Tag Archives: Global Ministry

Breaking through the Spiritual Darkness!

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Europe, once the custodian of the gospel of Jesus Christ, has been actively rejecting the truth of God’s Word for centuries.  The continent is now essentially beyond unbelief and now Christophobic.  Only 21% of the population considers faith in Christ to be relevant with less even less attending worship weekly.  To make matters worst, clergy across the continent generally do not believe in the Resurrection nor the virgin birth of Christ.  Europe’s rise and fall has been clearly tied to the health of the church, but more importantly to the faith of its people in Jesus Christ’s love and sacrifice for them.

Into this darkness, AIA’s Global Sports will be sending four projects that will be sharing the love and relevance of God’s message of salvation in:

The key is meeting people at their point of need and showing them uncommon love and compassion.  The mission is clear, and millions of lives are a stake for eternity, as are countless generations to come.  How can we as individuals make a difference?

Ask the Lord if you know anyone who would have an interest in being a part of these projects through prayer, finances, or volunteering with the project.  If so, forward this posting.  Thank you so much for your partnership with us and AIA’s Global Sports.

A message of Hope / Feb 2012 Newsletter

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In a recent post (10 Days in the Kenyan Sun) we shared about Global Sports’ most recent project in Kenya.  As a part of this project, AIA partnered with Kenya’s top professional woman golfer (Rose)  to host 50 teen girls from Soweto Academy at a local church outside of Nairobi near the Kibera slum.  It was a day filled with girl-centered fun and messages from several speakers, including a local pastor (Steve) who challenged them to grow and become all they could through a relationship with the Lord and to trust Him for their dreams.  Steve grew up in Kibera.  He encouraged the girls to say “Yes, a lot of good can come

from Kibera.”  This may have been the first time they heard about how much God loves them.  It was also the first time all but six of these girls had ventured outside the Kibera slum.

A portion of the team also visited Uganda in order to plan and meet with their basketball federation to prepare for another project in August involving a women’s basketball tour.

Thanks for your partnership with AIA Global Sports!

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Feb 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

10 Days in the Kenyan Sun

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For ten days in January, AIA held the 1st Annual Athletes in Action Golf tournament in Kenya.  (Golfing for God in Kenya)  Our goal was to invite people from all walks of life to be reconciled to God and to receive the life which will  change generations to come.

The tournament hosted 75 Kenyan   golfers.  Former PGA Pro Wally Armstrong (Bio Video) was the featured instructor and speaker who shared his life in Christ.  The outing included planning for a youth golf organization whose purpose will be to combine golf instruction and spiritual development through the Kenya Golf Union for youth in the Kibera Slum of Nairobi.  A golfing clinic was held for 45 youth and adults.  The young man pictured (left) with Philip was a “diamond in the rough”.  They spent time on the range talking about golf, life, and what it means to know God.    Phillip was moved by the young man’s eagerness to soak up their teaching about golf and spiritual life. 

Please pray for the staff and volunteers who will be developing this program to give eternal life, hope, and purpose to youth who live in the Kibera Slum.  Resources for materials including golf clubs will be critical in developing  this program.  If you would like to help, please contact us.

Golfing for God in Kenya?

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It’s interesting to watch God at work as He assembles and builds His ministry of reconciliation with sometimes unlikely parties all over the world.  As we have previously posted, (The Love of God … and He was one …) AIA has been building a ministry in the Kenya and Rwanda area for eight years.

Last week, God extended an invitation to people of all walks of life from Kenya and the US to join Him at work.  His mission:  continue reconciling the  people of East Africa to Himself.   What may look like a golf tournament was really divine invitations to participate in saving lives.  The golf outing  also facilitated the gathering of financial and human capital for AIA Kenya’s current and future operations.

Would you lift up AIA staffer David N. and all who will respond to God’s invitation to work together?  Please ask the Lord to develop their ministry team, uniting them with a vision to reconcile the people of Kenya and Rwanda to Himself and to defend them from the Evil One who will be trying to stop them.

If you would like to experience some highlights from the 2011 East Africa project, take a look:

        Thanks for your partnership with AIA Global Sports!

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Jan 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.              

The Love of God at Work!

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One of the greatest parts of AIA’s global projects is how many ways God’s love can be shown.  During our East Africa 2011 project, His love was demonstrated in both words and actions.  You might say God’s love materialized in a “concrete” form with the construction of a basketball court.

Now community, ministry, and sports activities that emphasize Christ will be available year round at this facility.  Everyone in the area sees this as a gift that will greatly help in the development of their youth.

AIA also shared God’s love by sharing His word using the I’ve Got the Whole Bible in My Heart curriculum at the Soweto Academy.  A week-long Bible overview was given to over 400 children.  Each student was given his or her own copy of an NIV Bible.  It was exciting that some of the children prayed to receive Christ as their Savior in the middle of a class period.

We give God the credit for all this project accomplished.  It was a very challenging project, but became a huge answer to prayer for all those involved with the Global Team and Soweto Academy.

Please continue to pray for everyone involved in this ministry in Kenya and Rwanda.  Karen and I are looking forward to being involved in helping put together projects like this one in 2012.

Two Days in September

Posted in Getting to Know AIA, Global Teams by

On September 28th and 29th the AIA US Global Team met to come before the Lord and trust Him to reveal our role in fulfilling His Great Commission next year.  These two days were the genesis of what the Lord will accomplish in 2012 through our ministry.  Our team’s major goals in fielding projects around the world are to:

  • pioneer in countries where little or no ministry exists
  • aid international staff with established ministries

One example from last year’s planning was the East Africa project in Kenya and Rwanda.  By God’s grace, 1,200 people were exposed to the Gospel, 80 people committed their lives to Christ and 33 AIA volunteers committed to disciple others with help from AIA staff.

As AIA staff, we will help with project planning, development, and fulfillment; however, God works primarily through our volunteers, who become the face of Jesus Christ in this life-changing ministry.  Your partnership with us will help to provide these volunteers with unprecedented opportunities to be ambassadors for Christ. We, together with you, will help facilitate this ministry.   Thank you for being partners with us in sharing the gospel around the world!

Please pray for:

  • the Lord’s lead in developing our 2012 projects
  • our volunteers as the Lord prepares them
  • project resources
  • AIA staff as they develop each project
  • Rick and Karen to complete our support team (our status)

You are a Global Investor!

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Yes, your portfolio is extensive.  AIA’s Global US team fielded 40 projects around the world in 2011.   These projects are not only changing the lives of people in these countries, but also the lives of college athletes and the adult volunteers who staff them.  Through this strategy, AIA has developed a ministry presence in 96 countries!  The philospohy of win, build, and send has resulted in 57 countries being led by nationals.

     We recently spoke with Ben T., AIA’s International/Global Director.  He is extremely excited about the opportunities AIA has globally.  By 2020, AIA’s goal is to see a Christ follower on every team, in every sport, in every nation.  We don’t know how the world itself will change, but sports has the power to change the world, as Nelson Mandela said (see About AIA).  When it’s coupled with the life changing message of Jesus, the world will be transformed.  “It’s a privilege to serve the Global Family of AIA as we trust God for what only He can do.  We are so thankful to have Rick and Karen join us.  They will be a tremendous blessing to the ministry around the world!”

Can you imagine the eternal return on our investment?