Next week, Rick will be assisting with AIA’s Peak Performance Camp, a high-intensity co-ed sports camp for high school students who are ready to be challenged physically, spiritually and mentally. Each participant will have the opportunity to grow into a “Total Athlete” as they focus on the AIA Principles which will help them deal with issues like personal motivation, attitude, perseverance, winning and losing. They will be able to answer questions like: Who or what is worthy of my worship? What is the greatest motivation for my competitive best? How do I deal with success, injury and defeat?

The athletes will hear principles from God’s Word which they will practice in competitive labs as they learn how to worship God through sport, acknowledging His love and acceptance of them, regardless of their performance.

For many years, AIA has hosted similar camps for college and pro athletes called Ultimate Training Camp (UTC). Last year, Covid forced us to conduct it virtually, but that made it possible for hundreds more athletes and coaches to participate. This year, we are offering the UTC Sprint, an in-person/virtual hybrid, which we are taking to our students! Dozens of AIA college ministries will host UTCs near their campuses, allowing many more athletes to experience the life-changing message of the gospel as they learn to integrate God, life and sport. UTC Academy will be a virtual platform that allows athletes to go deeper into the content taught at our UTC events.

Two AIA colleagues, Ashley and Natasha, (both of whom I coached when they were interns), have been working on a contextualized version of UTC for HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). There are now 12 HBCU athletes helping our staff prepare for this camp with the hope that they will be able to serve as the first UTC: HBCU Edition interns when we launch this camp next summer, God willing.

Please join us in prayer that God will prepare the hearts of students who attend the Peak Performance Camp and that the HBCU Edition will be successfully launched so that we can see Christ-followers in every team, sport and nation.

Praise God for those laborers serving at the UTCs who are pouring out their lives to reach this generation for Christ!

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