Athletes in Action
Encyclopedia
Athletes in Action is an evangelical
Christian
sport
s ministry in the tradition of Muscular Christianity
. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith. The most famous aspect of Athletes in Action is probably its touring basketball
teams. These teams are generally composed of former star players in college basketball
who for various reasons were unable to hold a position on a team at a professional level, but some just see basketball as a way to minister to others. All are professing evangelical Christians, as are their coaches. These teams are particularly visible in North America
in November and early December as they play current college teams. In many instances, Athletes in Action give their testimony at halftime and offer those in the audience an opportunity to be saved by receiving Jesus
Christ
as Savior. Athletes in Action team has played as the US national team in the 1978 FIBA World Championship
.
UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian
once said after a 1977 blowout to AIA, "They beat you up in the first half, pray for you at halftime, then beat you up in the second half."
"to honor the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community."
Nominees are gathered from the Public Relations Directors of each NFL team, the past winners of the Bart Starr Award, the Athletes in Action Pro Staff working with NFL teams and Bart Starr
himself. Ballots are sent to each team and voting takes place at the same time as the Pro Bowl
selections. The votes are tabulated and the winner is announced at the annual Super Bowl Breakfast, an NFL-sanctioned event hosted by Athletes in Action, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
. The award, bearing the name of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
r, honors Starr’s lifelong commitment to serving as a positive role model to his family, teammates, and community.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s ministry in the tradition of Muscular Christianity
Muscular Christianity
Muscular Christianity is a term for a movement originating during the Victorian era which stressed the need for energetic Christian activism in combination with an ideal of vigorous masculinity...
. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith. The most famous aspect of Athletes in Action is probably its touring basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams. These teams are generally composed of former star players in college basketball
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
who for various reasons were unable to hold a position on a team at a professional level, but some just see basketball as a way to minister to others. All are professing evangelical Christians, as are their coaches. These teams are particularly visible in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in November and early December as they play current college teams. In many instances, Athletes in Action give their testimony at halftime and offer those in the audience an opportunity to be saved by receiving Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
as Savior. Athletes in Action team has played as the US national team in the 1978 FIBA World Championship
1978 FIBA World Championship
The 1978 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Philippines from October 1 to 14, 1978.Rizal Memorial Coliseum at Manila and Araneta Coliseum at Quezon City, Metro Manila were the venues for the event.-Venues:...
.
UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian , also known as "Tark the Shark", is a retired college basketball coach known as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history...
once said after a 1977 blowout to AIA, "They beat you up in the first half, pray for you at halftime, then beat you up in the second half."
Super Bowl Breakfast and the Bart Starr Award
Among the events sponsored by Athletes in Action is the NFL-sanctioned Super Bowl Breakfast which features the presentation of the Athletes in Action/Bart Starr AwardAthletes in Action/Bart Starr Award
The Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award is given annually to an NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. Nominees are gathered from the Public Relations Directors of each NFL team, the past winners of the Bart Starr Award,...
"to honor the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community."
Nominees are gathered from the Public Relations Directors of each NFL team, the past winners of the Bart Starr Award, the Athletes in Action Pro Staff working with NFL teams and Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
himself. Ballots are sent to each team and voting takes place at the same time as the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selections. The votes are tabulated and the winner is announced at the annual Super Bowl Breakfast, an NFL-sanctioned event hosted by Athletes in Action, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
. The award, bearing the name of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
r, honors Starr’s lifelong commitment to serving as a positive role model to his family, teammates, and community.