Category Archives: Hard Copy Newsletter

Give Them a Voice

Posted in AIA Global Sports, Hard Copy Newsletter by

Do you remember the summer you were 20? Patrick’s and Aaron’s will be unforgettable! They have never met, but together they are about to take the biggest step of faith in their lives!

Why?Aaron, BKB Basketball

“I want to learn more about ministry and experience it. It’s new to me compared to how I grew up. I want to bring this experience back home and use it in youth ministry…. I can’t wait for it.” (Aaron)
“I am looking forward to being the Sports Information Director for our team. I want to connect with the other players and with basketball players around the country (of Mexico). It’s a trip of faith. I can’t wait to spread the word of God Patrick, BKB Basketballand faith in Mexico!” (Patrick)
They will be joining eight other basketball players and AIA staff for two weeks later in May. Listen yourself at Basketball – Mexico or click on that link on our team blog.

Patrick and Aaron are not alone. They are just two of about 500 athletes, coaches, trainers and volunteers who will be traveling this summer to experience God using their lives to impact thousands with His love and message of salvation through their love of sports.

How can you make a difference?AIA Team Blog Logo

The same way Karen and I are! Pray for them and give them a voice to share what God is doing through their lives and the bold step of faith their team is taking.
You can place the following URL http://teamblogs.athletesinaction.org/ into your web browser favorites and read a blog posting each day. If it encourages you, you can share it with your friends and family on Facebook or Twitter.

Your prayers and support allow us to serve with them!  Thanks!

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  May 2014   to  print a hard copy newsletter.

We may not win another game…

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“We may not win another game this year, and I may be a horrible coach,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said, “but if any of Scott Drew, Baylor Coach Quotethese guys leave without knowing Christ, that will be the real loss.” “Winning the game of life is a lot more rewarding than a 40-minute basketball game that’s so temporary,” he said. “To have an opportunity to help be a part of an impact on a young person’s life is the best feeling.” Coach Drew and a team of folks who love, care for, and coach the Baylor men’s basketball team witnessed five players give their lives to Christ and publicly proclaim their faith through baptism! They have been serving with the team for years, seeing a victory here or there and patiently impacting lives by living out their faith. This year, God has chosen to put them in the spotlight. “We don’t force anyone. We had players that came from different religious AIA Basketball Breakbackgrounds,” Drew said. “Our job’s not to judge, our job is to serve. Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy. I don’t think we ever make people feel awkward or different or embarrassed that they don’t have the same beliefs or faith.” AIA staff had the privilege of being involved with the team as well. In one quote, Foxsports.com shared that one of the players told a chaplain ”he was miserable and didn’t want to live according to his own plan anymore. A summer trip with the Christian basketball organization Athletes in Action had planted the idea of “playing for God.”

Catch more at “Baylor’s ‘extraordinary’ season has left lives changed” or see another story at “Scott Drew and Baylor best-kept secret left in NCAA Tournament”.  

Your prayers and support allow us to serve with them!  Thanks!

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   April 2014 to  print a hard copy newsletter.

It’s all about showing up!

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For the last three years, Dawn has had roomGirls basketall lay up in her life for only basketball, her boyfriend, and school. Basketball has been good to her by providing an education. Not as much can be said for the boyfriend. Livia, an AIA staff member, has been an athletic trainer at Dawn’s college for the last two years. During that time, Livia has cared for Dawn and her teammates physically, emotionally and spiritually while building relationships with the team and conducting Bible studies.

Dawn has been attending the Bible study the whole time it has been available, but she was only going through the motions. Livia decided it was time to share her Girls basketball dribblingtestimony and the gospel with Dawn before she graduated, so they scheduled lunch together. As they sat down to eat, before Livia could even begin, Dawn blurted out, “I need to have Jesus in my life.” Livia could hardly believe what she was hearing. It turns out that Dawn and her boyfriend were driving on a highway through a bad snow storm when their car spun out right in front of an 18-wheeler; but through God’s grace, the truck completely missed their car. A few more inches and they would have been hit by a 35,000 pound truck. God gave Dawn a glimpse of her own mortality, and because Livia had been sharing the love of Christ with her, Dawn knew exactly whom she needed to talk to. Livia then had the privilege to share the gospel with her, and Dawn prayed to receive Christ.

God is always at work, and we all have theAIA Hoops privilege of being His messengers. I get to assist Livia and others on her team with their operations and communications. You help make that possible with your prayers and gifts. (The names have been changed to provide privacy.)

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   March 2014 to  print a hard copy newsletter.

Olympic-sized Faith Stories

Posted in AIA Global Sports, Athletes in Action, Hard Copy Newsletter by

Sharing Olympic-sized Faith Stories

On February 1, 2014, the Barna [Research] Group reported that Americans believe professional athletes influence society Lauryn Williams 2, cropmore than pastors “by more than a three-to-one margin.” Because athletes have so much influence in our culture, Athletes in Action strives to reach these men and women with the gospel, help them to grow in their faith, and then help them share their faith with others.  I (Karen) recently had the privilege of interviewing four-time-Olympian Lauryn Williams about her relationship with Jesus. After writing her story, I posted it online so that anyone looking for information about Lauryn or her sport can find it, and you can read about it here. It was announced yesterday (2/8) that Lauryn will be pushing the #1 bobsled at Sochi driver and fellow believer Elana Meyers! Read about it here.

Free App for Winter Olympians’ Stories

Jesus Film AppAIA and The JESUS Film Project are partnering to bring the faith stories of Winter Olympians directly into the hands of smartphone users. Through the FREE Jesus Film Media app, videos of the Olympic athletes will join a library of more than 66,000 video clips in some 1,100 languages.
Download the Jesus Film Media app now by going to app.jesusfilmmedia.org on your smartphone or search “Jesus Film Media” in the app store. For more information, go here. You can also use this app to share the JESUS Film itself with people in over 1,900 languages which comprise 91% of the world’s languages.

We value staying in touch with you.  In the next few weeks, like many families we will be dropping our home phone number.  Please make a note of this change and use our cell numbers.  You can find them by using the link Feb 2014 below.  If YOU have changed numbers, would you let us know by calling or sending an email soon? 

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Feb 2014 to  print a hard copy newsletter.

“Don’t come to my funeral when I die!” / May 2013 Newsletter

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With your partnership, AIA is taking Dont come to my funeral, Picture 1the gospel into the most difficult mission fields and making a difference.   Thank you.

“On Saturday, Mom called.  One of our relatives committed suicide.  So I returned to my small village to honor my family.  My brothers and I were approached by local Muslim leaders about why we “betrayed Islam” and became followers of Christ.  They pressured us to change our minds.  Last year, I was forbidden to Dont come to my funeral, Picture 2attend another relative’s funeral.  Funerals are a good chance for Muslim leaders to preach anti-Christianity, scare people and isolate those who accept Jesus.

“Before the traditional Islamic goodbye ceremony, three leaders took me and my brothers aside again to ask us to deny Jesus. We said our decision was made to follow Jesus.  Again, they asked us not to attend the funeral.  We agreed,  but I went to the grave site.  About 500 men attended (only men can go).  As usual, the Imam declared  the Bible had been changed and the Koran was given by Allah as the only true holy book.

Dont come to my funeral, Picture 3“Then he turned to my father and announced to everyone that his sons betrayed Islam and became followers of Jesus.  My respected father is now shamed by us.  I told my father I was sorry.  I can imagine how his heart is broken.  Later my father asked, ‘Is it true?’  I said, ‘Yes.’ He then asked,  ‘Is this more important than life?’  I said, ‘Yes.’  My father replied, ‘Then don’t come to my funeral when I die!’

“Please, pray for my father and those Muslim leaders with the prayer of blessing, I really want them to know Jesus.”

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   to May 2013 print a hard copy newsletter.

For the least of these… / March 2013 Newsletter

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Stories from Global Sports East Africa Jan 2013 Golf Project

One of the team’s most vivid memories is from  a one-hole golf course outside Nairobi, Kenya where 30 The least of these, Kibera Slum children from the Kibera slum received golf instruction and hope.  Despite living in the slum, they gained hope because Athletes in Action (AIA) shared a vision for changing their lives through sports.  Golf is very popular in East Africa, and it’s a great platform for One Hole Course, little girlteaching discipline and life skills.  The children also get out on a beautiful course in the Kenyan countryside every Sunday!  Our team taught, played, laughed and shared Christ with these children, so dearly loved by God.  That day the angels sang when several placed their faith in Jesus.  Five of “the least of these” had their names added to the Lamb’s book of life.  Amen!  The day ended with a one-hole tournament with all the children cheering and following down the fairway.  What a beautiful sight to see!One Hole Course Gallery  The project also blessed the children with golf clubs through our players and donors.  It was a special time all the way to the last putt.  This is how AIA’s Global Sports is changing lives throughout the world by supporting our teams like this one in East Africa.  There’s much more.  Did you catch “Taking it to the next level“?

Smilebox_612347981You are making a difference by supporting us as we develop and manage Global Sports communications.  Thank You!  

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   to  Mar 2013  print a hard copy newsletter.

Taking it to the next level / February 2013 Newsletter

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Several years ago, God gave What do you see, East Africaa vision for sharing His message of salvation through sports in East Africa.  Our staff responded by faith, and we witnessed the love of God at work, reconciliation and ministry in schools and health clinics changing lives in many settings, not just sports.

In January, AIA Global Sports was back in Uganda developing golf and other local ministry efforts when God decided to “take it to the next level”.  We received word that an official from the Ugandan Olympic Committee (UOC) wanted to meet.  At the meeting, the UOC representative announced Uganda wanted to invite Athletes in Action (AIA) to be the first official partner in developing their Olympic efforts over the next three years.

God has opened the door to assist Uganda in the development of their Olympic efforts in at least seven sports.  In doing this, AIA will be able to share God’s love and message of salvation with thousands of men and women.  According to AIA’s Global Sports Director,”We will help build expertise in athletes and walk along side them in the struggles they have on a day-to-day basis.”

What do you see, East Africa 2Would you please pray for our work in Uganda as well as our other 2013 Projects?  Together, we are making a difference by helping Global Sports staff and volunteers coordinate these projects and connect with those athletes, coaches and adults whom He wants to join us.

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   to Feb 2013 print a hard copy newsletter.