Tag Archives: Rick and Karen Rogers

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.

The Love of God at Work!

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

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.

God’s Grace / Our October Newsletter

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

We are finding what sustains us today is God’s grace.  We are realizing how ungracious we are, but the love of Christ is the key to seeing the truth.  Jesus gave us life because He loved us.  (1 John 3:1)  He was kind and gave to us freely. (Eph 2:1-7)  As we live life, we also pick up burdens, but Jesus said, “Come to me and I will give your rest. “ From the fullness of His grace Jesus gives us one blessing after another.  (John 1:16) Grace, then, brings dignity to life and removes the shame that paralyzes us. (Romans 5)

Out of the Mouths of our Babies

As Karen hands Aaron the educational back of a cereal box at breakfast, Aaron:  “Oh no you don’t, I see how it is, I see what you’re up to.  I’m going to LEARN something.”

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

Oct11 Prayer Letter                                                        Lift Us up in Prayer

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)

Where else could this be done?

Posted in Getting to Know AIA by

Would you believe one of the country’s best sports facilities is just west of Dayton, OH in a town of only 30,000?  Tucked away southwest of Xenia, OH is AIA’s World Training & Resource Center   (WTRC).  In September, I toured the WTRC sports complex with my friend, Don Ross.  The complex is the fulfillment of one part of AIA’s vision to share the gopsel through the world of sports.  Since athletes are heroes in our culture, AIA is striving to build a relationships to share the gospel, disciple, and equip people to fulfill Matt 28:18-20 through the door of sports.    Currently, the WTRC can provide housing for over 250 and banquet facilities for 500, as well as conferences and even family retreats.  Touraments and clinics for football, soccer, baseball, track and field, and softball are held nine months a year, all with chaplaincy services.  Challenge Courses are also available to provide any type of team-building experience.  All of this is to ultimately share the gospel and build ministry across the world.  In fact, over 80,000 were served in 2010.  The WTRC also plays an important role with the Global Teams where each project team completes their planning and training in Xenia.  In addition, the Global Team conducts coaching clinics for many sports serving coaches from around the world each year.

See it for yourself by contacting Erin Wellman at (937) 266-3883 or erin.wellman@athletesinaction.org.

You are a Global Investor!

Posted in Getting to Know AIA by

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?