2016 Projects
AIA China/Minority Peoples Village Basketball Outreach
Provided funding for AIA to train seminary students in the Yunnan Province in sports ministry. After training, a basketball team made up of the seminary students traveled to different villages in the region using basketball as a means to share the gospel with un-reached people groups. The funding paid for transportation of the seminary students and the necessary sports equipment.
AIA Spain/Passion for Barcelona
Funding was provided to help pay for translation services, training materials, media, and outreach expenses in support of Passion for Barcelona. Passion for Barcelona was birthed from the growth of relationships and ministries that resulted from the Heartbeat Barcelona Project (see 2014 Project Barcelona). The vision of both projects was to help people come to know Jesus Christ through sports ministries. AIA provided training and help to local churches and neighborhood sports communities as they shared the gospel message.
AIA South Africa/ South Africa Internship Program
Funded scholarships for South African athletes in training to become members of the AIA staff in South Africa. These interns, like missionaries, must raise support as they prepare to join the AIA staff. However, some of these athletes are also in training for the Olympics and/or the All Africa games at the same time. They are thus limited in their ability to raise the funding needed. The scholarships are helping grow the AIA ministry staff in South Africa by lowering the funding hurdle for these athletes.
AIA Pakistan/Christian Super League Cricket Outreach
Provided funding to form and host the first Christian Super League Cricket Tournament (10 teams, 150 players) in Pakistan. Quoting directly from a report received after the event:“Dear Friends, .… I feel honor and privilege to share with you that AIA Pakistan focus to raise “Multiplying Disciples” through this event for vision 2020. We focus the player & officials by sharing The Word of God, Love, peace, harmony and gave them challenge to build Spiritual Movement everywhere in Pakistan through sports and reach Pakistan with the love of Christ. During the CSL, 18 pastors shared the Word of God openly with players as well as spectators and lot of them accepted the Word of God happily.…. We (staff and volunteers)also distributed New Testaments, The Prize, The Jesus Movie and other evangelistic tracts.” volunteers shared the 4sl (Spiritual Laws) with players and spectators too. “