Movements. Prayer Journal ATHLETES IN ACTION. The Great Commission Global Prayer Movement. June this month s focus:

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1 Movements Prayer Journal The Great Commission Global Prayer Movement June 2008 this month s focus: ATHLETES IN ACTION

2 The World is Watching It continues to amaze me the impact that sports truly possess. The recent Super Bowl drew nearly 100 million viewers and the upcoming Olympics are expected to exceed 4 billion spectators worldwide that is quite the audience! In a day and age in which the negative side of athletes choices are amplified and exploited by the media, I understand the very real platform that these heroes hold in the hearts of young and old alike. Children aspire to be the next Lebron James or Tom Brady, while adults pack into stadiums to catch but a glimpse of their favorite athlete. From professional sports to college athletics, Athletes in Action continues to be a global pioneer, innovator and servant leader in sport ministry. The common language of sports transcends political, national and cultural barriers. It is clear that people will uniquely listen to the voice of the athlete and coach. It is my desire that, as we are granted the opportunity to mentor and minister to these athletes and coaches, they in turn will use their unique platform to help spread the gospel throughout the world. Athletes in Action s mission is to build spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sports. Our heart s desire is to minister to and through athletes, coaches and then reach those they influence. As you read the following pages, I hope you are encouraged and compelled by what God is doing throughout the world through Athletes in Action, the sport ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. And to those of you that have yet to decide to get in the game and pray regularly for AIA and all sport ministries, I pray this prayer journal inspires you to do so. Trusting God for things that, when they happen, can only be attributed to Him, William Pugh President, Athletes in Action Campus Crusade for Christ Sunday, June 1 1 Corinthians 9:1-12 Undergird the international, national, and local AIA leadership with prayers for godly wisdom, caring hearts and radical faith. Monday, June 2 1 Corinthians 9:13-18 Pray all who understood the gospel at the yearly Night of Champions last month will either begin or continue to follow Christ closely. Tuesday, June 3 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Ask God to provide vital, growing Christian friends for those who received Christ at the annual Legends of the Hardwood event in April. Wednesday, June 4 1 Corinthians 9:24 Pray for abundant funding for completion of the AIA Sports Complex and the Wooden Center. 2

3 About AIA The sport ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help connect people around the world with Jesus. Countless volunteers, thousands of athletes and more than 500 staff members stand together to share one message: Life s greatest victory is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Founded in 1966 by David Hannah, who desired to build on society s love of sports and utilize the platform given to the athletes to bring Jesus Christ and His message of victory into the hearts, homes and communities of millions around the world. World Training & Resource Center in Xenia, Ohio, features a growing sports complex and conference and retreat facilities on the headquarters campus. Seeks to be a global pioneer, innovator and servant leader in sport ministry. Serves in 85 countries, on 100 U.S. college campuses and with 35 U.S. professional sports teams. Strives to give 100 million people annually an opportunity to hear the gospel. Building a global movement of 15,000 spiritually mature athletic influencers. AIA staff members, coaches and collegiate athletes in multiple sports participate in camps, ministry projects, as well as domestic and international sports tours each year. Participants grow in their faith and are trained and equipped for a lifetime of spreading the message of Jesus Christ. AIA staff members also work with student-athletes on campuses with no direct ministry through SportLINC. Through telephone, and occasional visits, staff members mentor and equip student leaders to lead movements of evangelism and discipleship among other athletes on their campuses. Thursday, June 5 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Our newly arrived University of Minnesota staff member has already been recognized by Golden Gopher head football coach as a team insider and chaplain. Friday, June 6 Philippians 2:12 17 Praise God for spiritual stirrings in the Ohio State University s Men s Soccer program and the University of Tennessee Swim Team. Saturday, June 7 Hebrews 12:1 3 Pray for a planned Kansas Jayhawk community outreach with Basketball Head Coach Bill Self, Asst. Coach Kurtis Townsend, Center Matt Klineman and Guard Tyrell Reed. Sunday, June 8 Galatians 4:8 11 Pray for staff member Stephanie Zonars new book, Timeout: Moments with God for Winning in Life, and for spin-off life coaching seminars, etc. 3

4 Sports Legend Series Four premier events designed to honor athletes and coaches who model exemplary character, values, integrity and faith: 2008 Super Bowl Breakfast, February 2 in Phoenix: Special Guests: Bart Starr, Tony Dungy, Anthony Munoz, Brent Jones, Mike Singletary & Derrick Brooks. AIA 2008 Bart Starr Award to LaDainian Tomlinson All-Star Weekend, February 16 in New Orleans: Honored NBA great Allan Houston and Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, April 5 in San Antonio: John Wooden Keys to Life Award to former University of North Carolina basketball player & ESPN commentator Hubert Davis Night of Champions, May 8 AIA Hall of Faith Inductees: Bart Starr, MVP of Super Bowl I and II, 1966 NFL MVP. Leah O Brien-Amico, 3- time Olympic Softball Gold Medalist, 3-time NCAA All- American. Monday, June 9 Galatians 5:1 Pray for University of Alabama students and all student-athletes to remain strong in the Lord over the summer, as they work, do ministry projects or compete in their sport. Tuesday, June 10 Galatians 5:2 6 Intercede for staff members and students in regional/international sports camps this summer. Pray for transformed lives! Wednesday, June 11 Galatians 5:7 15 Ask God to bless partnerships with Fellowship of Christian Athletes, other sport ministries, dynamic churches and other parts of Campus Crusade worldwide. Thursday, June 12 Galatians 5:16 18 Pray for God to empower and use AIA basketball tours to Europe and Asia, and all other team tours this summer. 4

5 A good place to get a small but flavorful taste of God s work, deserving fully alert prayer New from AIAGear.com, Struggle & Triumph DVD Every four years, athletes from 200 countries gather to compete in the world s greatest sporting event. While some achieve the sports ultimate prize, the Olympic gold medal, others have to be satisfied with the experience of taking part. They recall the words of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic movement, The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well. Relive the struggles and triumphs of some of the world s best athletes, who represent the highest in personal achievement. These are the results of hard work and passion. But in addition to passion for sport, they share another passion, one from which they draw strength for the competition. Featuring International Olympians: Catherine Ndereba Silver medalist runner, Kenya Allyson Felix Silver medalist sprinter, USA Hendrawan Silver medalist badminton, Indonesia Candra Wijaya Gold medalist badminton, Indonesia Julian Bolling Swimmer, Sri Lanka Dieudonne Disi Marathoner, Rwanda Pray for Struggle and Triumph. Talk with God about a broad international distribution and broadcast of this new DVD, both before and after this summer s Olympic Games. Praise God for duplication and distribution agreements with Singapore, Australia, Netherlands and other nations. Talk with Him about any and all obstacles that might hinder the message of Jesus hope and forgiveness and liberation from igniting a powerful movement everywhere this video is shown. Friday, June 13 Galatians 5:19 21 May the Holy Spirit turn the death of a University of Kentucky diving coach into renewal, for those whose lives he touched. Saturday, June 14 Galatians 5:22 26 Pray for the AIA staff and ministry to finish the fiscal year financially strong, with all needs funded and expansion enabled. 5

6 Media Tools and Materials Exposing millions of sports fans to the good news each year, for example: The Prize DVD Four well-known athletes from the world of soccer talk about dealing with the pressure of being on the world stage. Passion & Power DVD Hear from more than 15 women from a variety of cultures and sports who have found victory beyond competition. Super Bowl Breakfast & Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast DVDs Some of the greatest coaches and athletes from these sports tell their personal faith stories. Power to Win, Reversing the Curse, & The Tim Howard Story DVDs; Game Day Glory: Life-Changing Principles for Sport Bible Study; Real People, Real Faith booklets. Visit for many other resources. Sunday, June 15 Galatians 6:1 5 Pray for God to grant unusual favor for AIA in the sports, media and education arenas. Monday, June 16 Galatians 6:6 10 Ask the Lord of the Harvest to bring to AIA waves of qualified new staff members who have heard His clear calling to sport ministry. Tuesday, June 17 Galatians 6:11 18 May God enable us to utilize the AIA World Training & Resource Center (Sports Complex/Challenge Course/ Conference Center) even beyond our current vision. Wednesday, June 18 2 Timothy 1:1 7 Pray for the 2008 Basketball Coaches Clinic in Xenia, Ohio, coming up in October. 6

7 AIA and Cameroon Form New Agreement Since January 21, four talented runners from Cameroon have called Xenia, Ohio, their temporary home. This is the first visit to the United States for Nadia Feumba, Esther Ndoumbe, Serge Tcheuko and Joseph Ndongo, who are at the Athletes in Action world headquarters to receive structured coaching and weight training from area college coaches. AIA is hosting the sprinters who are the first Cameroonians to travel to Ohio as part of a partnership formed between AIA and the Cameroon Athletics Foundation (CAF). AIA has sent track and field teams to Cameroon the last two summers and plans to send another team this summer. Because of the positive cultural experience during AIA s visits, the two organizations signed an official agreement on December 27, 2007, to host each country s athletes. Ange Sama, president of CAF, approached AIA Cameroon staff member Silas Ngong about forming the agreement. Ange sees his country s interaction with our athletes as a good opportunity for further training and coaching, says Tim Ellis, AIA Track and Field Director. The bottom line is Cameroon wants their athletes to run faster but they also see the spiritual component as an asset. The athletes are in the States competing at college track meets, including a few at Indiana and Indiana Wesleyan universities. They hope this training and competition will bring them closer to their Thursday, June 19 2 Timothy 1:8 12 Keep praying about wise, appropriate ministry strategies as the August Olympic Games approach. dream of competing in the Olympics some day. Every day the group trains at nearby universities, providing them with more structured training than they are used to in Cameroon. Although their physical training is of deep importance, perhaps the growth they have encountered through consistent, practical Bible study with AIA staff members will ultimately prove more valuable than time on the track. The agreement between AIA and CAF promises to be a successful exchange between the two organizations and also benefits Silas s AIA track and field ministry in his home country. When AIA travels to Cameroon, the red carpet is rolled out and we have full access to do ministry with their national team, says Tim. Silas also has full access to that same national team anytime he wants [because of the agreement]. Friday, June 20 2 Timothy 1:13 18 Lift up the media resource team beginning work on updating our wrestling production Unfading Glory. Saturday, June 21 2 Timothy 2:1 7 Join us in trusting God to give us a good venue, among very limited options, for our 2009 Super Bowl Breakfast in the Tampa Bay area. Sunday, June 22 2 Timothy 2:8 13 Ask the Lord to watch over and direct the AIA Ministry Development Team, in coordination with our board members. 7

8 My Prayer Life Notes... My prayer requests... People I m praying for... Answers to prayer... Monday, June 23 2 Timothy 2:14 19 Continue praying for our staff trainers and trainees for vision, discipline, tender hearts and balance. Tuesday, June 24 2 Timothy 2:20 21 Pray for our Sports Ethics & Resource Development team - Vatican and White House initiatives; book project Passing the Baton: Fundamentals for Building a Sport Ministry. Wednesday, June 25 2 Timothy 2:22 26 Pray for Jesus to continue to work powerfully in and through those who attended the AIA Women s Conference last month. Thursday, June 26 2 Timothy 3:1 9 Praise God for all our Pro Ministry opportunities, old and new. May the godly influence of our men and women on the pros grow even more over the coming year. 8

9 Get into a Healthy Habit Were these Athletes in Action prayer requests helpful to you? Get an reminder when the next issue of Movements Prayer Journal is ready. Each monthly issue offers current prayer needs from different parts of Campus Crusade for Christ s worldwide movement. Just send your name and preferred address to: global.prayer@ccci.org To view current prayer requests and praise items from Campus Crusade for Christ ministries around the world anytime visit Also consider joining the around-the-clock prayer chain by signing up for a onehour slot at Click the 24x7 Calendar button. Friday, June 27 2 Timothy 3:10 17 Ask that we will know God s leading and wisdom as we move forward internationally. Saturday, June 28 2 Timothy 4:1 5 Pray for extra fruitful International Basketball tours in Europe and Asia. Pray all tours will reveal local sport ministry leaders we can train. Sunday, June 29 2 Timothy 4:6 8 Pray about an FIBA Americas League (International Basketball Federation) opportunity we are considering for next winter. Monday, June 30 2 Timothy 4:9 22 Ask God to mightily use our POWER Clinics (Sports Performance/Medicine) to launch spiritual movements around the world. Contact Information Global Prayer Movement 100 Lake Hart Dr Orlando, FL Phone: Fax: global.prayer@ccci.org Web Site: Campus Crusade for Christ 9