Mission, Vision & Values
Why we're here.
At Athletes in Action, we dream of a day when there are Christ-followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation.
Our mission
Building spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sport so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.
Brokenness exists in every area of life, including sport. But we believe there is a remedy to the brokenness of the world in the gospel of Jesus.
Athletes experience brokenness both personally and as part of sport-culture. They also have unmatched influence in their communities and around the globe.
Since 1966, we have been helping athletes experience the hope and purpose that comes from following Jesus, and equipping them to use their platform to be part of God’s mission in the world to make disciples of all nations.
By serving, training, and sending athletes as influencers into the world, we are building spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sport so that everyone knows someone who truly follows Jesus.
Our values
Faith. Oneness. Growth. Fruitfulness.
Athletes in Action’s four values are: faith, oneness, growth, and fruitfulness. Our values are the way we go about achieving our objectives. They reflect what it means to be a good team player within our organization and the way we develop leaders. As part of the Cru® family of ministries, we share the same values. You can read more about values from Cru.
Faith
Living this out means that we, as an organization, aim to keep our focus on God and not on ourselves. Because Jesus said “… for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, ESV), we depend on His Spirit moment by moment, yielding to Him as He instructs, abiding in Him and seeking to maintain a wholehearted devotion to Him.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. … And without faith it is impossible to please [God] …” (Hebrews 11:1,6, ESV).
Oneness
When we together live out the model of oneness displayed by Jesus, our unity makes a compelling case for our gospel mission to the world. The results we witness include a cultivation of humility, the building of diverse relationships, and a practice of championing the voices of others.
“We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.” (John 17:23, ESV)
Growth
We are committed to the maturity of the people God has entrusted to us. This challenges us to develop multiplying leaders who care for people. We focus our efforts on discipleship — both in ourselves and in others — pursuing character change rather than simply completing a training program. This value refers to not only individual growth, but also our collective growth.
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, ESV).
Fruitfulness
Fruitfulness means that, as an organization, we are willing to examine the results of our efforts. We look for people to come to Christ, to be changing into conformity with Christ, and to take His message to the world. It drives us to focus on not just our activity, but also our effectiveness. We strive to be good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us.
“… Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit … but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide …” (John 15:5,16, ESV).
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