Being an athlete can sometimes feel like a religion. Instead of going to church three times a week, you’re hitting the weight room. Watching game film is the new quiet time. Similar to the pastor leading the church, your coach decides what you should be focusing on and what strategy will lead you to victory. But what if you’re a Christian who is navigating the sports world and you don’t want to lose sight of the things that are most important? That’s where Athletes in Action steps in.
Founded in the 60’s, Athletes in Action is a sports ministry that serves under the umbrella of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). The purpose of the organization is to be a resource for Christian athletes and to use sports as a means to introduce the gospel to non-believers across the globe. With the intention of “seeing Christ followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation,” AIA hopes athletics will serve as a universal bond to bring people together who would normally never come into contact with each other.
Since its inception, Athletes in Action has spread to over 150 campuses nationwide and nearly 100 countries around the world. Bringing together collegiate athletes and sports enthusiasts across the globe, the organization has its sights set on furthering the gospel as far they can imagine.
A lot of what Athletes in Action does involves collegiate and semi-pro athletes competing and sharing the gospel, but there’s more to the ministry than clinics and world tours. For everyday athletes and spectators, there is a lot of content on the group’s website that may prove beneficial. For starters, you can find a lot of commentary on current events in sports through the Under Review section. Here you’ll find op-eds from players, Christian perspectives on major news events, and more.
If you’re looking for consistent content, check out the daily devotionals that are posted on topics with which every sports lover can identify. You can also find more topical discussion through the Quick Hits tab. Finally, check out the 20 Day Challenge and Workout sections of the site to see how you can become a better Biblically-centered leader in your community.
Not everyone fits into the criteria for being able to physically serve in or experience most of Athletes in Action’s events, but these resources help sports-minded people to start thinking about these pastimes as more than just a hobby.
Athletes in Action has been blessed with the opportunity to host major events around some of the year’s most high profile weekends. For starters, there’s the Super Bowl Breakfast. This event has featured some of the NFL’s biggest names over the years including Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. At this breakfast, the Bart Starr award is given to the player who has shown the most achievement when it comes to building character and helping the community.
The All Star Breakfast is a similar event held each year during the NBA’s All Star Weekend. In 2017, one of the honorees at this banquet will be Hall of Fame player Shaquille O’Neal. Another basketball-related event is the Legends Breakfast that honors leaders in the college basketball community during the Final Four. Lastly, the Night of Champions is a program that honors athletes and coaches from all sports. Through events like these, Athletes in Action is able to reach an even bigger audience.
While it isn’t the only demographic they’re going for, Athletes in Action mainly works with college athletes to help them understand what role faith plays in their sports lives. The idea is to help athletes discover who they are in Christ so that they can then impact their teammates and other competitors they come into contact with. This follows the Win, Build, Send model that Cru has used for a long time. Instead of having a small staff trying to reach 1,000 people, why not have that same staff combined with 1,000 athletes trying to reach the whole world?
For athletically inclined young people looking to get involved with AIA, there are a lot of opportunities in different roles. If you’re an athlete hoping to compete, the organization fields teams in popular sports like basketball, football, volleyball, and more. These teams compete against college-level athletes in America and even tour the world in places like Central Asia and Europe.
Even if you are unable to join one of the formal teams, there are other areas where you can put your skills to use. AIA hosts short term mission projects around the world for college athletes to get a taste of the mission field. With offerings in the summer, winter, and during spring break, college students have an opportunity to advance the kingdom through the sports they love. These projects require you to raise your own financial support, but Athletes in Action will help you figure out how to make that happen.
Another great event that AIA hosts is The Ultimate Training Camp. Unlike their other trips and projects, this event focuses on the athlete him or herself. With classroom sessions, discussion groups, and fun activities, the camp trains young athletes on how to approach their respective sports with a gospel-centered attitude. The good news about this event is that high schoolers can also get in on the action with a separate camp of their own.
If you like the idea of taking a break from the hectic schedule of practice and school, AIA also hosts retreats in the winter and during spring break. These retreats are designed to give athletes a rest and to help them refocus on the things that are important. As sports get to be even more and more high stakes over the years, events like these help athletes to unload the burden of a rigid schedule and high expectations.
Like other divisions of Cru, Athletes in Action is a ministry that is funded through the giving of others. If you’re someone who is interested in getting involved through charitable donations, AIA would certainly appreciate that.
Sports and competition are a huge part of American culture. Truth be told, it’s really an international craze. If we can understand how to use the opportunities that are presented through this medium to spread the gospel, there’s no telling what kind of impact we can make. At the K-LOVE Fan Awards, we know that athletes and coaches have a great platform through which they can take a stand for Christ and influence others. That’s why we try to honor those who are making the biggest difference in the world of sports each year. Just a few years ago, NFL player Benjamin Watson accepted the Sports Impact award for his contribution to the culture at the K-LOVE Fan Awards.
The K-LOVE Fan Awards is the biggest fan-voted award show in Christian music, Each year we celebrate the top Christian artists, films, authors, and more. Find out how you and your family can attend the year’s hottest event by clicking on the link below.
We know that making travel plans for you and your family can be a bit of a hassle. That’s why we wrote our own Nashville Travel Guide to help you out. Tennessee’s state capital is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, so come see what all the fuss is about.
