Carl and Noreen D. have been on staff with Athletes in Action for over 30 years. Carl competed with the full-time AIA wrestling team headquartered in Pennsylvania for four years, then they moved to Austria, where their three children were born, to work with athletes and wrestling teams in Eastern Europe. In 1990 they moved to Moscow , where they continue to minister today with AIA. The following is Carl's story of his time at the recent 2007 Wrestling World Championships.

In September, I traveled from our apartment in Moscow to Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, one of 15 former Soviet Republics, is on the Caspian Sea next to Iran. Azerbaijan has a secular Muslim culture, which reminded me much of Turkey.

I have attended about 25 Wrestling World Championships since joining Athletes in Action in 1975. Each championship draws hundreds of the world's best wrestlers to one place, giving great opportunities for ministry. Every outreach is unique depending on the local culture, location of hotel and arena, as well as access to the athletes.

In Baku, I was joined by five AIA staff members from the U.S., including four other veteran AIA wrestlers. I was the rookie of the wrestling group that included John K. and Larry A. who were on the first AIA wrestling team 39 years ago. John P. (1976 Olympic Gold medalist) and Reid L. both have about 35 years with AIA, while I have been with the ministry a few months shy of 33 years. That makes over 180 years of experience and plenty of gray hair.

All those years of experience have translated into many positive relationships and trust built in the international wrestling world. Larry and John wrestled for the U.S. against the USSR in Baku in the 1970s. Reid and I talked with Polish wrestlers we trained with in the 1980s, and I met my Soviet opponent from 1978 (see photo below). Soslan Andi ev was a two-time Olympic champion and I have had dozens of contacts with him over the years. I gave him our latest DVD-with eight evangelistic sports films in Russian-which he gratefully received.

We had the AIA evangelistic DVD "Unfading Glory" in six languages (English, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Bulgarian, and Farsi). This was distributed to dozens of the 800-plus wrestlers representing 96 countries. I also gave our latest DVD to many of the Russian-speaking athletes and coaches, including about 10 Olympic champions from Russia alone. Many of these men are open to the gospel because of the years of ministry by AIA staff member Stephen B., who lived in Russia more than 15 years. Two of the Polish wrestlers are evangelical believers involved with AIA in Poland.

The USA Greco-Roman Wrestling Team won the team title as World Champions for the first time, beating Russia by one point. Russia dominated the freestyle competition winning six of seven gold medals. John P. and I were invited to attend the celebration dinner with the Greco team. It was a great evening with the USA Wrestling leadership (many of them believers), the Greco team coaching staff, the wrestlers and their training partners. A prayer of thanks to the Lord was offered before the meal and John was asked to speak to the team. He congratulated the team and coaches and commended them on their hard work in reaching their goal as champions.

God has also given us great relationships with many on the USA team. We had great times of fellowship with several of the USA freestyle wrestlers during the week.

The relationships continue as next week I attend an international wrestling championship in Minsk, Belarus. It is a privilege to serve the Lord in the world of amateur wrestling.

Full names of Athletes in Action staff members have been withheld to protect those serving in religious-sensitive countries.

Photos courtesy of Carl D.:

Top: Baku Arena photo, left to right: Reid L., Larry A., John K., translator Javid (in front), Carl D., Judy K., John P.

Middle: Eating Azeri flat bread at restaurant, left to right: Carl, John, Larry and Judy

Bottom: Two wrestlers compete in Baku Arena