Shaun and Karlie, a couple I (Karen) am currently coaching, will be joining AIA’s soccer department. Isaac, the director of the department, recently used our brand-new sports performance facility to coach a group of boys from inner city Dayton. He and fellow soccer staff member, Karen work together to reach out to refugee and immigrant kids through “the beautiful game,” since soccer is played worldwide by 250 million, and is watched worldwide by 3.5 billion people. There are even kids from an unreached people group in the youth soccer program.

Isaac says, “Ohio winters offer limited opportunities for outside play. A lot of the kids we minister to don’t have transportation to, or can’t afford club sports, so they have no chance for training throughout the winter, but they have skill. Some could be good enough to get college scholarships. We can help build a brighter future for these kids. They, in turn, can reach their families and friends for Christ as they give back to their communities. We pray the Sports Performance Center will be a place of spiritual multiplication.”

Amos was a kid participating in The Academy, an invitation-only development camp held at the new center. He wanted the soccer help, but not the personal and spiritual stuff, so he dropped out. He got into some trouble, and a couple of months later he returned with an apology. “I want to come back. You wanted what’s best for me,” he acknowledged.

AIA soccer provides for kids’ needs through donating cleats, clothing, food, sports training and Bible study. We also partner with a local ministry called No Longer Strangers, which provides after-school tutoring and rides to our campus in Xenia. As we serve the total athlete by helping them grow physically, mentally and spiritually, we pursue our mission of building spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sports so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following: April 2021 newsletter to print a card copy.