Sport and religion may seem incompatible at first sight due to the calculated training, science-approved nutrition, and secular psychology. Furthermore, there are no clear statements about the importance of physical activity in biblical texts. Indeed, one of the most known Christian sports organizations is Athletes in Action (AIA), which helps attain excellence through the lens of Christianity (Cheney, 2019; Pubols, 2018). Their main philosophy is to perform and achieve for God, sacrificing their bodies for the common good (Cheney, 2019). Moreover, AIA aims to help its students grow spiritually in the competitive environment (Pubols, 2018). The initial goal of this organization was to aid athletes in traveling, but later it developed into a global network of offices in college campuses (“History & financials,” n.d.). The members of AIA are wrestlers, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and soccer players who are taught the principles of the Bible and its application in sports (“History & financials,” n.d.). Notably, the mission of this organization helps players to remain modest, resulting in constant hard work and improvement. The objective of this paper is to discuss AIA’s origins and history, mission statements, recent development, and future vision.
This Christian group has a more than fifty-years long history of teaching young athletes the word of God. AIA was founded in 1966 by Dave Hannah as the ministry of parachurch organization Cru to provide spiritual guidance and training support (“History & financials,” n.d.). Two years after the establishment, they gathered the first official team of wrestlers who competed at the international level. Currently, AIA opened its offices in more than sixty countries, helping sportsmen and spreading Christian beliefs (“History & financials,” n.d.). Indeed, according to AIA’s president Mark Householder, all athletes need community because it allows them to feel accepted, removing anxiety and allowing them to focus on achieving excellence in their craft (“Belong beyond sport,” n.d.). Moreover, the organization’s leaders started an annual summer event, known as Ultimate Training Camp (UTC), in 1979 to teach its members the central principles of AIA (Pubols, 2018). According to Pubols (2018), UTC cultivates in the participants an understanding of the connection between their faith and performance in competitions. Therefore, AIA members maintain their beliefs, commitment, and discipline for a long time.
Despite the surface image of tremendous physical control in every type of complex physical activity, mind and soul play an essential role in competitive achievements. Indeed, physical and spiritual harmony can be seen by the millions of viewers who perceive athletes as role models. Thus, the mission of AIA is to build “spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sport so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus” (“Why we’re here,” n.d.). To give sportspeople sacred guidance in this brutal and fierce occupation, the organization developed twelve statements that remind that their work is a critical element of the way to the Lord. Specifically, this document states that competition is inevitable, but sport’s authentic value is the experience and growth opportunity (Pubols, 2018). The organization’s core values become imprinted into students’ minds during an annual UTC event, where youth is taught its five fundamental principles: idolatry, worth, holy surrender, importance of suffering, and victory beyond competition (Pubols, 2018). Still, the most critical value in the AIA community seems to be faith because focusing on divinity maintains team spirit and cooperation, enabling outstanding results on small and big tournaments.
The organized events and activities of AIA suggest that it plans to continue spreading the vision of Christ through sport. Apart from UTC, the organization carries through many other engaging events. For instance, AIA runs an annual Super Bowl breakfast during which the most renowned figures in this world gather yearly since 1988 to present a winner with the Bart Starr Award (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). The Starr is elected by voting among the National Football League players in December of the preceding year (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). However, this year, the ceremony was conducted in an online mode on the 6th of February because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (“Super Bowl breakfast,” n.d.). Another event that will take place in Ohio later this year is Night of Champions that will feature athletes who made the most significant contribution in proclaiming the word of God (“Nights of champions,” n.d.). Moreover, although UTC was not conducted this year due to the current situation, the organization hopes to gather them next year. Indeed, AIA continues to teach how to combine religiosity and competitiveness in sports.
In summary, Athletes in Action is a prominent Christian organization that supports young people’s physical and spiritual development. Dave Hannah founded AIA in 1966 as a ministry of Cru. During its half-a-century history, it created a vast network of AIA offices worldwide to teach young sportspeople to compete with the biblical point of view. Although many corporate events had to be canceled during the current pandemic, AIA leaders try to run annual events online and maintain the atmosphere of absolute belief in a higher power and a greater purpose.
References
Belong beyond sport. (n.d.). Athletes in Action.
Cheney, M. (2019). Mind, body, and soul. In B. Hemmings, N.J. Watson, & A. Parker (Eds), Sport, Psychology and Christianity: Welfare, performance and consultancy. Routledge.
History & financials.(n.d.). Athletes in Action.
Nights of champions.(n.d.). Athletes in Action.
Pubols, W. D. (2018). An Evaluation of the Five Principles as Taught at Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp. [Doctoral dissertation, Biola University]. ProQuest.
Super Bowl breakfast. (n.d.). Athletes in Action.
Why we’re here. (n.d.). Athletes in Action.