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6 October 2007...As a result of the tremendous response to the Jason Smith Fan Day last November (2006) Athletes in Action, the Firepower Sydney Kings, and the Bible Society of NSW are partnering to present another Fan Day at the second regular season game of the year. Jason Smith (Captain of the Kings) and other elite athletes will share their personal journey stories of faith in Jesus...from courtside...following the first regular season game against the Cairns Taipans. Contact us for special rate tickets at $5 per person.
14 March 2007 (Wednesday...9:30 to 1:30)...a small AIA team consisting of Gary, Jason, and Lisa (prayer support) spoke at a combined classes school assembly to 600 senior students at Inaburra High School in Bangor (a Sydney suburb). The students were challenged to choose life (eternal) and abundant life (here and now) through a personal relationship with the greatest champion who ever lived--Jesus. He not only played hard--and won--but also gave his life for His teammates. Jason share his personal journey story and signed autographs after the assembly. Following a quick break for morning tea, Jason and Gary ran two basketball clinics and coached a senior men's training session. Initial reports were overwhelmingly positive and they would love for the team to return. (Photos are available on Gary's blogsite here).
19 November 2006 (the morning after)...The Firepower Sydney Kings were extremely supportive in helping us to promote the Jason Smith Fan Day game. AIA wants to thank them publically for partnering with us on the night. The Kings official website even did a feature story prior to the game that explained clearly what Jason wanted to do with the programme and why. I'm sure something like this happened before, but I don't know where!
Visit the Kings website for the story... www.sydneykings.com.au
22 October 2006 (Sunday...1:00-5:00 pm)...EXtreme TRaining Arvo (EXTRA)...Extreme competition demands extreme training...for "we wrestle not against not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness". A training opportunity for elite and professional athletes hosted by their high profile peers to better equip them to use their sports success as a platform for the gospel. Last year we had 15 sportspeople at our inaugral training session, this year we are planning for many more as the word gets out. Contact us on the link below for more information.
10 September 2006...AIA was actively involved along with SCA chaplains in Coffs Harbour last weekend at the NBL Basketball Blitz. The National Basketball Commissioner asked the chaplains to put together a voluntary prayer meeting during the Blitz for those players who might be interested. With no time in the busy timetable for a scheduled meeting...and after a lot of "word-of-mouth coordination"...the eventual meeting was held a half hour before the final cocktail party of the blitz in the hotel lobby. Two chaplains, the commissioner, and nine players showed up to pray together. They also encouraged one another from Romans 12 to not be "conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds" in order to demonstrate to their teammates that "God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect". Every one of the nine players attending (including the player who won the MVP of the 2006 Blitz) contributed in the prayer time.
20 August 2006...Gary was involved in providing support to the family, friends, and community in rural Goondiwindi, Queensland at the tragic loss of two young rugby players in a car accident on the way to their Grand Final in Toowomba. It was a privilege for him to share in this heart-wrenching grief experience.
Newspaper story on accident:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,20183553-952,00.html
14 July 2006...Gary met with Pastor Bob Saunders of Fox Valley Community Church to discuss several upcoming big events that will target high schools in Sydney. Pastor Bob was extremely supportive and offered to spread the word amongst his network of school workers.
11 July 2006...Thanks for praying (requests to the right). The Kings' Academy presentation went well. There is a brief report and photo on the "Stories" page if you want more information.
6 July 2006... Gary met with the Firepower Sydney Kings' new Community and Development Manager (former player Dean Uthoff--the Man Mountain) to discuss the possibility of promoting the Kings in schools and churches by offering for Jason Smith (Captain) to tell his journey story. The concept was well-received and more details will follow soon.
7 July 2006... The Kings management today asked Gary to give a 30 minute presentation on "your message" on Tuesday (11 July) at the Kings' Academy. For more information on the Academy...link to... www.sydneykings.com.au/email/KINGS_Academy_LORES.pdf
6 July 2006... Jess finishing up with chaplaincy at Uni Games in Coffs Harbour...stories soon!
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19 November...(Answer) Thank you for praying! God was truly at work on Saturday night. Seven people that we know of made a decision to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. Several other decisions to come to Christ have been reported to AIA since the event from friends, relatives, and pastors. Please pray that these young believers will be integrated into a local church and grow in the Lord...looking back to a basketball game as the time when they were born into God's family.
(For a fuller report on the event click on the "Stories" tab at the top of this page.)
18 November 2006...If all goes according to plan...in exactly 11 hours from now...
The captain of the Firepower Sydney Kings will be concluding a 20-minute message of hope to over 3000 fans following an exciting game against the South Dragons.
To the best of our accounting The Bible Society of NSW and Athletes In Action Australia have sold 1719 tickets to this game and post-game event...we only "promised" 1000 when we made the original offer. God is even stretching our faith.
Please continue in prayer and a report on the evening will appear on this website in the next couple of days.
1 November 2006... Update on Jason Smith Fans Day... With only 17 more days until the big game with the Dragons, schools, churches, and even family groups are now pushing hard to sell as many tickets as possible in order to take advantage of the Kings promise to provide a clinic to any group that recruits at least 70 people to come along to the game at only $10 per person. Please continue to pray for many to come along to the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Darling Harbour--and bring their friends--to hear Jason share his journey story of faith in Jesus.
5 September 2006...In regard to the Jason Smith Fan Day in November we are asking God to recruit 777 fans to come along to the game and aftergame programme. We are also looking to sponsors to help us supply a special edition T-shirt to help spread the message through the media at the game. Pray for sponsorship by companies that are willing to identify themselves with the Kings and the King of Kings.
Answer: We have had one major sponsor for the T-shirt come on board...please pray for five more and ask anyone you know who might be willing to assist in this regard.
Answer (2): Although we had one major sponsor willing to partner with others...in order to keep the price of the game night down...and with the estimated cost of the T-shirt continuing to rise...we decided not to pursue the T-shirt idea.
5 Sept 2006...Please pray for many professional and elite athletes to hear about the Extreme Training Arvo and commit to attending the training so that they might be more effective in their communication of the good news about Jesus.
Answer: 30 sports personalities including men and women involved in basketball, rugby (league and union), hockey, athletics, boxing, tennis, and triathlon (and others) as well as both summer and winter Olympians and Commonwealth Games competitors contributed to the success of this timely training.
4 Sept 2006...Pray for Darren (Slingers), Graeme (Razorbacks), and Gary (Kings) as they work with professional basketball players at the Blitz... especially as they engage with new players on their teams and start building relationships.
Answer: See the story in the left hand column dated 10 September.
6 July 2006... Safe, enjoyable, and productive travel home from Coffs for Jess and her teammates.
7 July 2006... Pray for Gary as he speaks to the Kings Academy on Tuesday (11th).
Pray especially for his preparation and presentation that he would be both wise and winsome...that he would faithfully serve both the Kings and the King of Kings well.
12 July 2006...Jason Smith is currently on tour with the Australian Boomers (National Basketball Team) playing in a series against the New Zealand Tall Blacks. As usual he asked us to pray for his wife (Carla) and family in his absense...and that he would both "walk the walk" and "talk the the talk" daily.
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