Picking up the pace

Posted in Athletes in Action, Hard Copy Newsletter, Sports Ministry by

Thank you all for your prayers for Rick. We’re so grateful for the outpouring of love and support!! He is now working full time, walking 5-6 miles/day and building endurance. His stamina is close to normal. Jesus has been very near to us and has cared for us through you. Thank you!


We shared with you that the John Wooden Family Fieldhouse opened on the AIA campus in June. God is opening doors for ministry through activities there. Recently on campus we:

  • Involved almost 200 volunteers, including groups from AIA, Cru, LCA, Wittenberg and Wilberforce Universities
  • Verified 159 million impressions for Athletes in Action from that event, meaning people read, watched or listened 
  • Hosted our first-ever Prep Team Tournament with five games in three days
  • Hosted 122 soccer games, with more than 11,000 guests at the sports complex
  • Hosted two 300+ person banquets in Schindler on back-to-back nights
  • Welcomed 28 coaches from 15 countries for our International Coaches Academy
  • Hosted our second wrestling clinic in Wooden with more than 125 participants

Each of these events either started or deepened relationships with athletes, coaches and fans, which give us open doors for the gospel. Our Total Athlete focus means that we are committed to helping athletes develop physically, mentally and spiritually. Thank you for the part you play in making this happen!

To bring these big events down to a personal level, let me share something from Genevieve, a young woman I coached recently. Genevieve invited Clara (basketball) to step out in faith and leadership by following up with Marley (softball). Marley had expressed admiration for Clara’s faith, but Clara wasn’t sure about stepping out as a spiritual leader. Clara admitted, “I’m worried I won’t know the answers to her questions.” Genevieve shared 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

When Genevieve asked how this might change her approach with Marley, Clara responded, “I don’t need to have impressive or ‘Christian’ words prepared; I just need to be a vessel for God to speak through me.”

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift our ministry to the Lord. Click on the following: November Hard Copy Newsletter.