AIA Baseball Sports Complex Instructional Camp

Matt Richter our AIA Baseball Sports Complex Director gives final remarks to the players ages 8-18 as they finish up their last tuesday thursday baseball session with us. We provided excellent baseball instruction, mental preparation and each of the coaches shared their story of how Jesus changed their lives.

From Sept 15- Oct 22 on Tuesday and Thrusday’s around 20 baseball players ages 8-18 were participated in the Athletes in Action baseball instructional camp at our home facility in Xenia, OH.  What a blessing to be able to teach the truth of the game of baseball, challenge them mentally and be able to share our stories as a staff as to how Jesus changed our live and called us to us baseball as a platform for Jesus Christ.

I got to participate by running our infield instruction, base running and helping with our heading.  We had an amazing staff with tremendous help from the parents and coaches of some of theses players.  One thing we offered and encouraged was parents and coaches to be on the field to listen to what we were teaching their sons so that they can help remind their son later on to make truths we teach about baseball become a habit in the way the practice and play.

John Henschen our AIA baseball staff for the Great lakes league team Xenia Scouts shares his testimony and challenges our campers to seek Jesus first before baseball.

I had the privelage of working with the infielders. Here we are doing short hop drills.

Next to Matt Richter is Jonny Picard a former teammate of mine who played with me in college. Jonny helped work with our outfielders and hitters in between working at the air force and going to school. thanks Jonny

done

done

NCAA Proposal could effect Athletes in Action we need your help

NCAA Proposal could effect Athletes in Action

International tours we need

your help!

AIA Highlight Reel October Get a global view!

Brett & Raquel Shaffers Wedding

The Charge to love one another. What a precious wedding...thank you for your prayers!

Brett & Raquel Shaffer pouring the 'Sands of Unity'

The Spirit was powerfully and gently revealing his heart for marriage.  Raquel danced with her father and  Brett danced with his mother on stage both symbolizing the leaving of the parents as their number one figure in their life and clinging to each other as one flesh.  There ceremony was an honor to be a part of as I was overwhelmed with God’s presence and sense of family they both had at the wedding and reception.

Walking to chapel and Brett's going to get married

The Best Job on the Planet!

9.09Aug2009Newsletter

Ultimate Training Camp & Nicaragua Baseball Tour Update at Aurora Alliance Church audio MP3 format (45 min)

Video update might work and might not

Officiating Danny & Marissa Barkus’s Wedding (#2 for me)

Danny and Marissa Barkus

Marissa is my youngest sister Robyn’s best friend.  She is like a sister to me as I have known her since she was in 6th grade.  It was a pleasure walking through pre-marital counseling with Danny and Marissa and getting to encourage them in the journey to discovering the  love of Jesus for themselves and in their marriage.  Please pray for them as they enter into this new season in their life.  It was a beautiful wedding in Genesse Park in Golden, Colorado.

I really enjoyed getting to know the groomsmen as they were all former athletes. I received the best complement during the dinner rehearsal when one of them told the other that, “Hey dude,  Taylor is a ‘regular’ guy!”  Helping take the pastor off the pedestal is important.  They all seemed genuinely interested in what I do with Athletes in Action.  My opinion is that they saw this ‘regular guy’ living for Jesus and making a difference and thought, “Hey maybe I can make a difference too!”  So my prayer is that all the “regular guys and gals” around the world realize that  when Jesus gets a hold of your life you get to participate in the most amazing adventure ever and change peoples lives.

Can someone teach my mom the zoom on my camera

The only picture from my camera with the Bride and Groom.

The Bridal Party (Including both of my beautiful sisters)

My Family: David, Bonnie, Alysen, Robyn and Taylor

My best friend Anthony Draper and myself.

Anthony and his Fiance Nina

Grover, Colorado AIA Sports Camp

30-40 students ages 12-18 for 1 day Sports Camp hosting by Athletes in Action in Grover, Colorado. Population of town under 1,000.

Introducing the concept of being a "Typical Athlete" vs. a "Total Athlete" or "Redeemed Athlete"

The Basics of Throwing

They only have 6 man Football in Grover. But Check out this match up off the line lol!

Our Woman's Volleyball instructors: Kristen (Depauw University) Lindse (Brown University) Taylor & Raelyn from (University of Northern Colorado)

Volleyball Instruction

Anna and Becca teaching the "Hurtin for Certain" Principle How do you deal with adversity? You can get BITTER or BETTER

Amy making the Ladies work on their moves!

Clint Mahan (AIA International Basketball Staff) giving instruction for basketball's next drill.

The Birthday boy just turned 12 barely making the age to come to the camp and he gets introduce to Mini-Special" which was taken from the real "Special" a 20 hr sporting event designed to break down athletes and for them to have to depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit for competition. The Mini- only consisted of 1 hr. after the camp involving Ultimate Frisbee, Team Relays, Basketball and many up-downs & push ups by our enforcers, Mike and "Smiley". For more info scroll down the blog to Ultimate Training Camp or Youtube it.

Debriefing about what God taught them today in regard to worshiping him in their sport.

The AIA Grover Staff Team. College Students who had been involved with AIA projects this summer gave back what they learned by teaching valuable skills in the sports of Baseball, Football, Guys and Girls Basketball and girls Volleyball. They also introduced two Biblical concepts of how to worship Jesus in your sport. Only 12 of the 15 are pictured here.

Paul and Louanne Timm were Clint and I's host family as we ministered but in the community with the Sports camp and then shared with Friendship Alliance Church all that Jesus had done this summer through our involvement with Athletes in Action

Locks of Love

done

Before

1 year & 9 months = 10  1/2 Inches

done

After

AIA Baseball Nicaragua

At a Primear Division Playoff Game in Nicaragua...Got to pray with the team and coaches before and after the game.

Taylor and Jonny Mac pray with Hurbert Silva, the Manager of Grenada’s Premeire League team before their semi-final playoff game. They won 11-3 and had about 6,000 fans along TV and radio coverage. Athletes in Action was announced at the game, we were able to pass out the gospel to most of the fans, hand out baseball specific DVD’s to the media and team and continue to build great relationships with the Grenada players many of whom know Jesus. A video interview will be uploaded when I get back to the states. At a Primear Division Playoff Game in Nicaragua…Got to pray with the team and coaches before and after the game.

done

Sharing the Gospel in the Dugout against Leon. Alphonso Silva, a Nicaraguan pitcher we picked up for this trip shared his story today and it was powerfull both for him and all who heard. I have it on video but will have to load it when I get back to the states.

At a Primear Division Playoff Game in Nicaragua…Got to pray with the team and coaches before and after the game.

Sharing the Gospel in the Dugout against Leon. Alphonso Silva, a nicaraguan pitcher we picked up for this trip shared his story today and it was powerfull both for him and all who hear. I have it on video but will have to load it when I get back to the states.

Johnny Mac and Taylor Hargrove meet with Granata coach and pray before game.

Taylor and Jonny Mac pray with Hurbert Silva, the Manager of Grenada’s Premeire League team before their semi-final playoff game. They won 11-3 and had about 6,000 fans along TV and radio coverage. Athletes in Action was announced at the game, we were able to pass out the gospel to most of the fans, hand out baseball specific DVD’s to the media and team and continue to build great relationships with the Grenada players many of whom know Jesus. A video interview will be uploaded when I get back to the states.

AIA Baseball Tour Week 2. 1st Week in Nicaragua

La Prensa  is the local Newspaper

click here for article

 

Impact on the communitygame 1 verse UNICA

AIA Nicaragua Baseball player Ty Shaw is at bat. Please nottice the CocaCola Truck driving in between him and our dug out during the game. This and many other surprises magically appear during the games ! lol

 

Here's a few of our guys sharing what AIA is about, using sports as a platform to tell others about Jesus Christ. This is right after we played UNICA. (Angel-translator, Matt Ogbeide, Kris Dockery, & Ty Shaw)

Praying for Unica Player, to use athletics to change his teammates for Jesus Christ