Athletes in Action
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Athletes in Action (AIA) is an evangelical Christian sports ministry. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith. The most famous aspect of Athletes in Action is probably its touring basketball teams. These teams are generally comprised of former star players in college basketball who for various reasons were unable to hold a position on a team at a professional level, but some just see basketball as a way to minister to others. All are professing evangelical Christians, as are their coaches. These teams are particularly visible in North America in November and early December as they play current college teams. In many instances, Athletes in Action give their testimony at halftime and offer those in the audience an opportunity to be saved by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.
UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian once said after a 1977 blowout to AIA, "They beat you up in the first half, pray for you at halftime, then beat you up in the second half."