Ed Uszynski , AIA Staff

As a freshman at Kent State University in the late 1980s, I was looking for some way to make sense of my life and what I saw going on in the world around me. A girl I was dating took me to an Athletes in Action retreat where I met Mark and Jim. I also met Tony Dungy who was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the time.

Though it’s been said by others to the point of cliché, when I interacted with these guys, I knew they had something I didn’t. Whatever it was, I wanted it. Their lives and words pointed to one source for their peace, security and confidence: Jesus Christ. 

When I got back from the retreat, I went to a service on campus and surrendered my life to Christ. When I sat down after the service and reflected on what had happened, I knew I had stepped across a line and that my life would no longer be the same. 

Several months after that weekend, Bill and Paula Pugh came to Kent as new AIA staff. They took me under their wing and helped me grow both spiritually and as a man by sharing their lives with me: long conversations about life, relationships and family, engaging Bible studies, trips to the store talking about whatever, and meals, meals, meals. They did more than anyone other than my parents to shape, mold and mentor me through a very critical time in my life. After meeting them, I encountered growth through countless experiences provided through both Athletes in Action and Campus Crusade for Christ: AIA Summer Project, Christmas Conferences, Daytona Beach Outreach, regional retreats and many leadership development opportunities. 

Whatever good has come from my life these past twenty years, the origin traces back to my initial interaction with AIA staff and the opportunities they provided.

Ed Uszynski serves as the Director of the AIA Ministry Training Center. He and his wife Amy have three children—Erik (6), Maria (3 1/2) and Jack (7 mos).

Each month you will be introduced to a life changed through Athletes in Action. If your life (or someone you know) has been greatly touched through your involvement with AIA, please send an e-mail to communications@aia.com. 

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