Tag Archives: Athletes In Action

If Jesus were born this weekend ….

Posted in Faith, Jesus Christ by

Dear Friend,

Karen and I pray you are doing well.  Take a few minutes to relax and remember why we are celebrating Christmas on Sunday.  If your family is like ours, there is so much to do to prepare for Christmas.  It can be very hectic and stressful because of all the preparations, family traditions, and travel expected to visit our families.  Know that we are praying this will be a Christmas that is filled with revelation of how much Jesus loves us. 

I ran across an interesting and entertaining portrayal of Jesus’ birth about a month ago that you will enjoy and also be able to share with your friends who do not know Christ.  It could be a great conversation starter.  The YouTube clip below only runs about 4 minutes.  Enjoy!

Enjoy, relax and have a Merry Christmas.  If you enjoyed this clip please leave a comment.  We would love to hear from you.

Impact the world this Christmas season!

Posted in Athletes in Action, Global Missions by

Hello Friend,

Thank you so much for your partnership in ministry with our family and AIA’s Global Team.  We are privileged to be a part of this ministry through which God is reaching people with His message of salvation and love around the world.

An important part of AIA’s ministry has been to provide tangible resources such as equipment, facilities, and training as a part of projects or outreaches.  These gifts allow ministry to continue after a project or outreach is completed.  Would you pray about helping to provide some of these resources for the coming year as a part of celebrating our Lord’s birth this Christmas season?  Below you will find some opportunities:

          

.        Sport Aid Kits                Intl. Coaches Academy                Game Changer

This would be a great opportunity for a family, Sunday School class, or small group to contribute in a tangible way to make a difference in our 2012 projects and outreaches.  Gifts start as small as $100 for Sport Aid and the International Coaches Academy or just $30 to become a Game Changer.  Just click on the picture above the option you are interested in and you will be able to learn more.

Thank you very much for helping resource some of our 2012 projects.  Merry Christmas and may God bless you in countless ways as we celebrate His birth.

A Life Changing Decision!

Posted in AIA Global Sports, From God's Word by

Obviously we go to fulfill the Great Commission because God wants everyone to know Him and because we want to share God’s love, and for many more reasons.  So we are serving God to change lives, but did you ever consider how a mission trip would change the lives of those who go?  Take a look at some examples.

An athlete:  “After a summer of AIA Baseball, I came back to my campus and started AIA here.  Every week I lead a Bible study for all the athletes in my department.  During the week I meet with other athletes for one-on-one discipleship”

A parent:  “I help coach my sons’ soccer teams and work to be a Christ-like influence to the kids and parents of the team.”

In a community:  “I am involved in AIA, and also go around speaking at different high school huddle groups to share my testimony and encourage them.”

God uses these projects to change everyone’s lives!  Have you ever asked the Lord how you could be a part of a short-term project like AIA’s?  Take a look.

How has God changed your life through a mission project?  Share your experience!

Two weeks that will change generations!

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

Two weeks ago we shared about AIA’s 4th Annual International Coaching Academy and asked you to “pray for openness to the truth of Jesus, for those who do not know Him to personally surrender their lives to Him.”  Thank you–your prayers have been answered!  At the start of the academy everyone was challenged to love one another.  Each day, through activities that included team times, devotionals, practices, and training, the Holy Spirit was at work.  Coach Kelly, (AIA) was amazed how quickly this group bonded and learned to communicate, even when no translators were present.  On Tuesday of week two, the real story of Christ was shared and through this story and a gospel message nine coaches accepted Christ as their Savior!  Most of the attendees said they never heard the real story of Christ nor did they know it was possible to combine their faith and love of sports to honor the Lord and share His love with others around them.

Will you now join us in praying again over the coming weeks and months “for the impact they will have on universities around the world?”  The enemy will be working diligently to take away what God has accomplished through this academy.  These men literally will be in a position to impact generations to come in their homelands.

Reconciliation

Posted in From God's Word, Hard Copy Newsletter by

After writing about the humanly impossible reconciliation that God orchestrated between Coach Evelyn and another Rwandan basketball coach two weeks ago (“He was one of them!”)  I set out to share about the ministry of reconciliation, but after a few hours I realized I could not do any better than Paul, as shared in 2 Corinthians.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2nd Cor 5:17-20)

Out of the Mouths of our Babies

Karen: “Rick, why do I have to keep telling you you can’t wear those clashing colors together?”

Rick: “It’s proof that purgatory exists.”

Use the links below to get the November hard copy newsletter and to see our latest prayer needs:

Nov11 prayer letter                                                        Lift Us up in Prayer

God’s Not-so-secret Weapon in Sports

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

Four years ago a Muslim basketball player became a Christian during an AIA  tournament held in Africa.  In 2009, by God’s grace, he attended AIA’s first International Basketball Coaches’ Academy held at our WTRC in Xenia, OH.  This month he will attend his third academy!  Today, he is the national coach for his West African country, which is predominately Muslim.  Through this academy and other AIA training, he has developed his skills as a basketball coach and life coach.  As a part of his national program, he leads a Bible study attended by several players.  Praise God for all He is accomplishing through young men just like him all over the world.

As of this posting, approximately 40 coaches are attending this year’s academy which will focus on developing their coaching skills and their spiritual life for two weeks.  Some are Muslim, and they are fully aware of what the academy is about; however, they have seen coaches who have attended the academy realize a certain level of success when they return to their respective homelands.

Please pray for openness to the truth of Jesus, for those who do not know Him to personally surrender their lives to Him, and for the impact they will have on universities around the world.

Learn more at the Annual International Coaches Academy

He was one of them!

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

An important area of focus for projects like the one in East Africa is to assemble a team who can continue building the ministry after the project.  To that end, AIA put on a basketball coaches’ clinic in Rwanda.  

As the clinic began, two coaches were asked to demonstrate passing techniques.  Coach Evelyn had a funny expression on her face during the demonstration.  Later our staff asked her why.  Evelyn shared that her family was killed by Hutus during the genocide of 1994, leaving her and her baby for dead.  When coach Evelyn walked into the gym, she saw one of men who killed her family 18 years before.  Incredibly, through God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, Evelyn was able to forgive him.  Then, God allowed the impossible to be done.  She was asked to demonstrate passing drills with this man who had killed her family!  At that moment, God completed a reconciliation between Coach Evelyn and this man.  Coach Evelyn later said, “In that moment I realized God had removed my bitterness and I had completely forgiven this man and the others.”

God is reconciling Rwandans one relationship at a time through sports.  What a privilege it is to be a part of reconciling people around the world to one another and our Lord Jesus Christ.