Tag Archives: Athletes In Action

Watching God at Work

Posted in Sports T.E.A.M. by

In my (Karen’s) role as a coach for new staff members, I get a front row seat into what God is doing in their lives. Most of the people I coach are recent college graduates who have experienced God at work in their lives through AIA’s ministry. They have said, “yes,” to God’s call on their lives to make disciples of Jesus through the vehicle of sports, and they have said, “yes,” to trusting God to provide for their personal and ministry needs as they invite people to be prayer and financial partners. This is usually the biggest step of faith they have taken in their lives, apart from trusting God for their salvation, and my job is to walk beside them providing training, prayer, Scripture, accountability and encouragement.

Each coachee is reaching out to people in the power of the Holy Spirit to invite them to be partners in growing God’s kingdom, and then they leave the results to God. It is a perfect training ground for their ministry on campus where they will reach out to athletes in the power of the Holy Spirit to invite them to be part of God’s family, and then they leave the results to God.

Donna is on the right.

Donna, one of my coachees says, “I’m learning that God’s provision for me is based on His faithfulness, not my effort. God’s provision was a concept before, but now I feel like a witness of this; now I’m living it. 

Holland is in the Braves T shirt

”Holland, another coachee says, “I’m learning that when I am working, but I don’t see results, God is still at work. And when I can’t work, God is still at work. Prayer has changed exponentially for me, and my perspective on it has changed. I’m expressing my dependence on God, and I’m praying more boldly and more expectantly. I’m sowing the habit of gratitude. God is obviously doing what He needs to do in me in this process.”

One coachee said she felt that trusting God to provide for her financial needs was an impossible task, but now she says, “It’s crazy how big a blessing this process has been. Even my family has grown through this. I want to give more; my parents want to give more. God’s not depending on me in order to move on my campus, but He invites me to be part of it, and I get to invite other people to be a part of it too.”

Your partnership with us is enabling us to mobilize the next generation of missionaries. In the last two years, 52 new AIA missionaries have been sent out for an average of one every two weeks.

Thank you for your part in reaching the world for Christ! We are grateful for you!

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  November 2023 hard copy. 

Celebrations!

Posted in Hard Copy Newsletter by

In family news, on June 7, our new grandson Lincoln was born to our son Andrew and his wife, Laura. Lincoln is beginning to have some digestive problems, and their 20-month-old son Hudson continues to have many difficult health issues. I just returned from spending several weeks in Maryland helping their family, while Rick finished unpacking from our move. God answered a significant prayer during that time. Hudson has issues with motor planning, and could pull to a stand, but could not get down. After we practiced with him hundreds of times, Hudson is now able to get down safely from a standing position.

We also want to let you know WE HAVE MOVED. Our new address is: 1813 Messner Drive, Hilliard, OH 43026. We now have room for guests, so if you come to Columbus and need a place to stay, the Rogers BnB is open for business!

In ministry news, please join me in celebrating with Joel Greenfield and the Catalytic ministry team that God has provided for Joel’s financial support needs and he is officially reporting to his assignment! Joel hails from San Diego, California where he played water polo, basketball and volleyball in high school. In college at Grand Canyon University he played volleyball and majored in sports management.

Joel interned with AIA volleyball for two years before joining staff full time. During that time he was able to travel to Alaska and to South Asia to help put on basketball and volleyball camps. He will continue to serve with volleyball and with the residential academy at AIA. Joel also volunteers with men in addiction recovery and at a homeless shelter where he leads Bible studies.

During his process of finding a team of ministry partners, Joel participated in a 50-kilometer ultramarathon (31 miles) with his dad and proposed to his high school sweetheart, Alena. Through his season of coaching, Joel learned to trust God in new ways and to pray more confidently and expectantly. He frequently shared things he was meditating on from Scripture in our coaching calls because Joel loves God’s Word! He recently went to a couple of countries in South Asia where they hope to open doors for ministry. Joel and his team (including 6 believing college athletes from the US) reached out to local teens through a week-long beach volleyball camp and visited with children in an orphanage.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that enable us to serve the Lord and help others to serve Him. 

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  July 2023 Newsletter hard copy. 

To Share the Heart of God

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I’d like to introduce you to Joel Greenfield, one of the new AIA staff members I am coaching as he prepares to report to his assignment with AIA volleyball. Joel grew up in California with several family members who encouraged his faith in Jesus. By the time he was in high school, sharing his faith was a passion, and so was sports. He played water polo, basketball and volleyball in high school and went on to play volleyball in college. Being cut from the team after his freshman year revealed that his sport had become an idol and he needed a reset. Now Joel helps other athletes learn to worship God through their sport, rather than worship their sport

Joel in black shirt on right working Volleyball Camp in South Asia.

In college Joel studied sports management and found that he loved coaching and also loved sharing his faith. As his involvement in ministry grew, he made the decision to invest his life in helping others know Jesus. An internship with Athletes in Action was the perfect place for him to pair his love for God with his love for sports; a place to pursue the vision of a Christ follower on every team, in every sport, in every nation.

Joel with student in South Asia.

During his internship Joel went on a volleyball mission trip to South Asia and a basketball mission trip to Alaska, coached high school volleyball and led Bible studies at a rehab facility for addicts. Then one of the graduates from rehab started going with Joel to lead a Bible study at a homeless shelter. Joel is eager to find a team of ministry partners and get back to serving with AIA volleyball full time. He says, “My sole purpose is to bring others to God. God has been teaching me consistency in prayer. He has me in a position where I MUST pray. I want to share the pain the Lord feels toward His creation. I want to share the heart of God.”

Joel in right and James from rehab study. (James in middle)

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that enable us to serve the Lord and help others to serve Him. 

We are grateful for you!

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  February 2023 Newsletter hard copy. 

Heart, Soul, and Passion

Posted in Hard Copy Newsletter by

Last month, Kaylyn, whom I coached and who is directing AIA Softball, made her fourth trip to a middle eastern country where she partnered with Competitive Edge and SportsLife to put on a softball mission trip. They worked with the softball national team of the country they visited, which is made up of 20-55 year-old women, mostly moms. Several of these were women they have met on previous trips. The women know that the American team members love Jesus, and they are open to that idea.

During the trip, Kaylyn got to share her heart and soul, her passion, not only for softball, but also for worshiping God through her sport. Rhonda, one of the women on the middle eastern team, had a believing mother, and she herself is now asking, “Who is Jesus?” Pray that the seeds that have been planted will take root.

Another middle eastern softball player recently trusted in Jesus along with her whole family. Kaylyn was able to give her the AIA Five Principles book about how to worship God through sport. The woman responded through her tears, “I can’t get this here. It’s hard to grow in my faith when there are no resources.” Pray for her continued growth in Christ.

During a dinner shared with the middle eastern women, Kaylyn said they were asked questions like: “If what you are telling us is true, Jesus is the human example of God and He is the Messiah?” To which we were able to answer, “Yes! He is.” Pray the women would seek Jesus as their Messiah.

This year, Efrat, whom Kaylyn met on her first trip to this country in 2017, and who has been pretty closed to spiritual things, has been pondering what it means to know God personally. Sandy, their softball contact in the country, was able to share her journey of faith in Jesus and what it means to know Him personally. Pray Efrat would hunger for a personal relationship with Him.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that enable us to serve the Lord and help others to serve Him. We are grateful for you!

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  November 2022 newsletter hard copy. 

Cancelled means Opportunity

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

As of January 30th, the Sports TEAM division of AIA planned 40+ mission trips, leadership academies, and camps for 2020. Meanwhile, our leadership had been tracking the Covid-19 outbreak and planning since early January.Cancelled Image

Then on March 13th, we received an email from Cru stating:

“Effective March 15, all ministry sponsored projects, missions and conferences are postponed through June … limit group meetings to a maximum of 20 people until then… comply with all local, city, state and university guidelines during this time.”

Opportuintiy             Opportuintiy

Like every other organization, AIA is adapting to ramp up all forms of digitally operations for at least the next 30-90 days and maybe longer, while closing our traditional ministry facilities.

Stay tuned, we will share more about how AIA is adapting to full-time digital ministry. The good news for Karen and me is that both of us can and do much of our work through virtual and digital means.

Karen Working1

Karen is coaching and encouraging new staff. We just heard 58 people are currently applying for staff. God is clearly calling more to serve with AIA. In addition, she continues to write and edit for a variety of our platforms.

Rick Working

Rick’s role of providing analytics and insights for Sports TEAM leadership has become even more important around transitioning to an entirely digital ministry. He will be helping our division redefine and manage assisting our staff as we expand and explore new opportunities for ministry to athletes, coaches and sports fans. Your partnership with us is touching many lives through our staff.

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following: March 2020 Newsletter to print a hard copy newsletter.

Praise God for how He is leading us in redefining our ministry today and in the coming year! Your partnership makes a difference. 

Your Story Makes a Difference

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

The opportunities believers have to share God’s love and message of salvation through their lives seem almost unlimited. Here are two recent examples through two different parts of AIA’s ministry.

Indy Winter Retreat

Every winter, AIA helps college athletes grow in their walks with God through retreats. One retreat took place in late January in Indianapolis. Over 320 student-athletes from 39 different campuses attended. Kate, the retreat director, said that 42 athletes indicated decisions to follow Jesus and many more were energized to return to campus ready to live out their lives for Christ. Some commented: “I’ve learned to trust God through grief and surrender it all to Him … God is always faithful,” “Because of how God worked in my heart, I texted my mom, who I have a broken relationship with,” and “Everyone … is capable of joining God’s call to reach the world because God is with them.”

Super Bowl 2020 image

Ten years ago, a Michigan State football player attended an AIA winter retreat to help him grow in his walk with God. Now the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, Kirk Cousins shared the gospel at AIA’s 34th annual Super Bowl Breakfast in Miami, Florida. The program featured many well-known and influential voices in the NFL. People who heard the testimonies will be encouraged to share their stories, too, so that more people will be drawn to Christ. Search “Super Bowl Breakfast 2020” on YouTube to get a recap and hear Kirk Cousins’ inspiring message.

One woman’s comment card at the breakfast asked for prayer for her husband to come to Christ. The very next card was her husband’s, indicating that he had placed his faith in Jesus for salvation. This man was one of 34 of the 1,400 in attendance who indicated first-time decisions to follow Jesus. Amen, and praise the Lord! Sports are a very effective way to share the love of Christ.

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following: February 2020 newsletter to print a hard copy newsletter.

Praise God for new life in Christ from these events! Your partnership makes a difference. We are grateful for you! 

Discovering her Identity

Posted in Sports T.E.A.M. by

Annie was excited! She had just finished college and God made it clear the next step on her great adventure was a one-year internship with AIA’s Sports Performance staff in Xenia, OH. She says, “I thought everything would fall perfectly into place. I thought I would instantly thrive with a brand-new chapter of my life.”

Annie 2, Nov 2019

As with most adventures, “not everything was smooth sailing. I was not unhappy with my job and role within AIA, but as many of you can attest, transitioning from student life to adult life can be difficult.” Add some transition bumps and unanticipated challenges into the mix, and Annie began to feel some discontentment creeping into her life as it was time to consider a second year with AIA.

As she considered what to do next, she believed her time with AIA was not over. But each time she prayed about it, a strong force pushed against her with negative thoughts. Annie realized that these thoughts were not consistent with her identity in Christ. “Right away, I asked God to protect me and block these negative thoughts from entering my mind.” Ever since that prayer, she has experienced “extreme peace” about her decision to serve with AIA for a 2nd year.

Annie 3, Nov 2019

Despite the variety of experiences and the opportunity to make a difference in the Sports Performance ministry, Annie discovered the key for her was that AIA was a “safe place” to transition into adult life. Annie’s faith in discovering her identity in Christ has blessed our ministry because we will be able to continue developing her leadership, and she is contributing significantly in her second year with us.

One of Annie’s second year roles will be to improve our internship program and help promote our intern recruiting efforts. Personally, I (Rick) have had the privilege of coaching Annie as she has begun planning and developing our new internship program so that our interns have an even better growth experience.

Please review our prayer page  and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following: November 2019 Newsletter to print a hard copy newsletter.

Praise God for Annie and many other interns who are pouring out their lives to reach another generation for Christ!
We appreciate your partnership. We love you!

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