Tag Archives: AIA Team Blogs

74 Days this summer

Posted in Hard Copy Newsletter, Sports T.E.A.M. by

This summer Athletes in Action will have at least one missions project in the field from May 15th to August 27th. . There will be 40 teams serving in 30 countries from New Zealand to South Africa to Poland. Right now, Screen Shot 2018-05-22 at 9.20.12 AM.pngthe Poland Basketball and Ivory Coast Volleyball teams are conducting their training camps in Xenia. In addition, our men’s soccer project to Portugal and East Asia basketball teams are in country. Get a glimpse into their mission by going to Goaia.org’s Opportunity Blog. My role continues to be providing financial/operational insights to help each team complete their mission.

Our basketball ministry just put on a Men’s Captain’s Academy where 21 athletes spent five intense days learning how to integrate their faith and love of basketball to help them Screen Shot 2018-05-22 at 9.22.10 AM.pngbecome not only leaders on their teams, but to become all God wants them to be for life.

In June and July there will be Ultimate Training Camps and leadership projects on our Xenia campus. I (Rick) am blogging for the high school Ultimate Training Camp (UTC), June 24th-30th.  Last year 28 of 75 athletes accepted Christ! Follow this year’s project now at Goaia.org’s High School UTC and ask the Lord to change the lives of those attending the 2018 camp.

On the homefront, we celebrated Annie’s graduation from Eastern Michigan U., and Aaron is finished with high school. Screen Shot 2018-05-22 at 9.59.42 AM.pngWe have also been working the last few months to sell our home and downsize. We plan to list May 31st and then live in an apartment for at least a year. As of August 1st our new address will be 4300 Sedge Lane, Hilliard, OH 43026.

Your support impacts countless lives with the gospel every day!

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.

Click the following: May 2018 Newsletter to print a hard copy newsletter.

48 – 0

Posted in Hard Copy Newsletter, Sports T.E.A.M. by

48 – 0, Not the Big Story!

Team USA’s on-the-field performance wasn’t team-usa-football-china-storythe biggest story of game. Their off-the-field and between-the-whistle character was the true story. They helped Team China up after hits and always had a positive word for them. They slapped hands with kids and signed autographs. One of the more powerful moments came during halftime, though. Team USA invited Team China to meet up at midfield and prayed for them. The moment wasn’t planned. It was spurred on by an injury to one of Team China’s players.” (Team USA: Rock Stars for Christ)

dagostino-instagram-post-imageCan you image an entire football team playing for Christ? Catch more about their adventure as they participated in the Football – World University Championships in Monterrey, Mexico.

This is just one post among over 700 to-date in 2016, from 35 mission projects on AIA’s Team blogs.  “That the world may know” from John 17:23 is the heart of AIA’s Team Blogs’ purpose.  We are called to “declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.”  (Psalm 96:3)

In order to accomplish God’s desire to share His marvelous deeds and the gospel, today’s reality requires us to do so digitally through websites and social media platforms.  Our strategic opportunity is that the message can go directly to over 90% of those under 40 through their smart phones!fall-tour-team-photo

Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support that allow us to help lead these mission teams as they share their faith through projects around the world.  You can also make a difference by helping us share what God is doing through our Basketball fall tour by following and sharing their project in your digital world today.  Their project runs into early November and can be found at Here.

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.

Click the following:   October 2016 Newsletter to  print a hard copy newsletter.

Concussions, graduations, teenagers, and dependence

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Family Life

Concussion, Therapy, College Graduations, Teenagers, Dependence. These words sum up the Rogers family experience.

June 2015 Word MapConcussion & Therapy: While Elizabeth is better, she has significant retraining for her brain ahead. The journey will be very difficult, but doable according to the doctors.

College Graduations: We rejoiced to see Erica graduate from OSU and Emily from Tiffin U., both magna cum laude. Emily is working to obtain a TESOL certification to teach English in South Korea and Erica started with Franklin Co. Social Services the week after graduation!

Teenagers: For most of you, no further explanation is needed. Life is full of school and social activities, and of course, driving almost everywhere.

Dependence on the Lord: We (Rick & Karen) have been living a Romans 5 experience, teaching us that suffering produces good results in us when we will choose to trust the Lord through it. Suffering leads to endurance and on to proven character, resulting in hope, thus preparing us for future service.

Ministry Life

Karen: She continues to write and edit written, and an ever-increasing amount of digital content for AIA. She has been discipling and coaching a group of interns who will be sent into the harvest field with AIA this fall.

Rick: He moved in a new leadership role focusing on digital communications. In order to reach those under 40 with the gospel or pursue/equip those in the sports world, you must do it digitally. If you don’t exist on websites, social media or email, you don’t exist! When people have questions, they find answers through “Google” or through relationships on social media. Digital communication is the 21st century equivalent to the Gutenberg Press in fulfilling the Great Commission. Rick is co-managing content for AIA’s athletesinaction.org, Facebook and Twitter pages and administrating AIA’s Team Blogs.

You are a vital part of this ministry, and we are grateful! The best news of all is our partnership can grow significantly in the coming years. Stay tuned!

Your prayers and support allow us to serve!  Thanks!

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   Jun 2015 to  print a hard copy newsletter.

Once we know…

Posted in AIA Global Sports, Hard Copy Newsletter by

Have you ever experienced meeting someone who expressed compassion or care without any strings attached? Your world,June 2014, Darvin sharing gospel at least for a brief period, might have been transformed. Imagine further that this person traveled thousands of miles to meet you. How would you feel? If you’re like me, you would be wondering what was going on.

Amanda, Kristen, and Gabriel found themselves expressing compassion to a young man recently in Puerto Rico. As he realized they were expressing true compassion, everything changed. Kelsey and Grant were also sharing with four young men, and by the end of the conversation two of them accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.

June 2014, Amanda, Kristen, GabrielThese students were part of AIA’s Extreme Challenge project to Puerto Rico – one of 15 missions projects currently underway or recently completed. They are experiencing what it means to be connected to Christ and live out 2 Corinthians 4:6; For God who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” Just as Christ has pursued them, they are now pursuing June 2014, Kelsey and Grant
others because of Christ’s love in their lives. The lives of these student athletes have been transformed as well, and they are experiencing an authentic relationship with Christ!  You can click on either image her them tell their story.

These are two of countless encounters for over 400 athletes/coaches serving in 30 countries around the world on at least 35 projects, touching thousands of lives. Together we and you are assisting them by training them on how to share what God is doing through their projects this summer for others to see. See more about these stories at “Fishers of Men” or visit AIA’s Team Blogs.

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:  June 2014  to  print a hard copy newsletter.