Gene and Francis Davis have been on staff with Athletes in Action since 1968. In those 38 years they have served in various places with AIA Wrestling. They have four sons—Mark, Shawn, Paul and Ryan—and three daughters-in-law. They are the proud grandparents of seven with another one on the way.

Q: Where have you served with AIA?

A:Frances and I have been on staff for 38 years since 1968. Along with Larry Amundson and John Klein, we started the AIA competing wrestling team that year, where I was also the coach. I wrestled with the team for 10 years and coached for 16. W e traveled and competed with the top college teams around the country and pioneered a half-time where we shared testimonies and the gospel. We also spoke in various places lined up by the local Campus Crusade for Christ staff.

The first year we were at Campus Crusade Headquarters in Arrowhead Springs, Calif., then in Oklahoma City for four years and back in Southern California for 11 years.  We are now in Colorado Springs where we have been for 22 years.

Q: What is your role with AIA?

A: I am the AIA Wrestling Director. We have three other staff families whom I supervise and work closely with. John and Nancy Peterson live in Wisconsin and work at the University of Minnesota and Augusta College. They also travel and minister internationally. Steve and Bonnie Burak work with the AIA Wrestling Camps, and Cam and Rene McElhany work with the International Wrestling Tours. Frances and I are focused on ministry at the Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs where there are resident sport teams, as well as international teams that come often. 

Frances is my personal assistant at the office, especially in the area of computers. She also has the chance to extend hospitality to the local athletes as well as help in hosting internationals.

Q: Why did you originally come on staff with AIA?

A: We never dreamed we’d get to combine two of the "loves" in our lives—serving the Lord Jesus and wrestling—and were challenged to come on staff to do just that. We were young in the Lord, so it was a tremendous opportunity to hear some great teaching at the conferences and grow in Him. We initially attended a talk by Bill Bright (co-founder of Campus Crusade) at a Leadership Training Conference where he shared about the Spirit-filled life. That time really convinced us that AIA was where the Lord was calling us.

Q: Share one example of how you’ve seen God change a life through your ministry with AIA.

A: We have seen God impact the wrestling world wrestling in a very significant way through the years.  One changed life example is Don Zellmer. He was a wrestler at Long Beach State University where our team worked out. He came to Christ then and went on to join AIA Wrestling staff. He served internationally for many years in Poland, Russia, Washington D.C. and now in Colorado Springs.

Q. Where has been your favorite place to visit (related to your AIA ministry)?

A. Our trip to Australia for the 2000 Olympics and the AIA project was great in various ways. 

Gene met a couple from Sydney, Australia, in Nashville in January 2000, and they hit it off from the beginning. They learned we were going to Sydney for the Olympics and said to look them up so they could show us around.  We got together in Sydney several times. They introduced us to their home, family and city. We think it was a God-ordained connection that has continued with them visiting us here in Colorado Springs and meeting one of our granddaughters. They are not believers, but they are open and we have great conversations. 

We also we got many tickets to the Olympic events and were able to share them with our new friends as well as kids and families we ministered to during the AIA project. 

Being with all of those involved in the project was rewarding, too.  It was wonderful being together as a family to worship, fellowship and minister. Lastly, we loved to be there to watch and support the US wrestling teams and to keep that strong connection and involvement in their lives. We have ongoing ministry at the Olympic Training Center with many of them.