Training Total Athletes at South East Asia

This morning I start a long journey (this trips make me always think of what took to the ancient adventurers who travelled by foot or whatever they had handy). Ahead I have 1 train, 3 long flights, car, long and bumpy bus in the jungle for near 2 days.

As you know, I'm part with Jessie Starrenburg (from our team in Barcelona), of a 4 month Sport Project teaching 15 Critical Issues in Sport to the top 25 national teams of an SEA country, who are training at the GC Academy in preparation for the South East Asia Games in Singapore this summer. In addition to AIA USA, Canada and Spain, the project brought together other sport ministry leaders from Thailand and East Asia. 

During the next 2 weeks (3 for Jessie) in Camp we will teach on the issue of Life after Sport, and we will recap on the concept of Total Athlete, and Issues on Identity, Anger, Unity, Winning, Fear of Failure, Conflict...

We would appreciate your prayers for Se Yu and Ni Ho, our translators who have been there the entire time.  Please pray also for the small but growing group of our Master's followers who have being gathering and growing with the Book. Pray that we can grow on intentional addressing of who can truly and lastly help them address these Critical Issues. Pray for abundant reaping fruit, with more or less medals at the Asian Games for this country. Pray for Reid, our team coordinator whom has a great opportunity to tour the country with the Minister of Sports and for wisdom and direction for next steps there and hopefully in other global locations in coming years.

Please, pray for Lidia and the kids to be fully surrounded by His grace and protection.   

Yours always thankful. Until the nets are full,

Ruben, Lidia

Samuel, Josue, Lucia & David Azarias

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:9-10

Parenting in the Valley of Dry Bones

"Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ. Thus says the Lord Gᴏᴅ to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ." (Ezekiel 37:4–6)

Our Father knows I needed this. Thank you Jesus (the article is excellent and worth the reading).

Yesterday was one of those days of parenting in the Valley of Dry Bones. It was particularly very difficult as I have been very little at home with so much traveling, and you wish it was more happy-clapping and celebrating life with those you love the most and will have to kiss "hasta la vista" for 2 long weeks the next morning.

On top, both Lidia and I had warfare and dreams during last night as well, as the enemy was obviously trying to get through our tiredness and weakness.

"He Knows What to Do

Jesus has gone into the barren field, to the place where death once reigned, and he emerged victorious. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the one who makes alive. God didn’t tell Ezekiel to first bring life and then speak. It is the speaking of the words of God that brought the life, and that is the only way we can move toward the hearts of our children with hope-filled steps.

We can face the areas of sinfulness in them we once feared, convinced that the God who speaks life is able to breathe life into them. He is able to make them know him and live for him forever. He is the one who said the harvest of his people is plentiful, greater than the number of stars in the sky. He is the one who sent his only Son that your son or daughter might proclaim the wonders of his grace.

Teach the truths of the gospel to your children, “seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21–22). Go into the chaotic, death-filled valley of your kids’ sins and walk amongst it all because you know that every raindrop that falls on the earth today shows his mercy toward those who’ve rejected him (Matthew 5:45). Serve them with peace and humility because you can smell the breakfast cooking on the beach for a man who, three times, denied even knowing Jesus (John 21:9–19). Speak confidently of God’s power over every competing rule, including your child’s heart."

Do not fear the death you see in their lives. God knows what to do with it. After all, dry bones are all he’s ever had to work with in his people*."

*That includes me Emoticono smile

Thanks for your love, care and prayers

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/parenting-in-the-valley-of-dry-bones

Always on our knees

Personal prayer requests

• Protection and direction for us as family. With 4 little children, it’s a time of blessing, opportunity for disciple-making 24/7, and character testing :-).
• Our support development. $400

The year we will be living as a family at Pasadena as I start Master in Theology at Fuller starting next September.

Ministry requests

• Pray for Wouter & Nadine leading AIA NL. Just married, baby, transition of leadership at AIA and at Agape NL, and a full summer ahead as you can imagine if you know our duchess a bit.
• Pray for Sandrine & Jean Pierre in Paris leading Sport et Foi France. Our french team has gone through tuff journey. Pray for them to come up strengthened and vigorous.
• Pray for Abraham and Amy as they have just taken the baton from Ruben and Lidia for AIA Spain.
• Pray for AIA Swiss leadership with Vinci and Regula and team expanded. Pray for multiplication out of great program this year. 

Country leader in your area but would like you to add any additional requests for the country.

• Pray for leader/s to help consolidate AIA UK, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Malta.
• Pray for wisdom and direction and Christ followers in sport to start new AIA ministries in Northern Europe, Greece, Portugal...

Major area events in the next 6 months

• Praise for the UTC 2015 in Gran Canaria, the Euro Cycling Camp in Tenerife and the different L1&2 ESLT trainings around Europe these past months.
• Pray for the ECSU Gathering next May 28-31st in Italy, where 140 leaders (West and East Europe), many of our AIA teams will be there will gather to encourage, engage and equip.
• Pray for a Global Church Resourcing training in the Netherlands this summer, and key european leaders attending.
• Pray for the key leaders from 26 European teams countries we are selecting to be equipped in Orlando next November to be trainers of ReadySetGo.

IR's or STINTS in our area

• Praise and pray for the (once stints) long term internationals from USA (In Germany) and Netherlands (In Spain). 
• Pray for many more coming in the future.

Urgent needs

• Pray for the year Ruben and family will be in California to be a great opportunity for the shared ownership from AIA existing leaders and teams at the different countries over the reaching and building mission in Europe. Pray for a stretched focus and scope.
• Pray for the Think Tank & Design Team which will have to plan and develop next steps for UTC Europe 2016-2018.

Greetings from The Gold Camp!

This is a note from Reid Lamphere, our SEA project coordinator. I hope is encouraging for you and takes you to stay tuned on your knees:

"I’m back in SEA - for the 3rd time in 6 months.  It’s exciting to be here to see what the Lord has been building upon the shoulders of those who have been here at the GC over the last three months.      

Great Welcome!

The memory of the miserable journey disappeared when I saw the faces of my teammates waiting at the bus station.  Carl and Noreen, Ni Hoi (girl translator), Mang-Mang (our key guy in the country to help with logistics) and even Hnin was there (works for the Ministry of Sport in the area of “Mental Training”.  She has become everyone’s best friend - amazingly helpful to us.)  

The Countdown Begins!

We’ve had staff here at the Camp for the last 12 weeks.  This morning we started the countdown for our last month.  We went to visit the Judo teams (men’s and women’s).  They sat on the judo mats for at least an hour while Carl led a discussion on “The Fear of Failure”.  He introduced me to the teams and I told a story about my fears during competition and how I dealt with them .  This is Carl and Noreen’s last week.  I’ll pick up where they leave off with each of the teams.  Carolyn will join me this coming weekend.  She needed one more week to finish up the bible study she leads with the women on her tennis team.  

Please bring to the Lord our need for direction in our messages during these last weeks.  What to say - when to say it - how to say it.  

One other request is for a 7:30 am appointment with one of the Olympic Committee officials regarding a “Friends and Family Homestay” program for the SEA athletes who are going to Singapore for the Southeast Asia Games in June.  We’re going to extend to them the opportunity to bring their family members to the Games in Singapore and provide them with free housing.  More later….

Blessings,

Reid"

On Your Knees | April 2015

Dear fellow teammates on your knees,

My time in Portugal with Greg Morgan was a blast. We drove between Lisbon and Porto and met with coaches, pastors, amateur and pro athletes, Christian leaders... All whom love and follow Jesus and reach out and disciple in and through sport. 

Pedro Mateus, and Antonio, Ricardo, Joel and Joao have what it takes as guardians and forefront of advancing mission in and through sport there. Pray with us that they find models to consolidate leadership for their vision and they move forward with boldness. It'd be great to see AIA develop there as well.

The week in Detroit and Indianapolis around MCAA Men Basketball Final 4 was a blessing as well. I had the privilege of doing all this trip with Saul Ares, basketball agent and former coach, who's one of the best "volunteers" you'd Love to serve Jesus alongside your team. 

Cesar Fornos, President of the Nicaragua Basketball Federation joined us for the days at Indi. Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast event was one of the highlights. AIA produces this evangelistic event where over 1,300 coaches and sport authorities hear and respond to a relevant and clear expression of the Gospel as a famous player or coach is honoured with John Wooden's 7 Keys to Life Award.

Networking and reaching out with hundreds of coaches, visiting friends and partners, introducing Saul to the USA life and some of our favorite friends like Ross and Karen Fitchner filled a full week.

Last Thursday I had a great time and chance to listen, pray and encourage basketball players, AIA staff and ministry partners in a quick day in Barcelona.

Today I travel to the Netherlands. Amsterdam, Groningen, Amersfoort until Monday. Co-journeying with Greg Morgan ((CIS) and Wouter, Marcel, Jan and the Dutch AIA troops, Donar vs. Leiden basketball game tonight at Groningen tonight. 

TA Day event tomorrow with God willing over hundred athletes from the Netherlands, Sport Film Festival on Amsterdam, fun and strategic praying, thinking and planning at new Agape and AIA offices at Amersfoort. 

Pray for abundant sowing and reaping. AIA NL hopes to see TOTALATHLETE Hurdles multiply and serve for multiplication all over the Netherlands in the coming year and tomorrow we hope to witness how Jesus meets, commands and empowers.

Please, pray for Lidia and the troops at home. Some still sick, but over all, pray for protection and His fullness and presence. The next 35 days I will only be 4 days at home. 

Next school year @Fuller

Would you join us in prayer and support?

We wanted to share some great news and its pledge related with you. I have wanted to affirm and expand my Biblical and Theological formation for years. You know some, and many of the people who do as well encourage me to consolidate what could strengthen my gifts and in the meantime affirm and credit so I add value to what can help others understand and welcome our labour and service.

There is a brilliant opportunity to do this without a major challenge to our call and role today. Friends of us and Doctors at Fuller Seminary are guiding and supporting us for the possibility of taken a Masters of Arts in Theology and Ministry there at Pasadena. The idea is to do this as a growth opportunity for the family as well. 

Main part of this venture is to help our family grow. Lidia is fully on board of this, and if you know her a bit, certainly you'll understand how much that means. Larry Thompson (AIA Intl.), Javier García & Agape Europe Leadership and Nacho Marques (Agape Spain) are up to speed with this and highly encouraging about it.

We would have to take just one school year there starting next August, and then, back home I'd just need one full day a week to focus on finishing the Master on Theology & Ministry back home on a second year.

You know our leadership for AIA Europe has been and will be focused on empowering the national leaders and local teams to own beyond their scope and journey together. I don't run an office or a stint/interns team, and I empower, engage, connect, support, plan, communicate with AIA troops as much as we are allowed and welcomed by local Agape/AIA, and most of that wouldn't stop even as we would be allowed to take this opportunity.

Major projects like Baku European Games, UTC, ESLT trainings, ECSU... Are all led by European leaders and backed up with intl. AIA leaders as well. No fire we have started should be extinguished (if The Lord confirms we need to stay doing it of course). You know  that from last month, AIA Spain in under Abraham Crespo and an awesome new team we belong too as well.

Some classes of Sport Chaplaincy studies from Baylor on distance, Urban L.A. PROJECT From AIA in Los Angeles and volunteer internship coaching for NBA or NCAA team are opportunities, which if possible would add thrilling mission and experience value (always if I could do that as practices or in free time from Fuller studies.

Rob and Cathy Johnstone, Doctors in Fuller and dear friends are fully behind us and they say there's a good chance we would only have to cover 25% of tuition with help of scholarship and foundation support. There's a residence near the campus where we would pay less than $1000 per month (a third of most hosting solutions in the area) for house and utilities. This place would allow me to go to classes with a bike and avoid a second car.

We will certainly need a push and boost to sort finances out. Trusting the Lord with peace of mind and heart about it and all the related questions around it. There’s a foundation which has offered to help us with $15,000 if we raise another equal amount. Would you please consider contributing to our need in this?

Looking forward to hearing from you asap. Let us know any questions this email may have not clarified. Below you have details on how to send your support directly for this need (it would count 100% this way). If you need or rather prefer to send it through CRU, that’s ok as well (cru.org/give. Our account: #2394818).

Thanks a lot,

Ruben, Lidia, Samuel, Josué, Lucía y David Azarías

Transfers:

Bank of the West

180 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA

Swift Code: BWSTU566

Phone: +1 (800) 767 8442

Routing No: 121100782

Account No: 673025730

Reference: Fund 2940 for Ruben Fernández.

Checks or 

https://www.peertransfer.com/:

Fuller Theological Seminary

135 N. Oakland Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91182

Reference: Fund 2940 for Ruben Fernández.

March OYK

Dear prayer warriors,

Pray for Lidia and the kids I left again home for a full week. Thanks the Lord they are coming out from being sick and really down Lucia and Azarias suffered the worst. They have school holiday this week and it will be triple work for Lidia with me away and them home.

Pray for Zoe, Emi and Alexander. For them to be protected and fully restored in Jesus individually and as a family.

Praise the Lord for a great week visiting 7 cities of England in 6 days. Pray for wisdom and good follow through of the potential collaboration we are discussing.

Praise the Lord for great projects in Tenerife with a first Cycling Camp organized by Total Athlete AIA NL with riders from Belgium and Netherlands, and a new European Ultimate Training Camp at Gran Canaria with Dave Johns from Canada and participants from Germany, Latvia and Spain.

Pray for great groups and L1 and L2 participants at ESLT trainings in Tenerife and then Malaga coming next in March.

Pray for my trip with Greg Morgan to Portugal as part of the ECSU board next March. We will visit pastors and key leaders to cast vision and build trust and network to see Sport  ministry more developed.

Pray for Spanish and Polish coaches going to NCAA Final 4 events with Ruben and Papi, as they will be exposed to networking with other Christian coaches and great outreaches like Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast and our Coaches Forum.

Pray for the churches training in Madrid for churches from all over Spain in April. we hope to serve well and see many more churches reaching and serving in and through sport at their communities as we have seen happen in Barcelona.

Pray for the recruitment and preparations for our camps and tours this summer all over Europe and beyond.

Pray for me and Jessie Starrenburg, the 2 Europeans part of an international team who is coaching and training invited by government hundreds of the best athletes of one of the most closed countries in South East Asia. 

Pray for Abraham Crespo and Dan Fernandez as they will be the same month of May and country, initiating a partnership with a local football project and community.

Pray for our prep and support development to go to Fuller next school year. A foundation offered $15,000 if we raised another equal amount. Praised the Lord, thanks to God and a number of you we are half way though the goal. Pray for us to complete the goal. If you want to contribute some for this, as you hear, your support will be doubled. Let us know and we will send you details on how to send your support.

Thanks for your faithful engagement, prayers and work in Europe for Jesus' followers in every team, sport, city and nation,

Ruben, Lidia, Samuel, Josue, Lucia and Azarias

February OYK

Dear Prayer warriors,

This week we have experienced as a family, and it’s far from being over yet, hopefully the beginning of break through and deliverance for a family from our church. One parent is in jail and the other and 2 kids have stayed at home with us several days. They are now hosted in a different place but we are still helping the church leadership with their support and care.

From next Sunday 8 to Saturday 14 I will be in England, traveling with our AIA Global Director Larry Thompson to different cities and events. WE are discussing and considering a potential partnership with another agency. Please, pray for safety and wisdom. Pray for Lidia as she guards the fort here (Lucia is with fewer today, Samuel with a cold). Even in good health is already a militar maneuver to deal with our 4 musketeers as you can imagine.

These coming weeks are named after Canary Islands this 2015 for us. Feb 19-22 our AIA Netherlands Total Athlete team are holding a new European Cycling Camp in Tenerife with riders from several countries, where they’ll train on wheels and our Principles for Life and Competition. Thursday 26 through Monday 1st, we have Ultimate Training Camp Europe 2015 at Gran Canaria with Dave Johns from Canada and participants from all over Europe and beyond. And then, the next weekend we’ll have a new European Sport Leadership Training (ESLT) at Tenerife again. Don’t worry we are not moving to the Fortuned Islands (unfortunately ;-). I will be a whole week there for UTC, but Abraham Crespo and other partners and local volunteers are doing an excellent work for all this. Please, keep us in your prayers.

Talking about moves. Our family will be in California from next September for a full school season. Surprised? I am starting a Masters on Theology and Ministry at Fuller Seminary and the family will be finally living as true overseas missionary family :-). There’s lots to share with you about this, and we truly need and count with your prayers and support as this is indeed a faith leap we’ll need you for. More in our next communication.

We love you and are very thankful for your friendship and kind support. In Jesus and until the nets are full,

Rubén, Lidia, Samuel, Josué, Lucía & David Azarías 

44

Next monday (28), i'll celebrate 44 Springs. Life flyes and even when we know it, it's son hard to see it happen, isn't it?

I'm on a train starting the journey once again. This time to meet tonight with AIA Global Council teammates. It's been a whole since we met and worked together  and look forward to it. We'll be at AIA USA HQ at Xenia, OH, so I'll get to see dearly fellow partners and life friends an mentors like Tom and Mary Rapp.

I'm missing Lidia and our children already. Please hold and lift then dearly in your prayers. For strenght and protection.

Abraham Crespo, has been already there for a week, as ambassador of AIA Spain and West Europe at the Spring Confenrece that gathers all AIA US staff.

Thanks for your prayers for preparations and participants for UTC EUROPE next June in Malaga.

...for the final leg of the Sports Coaching course at University of Malaga and great partnership and mission opportunities God is slowing as we do practices, presentations, networking,

...for the Pray Play Say small groups that are consolidating led by sport students in Malaga.

...for the indoor football team from Netherlands touring in Barcelona and for the different churches that keep growing sport ministries there with support of our team.

Love and best wises in Christ to you all,

Ruben

Birmingham here we go!

Changing warm and sunny Malaga with Birmingham, UK today for he while week but with a great reason.

I'll be wrestling, playing, sharing, strategically planning for ab right future of AIA UK with Agape and Athletes in Action UK leaders.

Pray for Lidia guarding the fort and the troops (she has strong stomach ache today), and for me. I hit a finger last week an doesn't look good and I have a strong eyes infection.

We know what and whom is our warfare, isn't it? Pray for deliver emcee, health, wisdom and fullness in Him and His Victory.

Have a great week in Jesus!

Malta

Dear On Your Knees partners,

Yesterday, along with Greg Morgan (CIS) and David Guering (OM), I was in Malta representing ECSU and AIA in meetings and seminars with sport leaders to vision cast and support sport ministry development. Julian (member of a national comission for sport), Vince (business man and founder of a mushrooming football nursery -academy-), David (Olympic Committe Treasurer) did an outstanding work to align meetings, presentations, seminars, board discussions...

The walls of Mdina are so wide and invincible that even restaurants are built inside them, but I go back today with the impression we helped torpeed the island from within :-).

Thanks for your prayers for wise and insightful follow through and eternal fruit out of each potential iniciative. Pray for clear next steps and model pilot projects in the coming months/years. Chaplaincy & outreach to the U17 European Football Championships next May there, ESLT L1 training, Maltese participants to our next UTC, a Sport & Life weekend to federation and Olympic coaches & leaders...

Looking forward to serving Jesus and each of them with you,

Ruben 

Malta

On a journey to Valeta (Malta) today. 

Tomorrow, along with Greg Morgan (CIS) and David Guehring (OM), i will be representing ECSU and AIA in meetings and seminars with sport leaders from Malta. Athletes, coaches, Education Leaders, priests in charge of Sport Education...

Looking forward to serve Jesus and each of then. Thanks for your prayers 

Celebrating Jesus, Light of the World!

“but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory”

(Isaiah 60:19 WEB)

Celebrating Jesus,

Light of the World!, and all that happened during 2013 in His direction and provision with you. Happy Christmas & Blessed 2014!

Fearless, Faithful, Focus, Forward

These have been inspiring themes for our lives and ministry the last months. If you read the leter from apostle Paul to the Corinthians, chapters 3 to 5, you'll see why. You can watch the videos we used at the last European Christian Sport Gathering in Italy here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbJHcoXFAk4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL-lTNa3JKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEjjncJVdEQ

It's been full of everything these past weeks. ECSU Gathering was a blast for all the participants, including Abraham & Amy who came with me and served the gathering as volunteers. 

David Azarías is now 1 month. A healthy and fully awaken baby, who keeps us, and mostly his mommy quite busy. Azarías (the hebrew name of one of Daniel's friends who where faithful in Babilonia and survived being thrown to a burning oven) means God has protected, and so we feel God did with his live entrusted to us. Lucia is already at school with Josué & Samuel, and always chasing their heels in all they do.

Azarías was only 5 days when I had to fly to South Africa for Athletes in Action Global Leadership Council meetings. We had a great time with AIA leaders from that area and praying, wrestling and planning about the future of or vision and movements.

AIA GLC with AIA South Africa team @University of Johannesburg 

David, Ellen & Jessie (staff team in Barcelona) and Abraham, Pablin (just back from his honey moon) & Dan (staff team in Malaga) got together 3 days in October to pray and plan together for AIA Spain. It's thrilling to us to see this godly, young and passionated team grow as we serve and follow Jesus together and aim to see Christ followers, in every team, sport, city, Spain & beyond.

Lidia and I had the chance to spend 2 days with Javier and Gema. It was a great time to catch up and encourage each other. Even when juggling with family and a nursing baby is tuff enough for Lidia, retreating for 2 days with help of Lidia's parents was very valuable for her.

Tomorrow night I depart to join ECSU Board meeting on tuesday and join a London Lab project, sponsored by Agape UK & Agape Europe, where our AIA team there will facilitate a workshop and outreach in partnership with churches and local partners in London. There's a good chance I'll visit James & Alex Potter and Miguel Angel Gomez, a Spanish coach we have helped connect with Champions Academy UK.

November 3-8, I will travel to Waco, Texas, to be part of a task team from International Sports Coalition hosted by John and Cincy White at Baylor (they are former AIA staff and John is a professor there now). We have been asked to help build a curriculum and itinerary to help serve and develop top athletes.

November 11-15, we will have AIA European Leadership meetings and Agape Europe Leadership Forum with over 120 european leaders who meet every 2 years. We will be at Benalmádena (Málaga).

David Azarías, welcome to this world

On monday, september 16, 5:25pm, with 3830gr and 52cm, was thrown to this broken (but always hopeful in Jesus) World, David Azarías.

This new baby of His, it's a content and awaken share from Our Father which malks the delights, as you can imagine, from his brothers, sister and his parents.

Lidia labored as a crowned andmaster  champion and both are already home, doing all of us our best for their welcoming and sound recovery.

Why a blessing from Above are His children trusted to us. Thank you Jesus. Fill us with your power and wisdom to raise them fearful, lovers and followers of Thy.

On my way to Johannesburg to AIA GLC Meetings

AIA’s Global Leadership Council meets twice a year, face to face. This picture is from last April when we met in Istanbul. I have served on this leadership team for about 12 years and deeply value the days we spend TOGETHER. We live in 8 different cities around the world so being together is valuable as we evaluate, pray and plan for the future of AIA globally!
We will gather this weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa. We will share some time with the national AIA team of South Africa as well as our team’s time together. Thank you for praying for these days together! 

Ultimate Training Camp Europe 2013
April 4-7, Benalmádena (Spain)
www.athletesinaction.eu/UTC

Over 40 participants from Spain and many other European countries have registered already for UTC (. Pray with us for those traveling from afar, for safety, for mind, body and soul best preparation and for profitable time in Benalmadena for all of us. UTC, where God, Life and Sport unite.

Ultimate Training Camp is a high intensity sports camp that helps athletes and coaches to understand how to blend faith and sport together on the field of competition. There will be Bible studies mixed with active sports training to help sportsmen to understand how the gospel impacts their sport and life.

ECSU Gathering

The ECSU Board is happy to invite you to the
ECSU GATHERING 2013
August 22-25
Forterocca, Torino (Italy)

We would love to see people involved in the work of sports mission from all 44 countries of the ECSU represented at the Gathering.

Do also feel free to pass the documents on to anyone else you know who is involved in the work of sports mission who would benefit from attending the Gathering. In the meantime, if you have any specific questions about the conference, please contact us:
cjung@srsonline.de
www.ecsu.eu

ECSU Gathering 2013: Registration Form

Please fill in the registration form and send it via email to Claudia Jung. cjung@srsonline.de

Name:
Address:
Work Telephone Number:
Mobile/Cell Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Gender: Male/Female (delete as appropriate)
Date of Birth:
If relevant, name of sports ministry organisation that you represent:
Current sports ministry involvement:

I am willing to support another ECSU Gathering participant by contributing €

 — en www.ecsu.eu.

Busy Baltics

Do you think you are busy? We live on a fast and furious world isn't it? I hope you remember who and why are you in the planet in the midst of all the hecktiness ;-).

In this post I wanted to encourage you to pray for our teams and volunteers in the Baltics, along with the Agape leaders around them, and our European leaders along side with them like Wouter de Vos (Netherlands) and Brad Bratz (AIA West Europe). They have a crazy timing ahead (check by yourself below). Pray all this comes out the best, and "shows the money" with Christ followers, in every team, every sport, every nation...

Baltics - March-September 2013

March 10-15      
Hockey - Liberty University – Latvia

April 3-7              
AIA Ultimate Training Camp – Malaga, Spain

May 11-23          
Hockey - AIA Hockey  – Estonia, Latvia

May 24-26          
SELL Games – Riga, Latvia

June 1-2 or 8-9 
Basketball Coaches Clinic – Riga, Latvia

June 2                  
Cycling - Riga GP – Riga, Latvia

June 3-7              
Basketball Camp – Vilnius, Lithuania

June 7                  
Cycling - Riga-Ventspils – Latvia

June 8                  
Cycling - Ventspils-Jurmla – Latvia

June 9                  
Cycling - Jurmla GP – Latvia

July 1-4                
Basketball Camp – Tartu, Estonia

July 5-8                
Basketball Camp – Tallinn, Estonia

July 6-17              
World University Games – Kazan, Russia

August 10-18     
World Athletics Championship – Moscow, Russia

August 11-18     
Basketball – AIA/Mercer University – Lithuania

August 24-25     
Estonian Athletic Championships - Estonia

September        
Runner’s Camp - Estonia

AIA Estonia Facebook

AIA Latvia Facebook

@Ohio freezing, without snow, but happy

Greetings from Xenia, Ohio. I arrived last thursday. I've been visiting life partners and friends @Mason, OH (Tom & Mary Rapp), and @Plymouth, MI (Ross & Karen Fichtner). Snow fluring although weather's miserable for a Malagueño who was with 20ºC before coming here :-). Tomorrow and the rest of the week our meetings are scheduled from 8.30am-9.00pm so there will be long days.  There is much to discuss and plan as we evaluate last year and look toward the future together with other key AIA leaders from around the world.  Pray for unity, clear communication, and wisdom as we seek God's direction. Pray for Lidia and the kids while I am away. All of them have Hand, foot and mouth disease. It will be a long two weeks for them, and may be longer if I get it when I return at the end of the week. Tom was our leader with AIA Spain 1987-1997. He now teaches Spanish & is the Head Coach for Mason Comets men Cross Country team. He has been selected as coach of the State of Ohio for the second time this year.  Since he arrived, the program has won several State awards. Tom & Mary have been always a great example and consistent friends and partners through out all these years.