“I want to get deep. I want to get real. I want to be vulnerable and build those solid relationships,” said junior education major and soccer player Candace Haney.
Sitting down over a simple Cobo breakfast with junior softball player Ashten Petty, Haney witnessed the transparent vulnerability that she has envisioned for Union’s new on-campus ministry called Athletes in Action.
“I walked away from that and was like ‘this is what I want. This is exactly what I want from Athletes in Action,’” said Haney. “We got breakfast, the next thing I know I am sharing my testimony with her.”
Athletes in Action, or AIA, is an international sports organization and ministry directed towards aiding believers in every team, sport and nation to proclaim the Gospel and strengthen their relationship with Christ. It is using sports as the platform to glorify God.
The ministry serves in more than 60 countries and is actively involved on more than 200 college campuses through missions and global outreach programs. AIA is also serving in 40 professional sports teams.
After battling health issues alone and missing two seasons of soccer (freshman and sophomore year), Haney desired unity within the athletics department.
“I feel like [unity] should be something, one, your team should be doing first and foremost, but beyond that, there are people on other sports teams that have walked similar paths or have struggled and been injured, so just to have that opportunity to connect with people was what was driving me,” said Haney.
A year ago, junior sports management major and soccer player Jaya-Naomi Wilson transferred from Texas Southern University with the same vision of developing unity and a sports ministry on campus. Athletes in Action is involved on Texas Southern’s campus, so Wilson, co-leader of AIA, discussed the logistics of the organization with Haney.
“In a word, I’m stoked. I feel like this is a great opportunity for athletes to connect with one another on a different level, a spiritual level,” said Wilson. “Psalm 133:1 says, ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.’ It would be amazing to have this type of unity within our athletic department, and I believe the effect would be evident across campus.”
To aid in the ministry’s development, junior cross country runner and marketing major Joshua Whitney as well as senior baseball player and English major Cade Canada will be co-leading with Haney and Wilson.
For Union, Athletes in Action will consist of Bible studies specifically for women and men held every two weeks. With the emphasis of supporting and equipping other teams, there will be campus-wide meetings once a month open to everyone. The events will vary between worship nights, movie nights and hangouts.
“I don’t want this to be just another Bible study,” said Haney. “I want to do life with people; I want to do life with believers and non-believers. I want to show that unconditional love that Christ has shown me, and all the leaders are on the same page as that.”
The kick-off meeting will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m. The location is still to be determined.
For more information, check out their Instagram: @aia_union.
Photo by Union Photo Project (Jess Newendyke)
