Lindsay S. has been on staff with Athletes in Action for four years, where she serves in the Media Department at the AIA headquarters in Xenia, Ohio. Prior to joining staff in January 2004, Lindsay worked in Washington D.C. as an account executive for the sport management company KSB Ventures.
What is your role at Athletes in Action?
I serve in the Media Department. Over the last four years I've had the privilege of being the project manager for our women's sports film (Passion and Power) and overseeing the translation of the film into 14 different languages. I also direct tennis tours in the summers.
What were some of the obstacles you needed to overcome before deciding to become a full-time staff member with AIA?
Before I joined AIA I worked in sports management in Washington, D.C. I loved my church, friends and the city. Moving to Ohio was a hard decision as I didn't want to leave that environment. I remember Dave McDowell (Director of AIA Media) sending me information about AIA a year before I came on staff and I took a quick look at it and threw it away! Oops. I thought, “no way was I going to raise support.” However, God clearly was working on my heart and a year later I joined staff and actually really enjoyed the support-raising process.
What did God teach you about yourself and those you ministered to recently in Thailand during the International Sports Coalition ACE Conference?
I traveled to Thailand for a conference that brought together almost 600 people from 130 countries that do sports ministry. We gave a copy of our latest film Struggle and Triumph and also Passion and Power to every person there. The attendees were incredibly thankful. One thing I learned during my time at the conference was that there is great value in being a “servant leader.” We didn't go asking people for things but went with an attitude of how we could help make them more effective at what they do in ministry. The stories of faith that emerged from conversations with people there were incredible. I was amazed by their willingness to take bold steps of faith in the face of persecution so that the gospel would go forth. They truly have eternal perspectives.
What television sitcom best portrays your life and why?
It’s not a sitcom but I really like the Travel Channel. I love learning about new cultures and countries, and I've done quite a bit of travel this year—six different countries.
If you had to submit a Christmas wish list, what would the top three items be?
Top three Christmas wish list items... hmmmm. How about a trip to New York and tickets to see Mama Mia, my favorite musical. (I love the city but couldn't ever live there and Mama Mia is the best –makes you want to sing and dance.) Or how about a trip to some place warm with all my close friends? That would awesome! My friends are the most important thing to me. This is dream world, right? Or skiing. That would be great too.
Talk about your passion for tennis and how God uses your athletic ability to bring Him glory.
I started playing tennis when I was 10 and moved to a tennis academy when I was 15 to really pursue the sport. God has graced me with ability in the game which I now love to use to build relationships with other women tennis players whenever possible. It’s amazing the walls that quickly come down when you are “like them.” As a result God has allowed the gospel to go forth into the tennis world. I pray He continues to grace me with many more opportunities for just this same thing.
Photos:
Top: Lindsay (back row, center) with fellow AIA staff women.
Center, right: Teaching tennis to women in Nepal in 2007.
Center, left: In the airport with the Nepal team members before saying good-bye at the conclusion of their tour together.
Bottom: Lindsay (second from right) was in her friend Tanya's wedding last year.
Full names of Athletes in Action staff members have been withheld to protect those serving in religious-sensitive countries. |