Photo courtesy of Sumer Way
Hillsdale athletes at the first Athletes in Action meeting of the year.
The unique group that gives Charger athletes the opportunity to meet, become better friends and grow in their Christian faith is in full swing in its second year on campus.
The leaders of Athletes in Action, senior Sumer Way and sophomore Mark Nicolet, are excited about the many prospects this year offers.
Doug Gotcher, national campus director of Athletes in Action, runs this athletic ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ International which was started in 1966 by Dave Hannah. Full-time staff members run Athletes in Action on 33 campusesnation-wideand student-run ministries on 90 other campuses. He explained how Athletes in Action works on a college campus.
“On our campuses we usually structure it like this: In the fall we meet with the varsity teams and handout interest cards,” Gotcher said. “We then follow up [with] those athletes that are interested. It is completely voluntary. We then start small group Bible studies, we have a weekly meeting and our staff spend a lot of time discipling the athletes one on one.”
Currently Hillsdale’s Athletes in Action has a weekly, hour-long large group meeting on Sundays at 6 p.m. in the Roche Sports Complex. They have a core group of about 25 that come every week.
“Our goal is to see a community of Christian athletes, that live life together and share Christ with others,” Gotcher said.
Way described Athletes in Action as “a Christian ministry for the athletes specifically. It offers a different avenue for them to get involved with.”
Way feels that athletes lead a different life on campus and have different schedules then other students.
“Not that one life is better than the other, it’s just different,” Way said. “Athletes in Action is really neat because the athletes can get together and meet with other people who are under the same pressures as they are and who are having similar experiences here on campus. It’s really good for athletes because they can encourage one another and be able to grow spiritually.”
Cary and Meredith Marquell, along with six student leaders, started the Hillsdale College branch of Athletes in Action last year.
Way is left with a challenge this year as the Marquell’s and other student leaders have left or graduated. She said she is thankful for Nicolet and that he stepped up into a leadership position.
“The two of us together have really worked a lot and kind of gotten things going, kept it rolling,” Way said. “God prepared both of us this summer.”
Tom and Cindy Smiley, a couple who are on staff with Campus Crusade at a Eastern Michigan University, come to Hillsdale on Sunday nights and assist with the weekly Athletes in Action meetings.
“They’ve been good,” Way said. “They make sure that Mark and I are not feeling overwhelmed but still allow us to have a lot of student leadership.”
Along with the weekly large group meetings, Way and Nicolet plan on separating the male athletes from the female, meeting in smaller groups and creating more personal spiritual growth. The leaders hope to have a small group one week and a large group meeting the next.
Although Way and Nicolet have just been trying to get things started this semester, they are planning a Christmas event for the athletes and have plans to go to an off-campus conference this December.
“My hopes for AIA is to continue to provide a place where athletes can come together, learn more about their faith, and have fun,” Nicolet said. “The rest is in God’s hands.”
Way said that Athletes in Action is an important group for Hillsdale’s campus, yet she definitely doesn’t feel like she is the reason it exists.
“God brought me to a place where I was involved with [Athletes in Action] without really realizing it,” Way said. “I honestly can’t take any ownership for this. It’s something that I feel is important and I know I need it in my life. And I know that a lot of other athletes feel the same.”
Mission Statement for Athletes in Action:
AIA was founded in 1966 by David Hannah, who desired to capitalize on society's great love of sports and utilize the platform given to athletes to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Included in the ministry efforts of AIA are ministry to college and professional athletes and coaches.
International competing teams partner with in-country staff and other missions organizations to resource ministry around the world. AIA's media tools and materials expose millions of sports fans to the Gospel each year.
Athletes in Action is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ.