Dave and Connie Deal, Athletes in Action International
What a great 16 days it’s been! Thank you for your partnership and for praying our family through this challenging time. I left on September 11 for San Francisco, Seoul & Hong Kong, Connie joined me in Vienna & we finished our time in Budapest tonight. Tomorrow morning we head back to Phoenix for a great reunion with our kids! Allow us to give you a snapshot of what’s been accomplished:
- We met as AIA’s Global Leadership Council from morning until evening for four days and were treated to a day of touring (plus one on our own before the conference) and some great Hungarian meals!
- Our goal as a council is to set the global direction of Athletes in Action movements and staff in 65 countries.
- We heard what God is doing through AIA Ministries from AIA Eastern European Leaders from the countries of Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Russia, and Slovakia.
- Our morning devotions centered on John 1 and were led by Pastor Ronnie Sanders of Entrust Ministries.
- We developed AIA’s 4 Strategic Components- Church Sports, Elite Athletes, Media, Global Events (including Rio Olympic Project plans).
- We were introduced to an exciting new resource developed by AIA Staff for anyone to use with ministry to elite athletes… SportLife – Critical Issues for Athletes curriculum.
- Cru’s Digital Strategies division brought us up to speed by on some new ways to share the Gospel.
- Connie met with other wives who were here and spent time sharing and learning Biblical principles for being the wife of a leader. One highlight for her was hearing from Ala, whose husband is the Area Team Leader of Campus Crusade in E. Europe.
- Combined with my trip last week to Hong Kong to continue to help with the humanitarian crisis existing in N. Korea, it’s been thrilling to seek out where God is already working to build His Kingdom… and join Him in it!
- All these things and more were accomplished within the context of the great relationships we enjoy with humble leaders from around the globe.
Again, we are so grateful for your investment of finance and prayer to help build God’s Kingdom around the world!