Global Leadership Team Travels to India

Bangalore, a city bustling with over 6.2 million people, and rich in culture and diversity, was the site of this year's strategic Athletes in Action Global Leadership Team meetings in March.

"Bangalore changes weekly," says Mark, the Global Leadership Team director. "It is becoming the IT (information technology) capital of the world and is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. Meeting in a place like Bangalore and seeing millions of people very far from the gospel reminds us of how far we have to go in the fulfillment of the Great Commission."

The AIA Global Leadership Team gathers once a year to seek God's guidance as they discuss the direction of AIA's ministry around the world. The team chose India as the location for the meetings this year for several reasons: Since India's population exceeds one billion people, there is great potential to reach large numbers of individuals with the gospel message in this part of South Asia. They also hoped to build relationships with Campus Crusade for Christ (AIA's parent organization) leaders in the region; and to support and encourage the AIA staff families currently living in India.

In September 2006, AIA staff members Ben and Susie Thomas and Kevin and Stephanie Sides moved to Bangalore for 14 months to help accelerate the spread of the gospel through the use of AIA strategies in India and South Asia. Ben is also the global team member who oversees the South Asia region.

The Global Leadership Team consists of Mark (director), Judy Kirkpatrick (The Americas and NAMESTAN), Larry Amundson (Leadership Development and AIA staff care), Benjamin Thomas (South Asia), Gordon Volkman (Africa), Graham Roxburgh (Asia), and Ross Georgiou (Oceania).

Some of the team's time in India was spent meeting with Campus Crusade leaders for South Asia to discuss how AIA could help them in their efforts. The team left India with a greater clarity and excitement for the partnership with Campus Crusade.

"AIA has been working over the last several years to develop relationships with Campus Crusade South Asia leadership," says Ben. "It was great to see God move in the midst of our time together."

"Within many of our Campus Crusade ministries worldwide, we can bring the strategy of reaching people through sport," Judy says. "This is different in the Western world where we are more actively using AIA within the sport culture. Both are effective, albeit different, avenues to see people come to Christ—our ultimate goal."

AIA's global coordinators also had the opportunity to visit a piece of land that could serve as the location for a new sports facility in India. The Gubbi Facility, located in the growth section of Bangalore and 15 minutes from a new international airport, consists of five acres of undeveloped land and is owned by Campus Crusade.

"This property could be used as a sports academy, sports ministry training center, a general sports facility or a combination of all three," says Ben. "It is exciting to think that AIA could have a world-class facility outside of the U.S.-in the middle
of one sixth of the world's population."

Campus Crusade and AIA are seeking God's guidance on the best way to use this property to initiate and accelerate the building of spiritual movements in both South Asia and beyond.

"We are thankful that God is choosing to use AIA as a small part in changing lives both in India and South Asia," Mark says.