Dave and Carrie R. currently serve at Auburn University as AIA Campus Staff but will soon move to serve at Duke University. Married for 13 years the couple has five children-Jordan (11), Jocelyn (8), Justin (6), Jayson (5) and Joanna (3).

What are you trusting God for in your ministry on campus this year?

We are trusting God to get us on campus with the athletes. The last year for Carrie and me has been difficult as we've been here in Auburn, Alabama, waiting for our house to sell, yet desiring to be on campus with the student-athletes at Duke. This year we are trusting in God's sovereignty--if He wants us on campus at Duke, then we trust He will orchestrate that. If it's not His will for us to be there this year then we trust He will help us lead from afar and still be in tune with the student-athletes' needs at Duke.

What is one challenge in campus ministry that may be overlooked by those new to AIA campus staff?

I think the biggest challenge we as staff face are ourselves. At times we think the place at which God has blessed us to serve is our ministry and we forget that it belongs to Him. Sometimes we think that nothing can happen if we don't do it ourselves and can tend to leave God out of the picture. I think God just wants us to worship Him through the giftedness He gave us, both in our personal lives and on campus. If we will do that then all the challenges we face on campus will work out. We just need to worship God, take ourselves out of the way and trust Him to do a work in and through us.

What is the focus of your prayers for the student-athletes to whom you will minister this year?

Our prayer is that God will raise up leaders and develop them into the men and women He wants them to be. We also pray that God will tune our spirits with His so that we can lead those student-athletes in the way He wants, not what we think is best.

What do you think is the biggest misconception athletes may have of AIA or similar ministries?

That we as staff are perfect or have it all together.

What do you think of the "Cameron Crazies" and their infatuation with Duke basketball?

There is nothing like Duke basketball. The atmosphere in Cameron Arena is unparalleled. The way the students get into the game and the tradition that comes with Duke basketball cannot really be understood, it must be experienced.

Name a favorite Bible story and an attribute of God revealed in the story. How have you personally experienced God in a similar way?

As I've studied Jeremiah this last year, I've realized that just as God protected Jeremiah in the midst of the storms and attacks in his life, He will do the same for us. When God gave Jeremiah his purpose He told him to get ready for the battle but that He would also protect him. There were times when Jeremiah complained to God and got angry with Him, but he realized that God always provided for him, kept him safe through his trials and rescued him. He was able to worship God in the midst of those trials.

This last year for us hasn't been anything we would have chosen. Our staff career has had some challenges that have been very difficult, and I have finally realized, as Jeremiah did, that God has always been right there with us, saving us from those difficult circumstances. Thus, this last year we've been able to worship Him through our trial.

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