSA but operates in the same 'sports as ministry' category and competes for overlapping evangelical donor dollars.
• Youth for Christ (YFC): Established global youth ministry organization with a wide portfolio of programs including sports-based outreach. Broader incumbent that overlaps with BVSA in targeting at-risk youth for discipleship.
• Compassion International: Large child-sponsorship nonprofit working in many of the same Latin American and African geographies as BVSA. Different mechanism (sponsorship) but directly comparable beneficiary population and donor pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BVSAhonduras
• Instagraminstagram.com/bvsa_rhinos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/buena-vista-sports-academy-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Buena Vista Sports Academy