Tag Archives: Transforming Lives

Why Sports Ministry Matters

Posted in Getting to Know AIA by

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino‘s moral failure is the latest high-profile example of why sports ministry is so critically needed in reaching people for Christ.  Can we begin to imagine the impact of Petrino’s decisions on his family, staff, athletes, fans and countless others?  It will be difficult to overestimate.  What’s worse is that moral failures are not isolated to college football; it’s occurring in most sports around the world.  Petrino and many other coaches and athletes have become heroes or role models.  Unfortunately, Coach Petrino’s choices will serve as a negative example.  What if someone had helped him to know and follow Jesus?

This is why Karen and I serve with the Global Sports Team of Athletes in Action (AIA), the sports-based ministry of Cru.  Since 1967, AIA has been sharing the good news, discipling athletes and coaches, and challenging them to use their influence to advance the kingdom of God.  Our mission is to have a Christ-follower on every team, in every sport, in every nation.  To fulfill this mission, AIA is winning athletes, coaches and sports fans to Christ, and they are changing the world.

Since athletes are heroes, those who know Jesus have unprecedented opportunities to be His ambassadors, and WE together with YOU, our ministry partners, get to help facilitate that.

If you want to learn more about AIA, our ministry or how to make a difference, go to Eternal Investments and contact us.

If Jesus died this weekend…

Posted in From God's Word by

If Jesus gave his life this weekend instead of in 33 AD, how would it be shared? Since so much of our lives are shared “in process” through social media, it might look like this;

Have you read the original Easter account in God’s Word lately?  If not, take a look :  The Easter Story.

What are your memories of the first Easter you really understood the gift Jesus gave you?  Share it with us and a friend by posting a comment and forwarding this posting.

Happy Easter!  He has risen indeed!

“I want to accept Jesus!”

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

“I want to accept Jesus!  It’s the most important thing I’ve learned here.”  Mike (not his real name) just finished his first Athletes in Action, (AIA) International Coaches Academy.  When asked about the most important thing he learned, he replied “I want to accept Jesus!”  Mike and twenty-eight coaches were flying home the next day.   They had just completed two weeks of training in  coaching philosophy, teaching techniques, principles of leadership, team development, finding sponsorship, and “building the infrastructure” of a successful basketball program.  But more importantly, Mike caught the eternal message of the academy–that Jesus loves him and gave His life so Mike could experience eternal life with purpose!  Very early the next morning, AIA staff and sixteen coaches witnessed Mike’s baptism.  Larry, who also accepted Jesus during the academy (formerly Muslim) also exclaimed,  “Next time it will be me getting baptized.”

Watching the life-changing transformation of these men as they accepted Jesus and as Mike was baptized is like witnessing the first Easter weekend.  That is what Jesus gave us that first Easter.  Thank you for helping make this possible for Mike, Larry and all the men and women whom AIA has had the privilege of assisting this year.

You can learn more about the our last International Coaches Academy at Two weeks that … and Academy Inspires Coaches …

Watch for a special Easter posting to share with your friends!

Breaking through the Spiritual Darkness!

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

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.

The power of a relationship!

Posted in AIA Global Sports by

We all meet new people as we walk through life.   Sometimes these new relationships have little influence on our lives.  However, occasionally we meet someone and clearly notice there is something different about him or her.  Whether it’s a personality or a common interest, he or she captures our imagination and we are drawn to this new friend.

Later this month, AIA Global Sports will be holding a 12-day men’s basketball tournament that will be played during the Muslim New Year called “Nowruz” in a Central Asian country.  As in most Muslim countries, you cannot share the gospel openly in public, so the key will be to build relationships at the tournament and invite folks to a privately sponsored event where the gospel can be shared.  AIA has been ministering in this country for quite some time and has seen much fruit.  In addition, this ministry is helping many believers from other countries to share the gospel cross-culturally.  Several ministries will be working together, and you can be a partner in this project by praying for the AIA team, the local staff, and all those the Lord introduces to them.   ( 1 Tim.2:1-6 is the connection between your prayer and people’s salvation.) Thank you for your partnership with AIA’s Global Sports.

A message of Hope / Feb 2012 Newsletter

Posted in AIA Global Sports, Hard Copy Newsletter by

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.

Will you remember Super Bowl 2012?

Posted in Athletes in Action, Getting to Know AIA by

In January we asked you to lift up AIA’s 2012 Super Bowl Breakfast.  (Give Life this …)  Thank you for being a part of giving life to many and providing hundreds the opportunity to accept Christ or grow in their walk with Him.  We praise God so many people will be able to look back at this weekend and celebrate how their lives were changed.  Below you will find a quick summary:
  • People attending: 2,000
  • Decisions made for Christ: 57
  • Wanted more info about a relationship with Christ: 340
  • Desired to be in a small group study: 172
  • Wanted information about AIA/Sports Spectrum magazine: 112

God continues to bless this outreach over the last 25 years.  We are thankful for how the Lord has blessed Bart and Cherry Starr, the strength of AIA’s and the NFL relationship, and how the award winners have truly stood for Christ and His character.

John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, experienced his first Breakfast and participated in the program.  He said, “It was a great experience for our family and we enjoyed it immensely.  Thanks for encouraging me to do it.  It is a good reminder also of the opportunities to do so many good things according to where the Holy Spirit leads us.  Definitely was fun!”

You can learn more at Super Bowl Breakfast Features Tribute to Several NFL Greats.