Ministry Expanding in Hamilton, Canada

I received a contact email from Rachel Snelen, ICTA's women's pro team missionary embedded inside an ITF $25,000 pro tennis tournament. She mentioned she will attempt to locate time to write a journal entry soon in order to keep you aware of her missionary progress.

In addition, Rach has a new roommate at the host home of a friend where she is staying for the tournament. It looks like we might have a potential new ICTA Pro Team member one day in the future! Rachel's new roommate is a Christian. That's such great news!

The WTA Tour is littered with Godless behavior. Sin abounds unchecked. Each Christian traveling worldwide on the WTA Tour has an opportunity to shine the light of Christ, to reflect Christ in all she does.

Many people are not Christian simply because they don't have anyone in their life who shares the love of Jesus with them. Basic knowledge of the Bible, Salvation through faith in Christ... they just have never been exposed to it. These people are great people who just haven't been reached by the Church, the body of Christ Jesus.

Fortunately, Rachel is lighting a fire for Christ as she rises in the WTA Tour ranking.

Rachel's email mentioned she will be able to stay another day as she won her first round match 6-1,6-2 against a top Canadian national junior. Rach lost the first game, then won the next 6. In the 2nd set she was down 2-1 before winning 5 straight. Her match tomorrow is against an fantastic player currently ranked 1143 WTA, but who is able to split sets with players ranked in the WTA 300's!

There is a lot more to tell you, but Rach will do a better job filling you in!

God bless,

Scott Paschal
www.christiantennis.net

Canada and USA: Mission Updates

Canada Missions Update:

I received multiple text messages yesterday from Rachel Snelen, who we currently have embedded as a pro tennis player in an International Tennis Federation women's $25,000 pro tennis tournament in Hamilton, Canada.

Rachel arrived to her mission field on Thursday. She traveled alone, meeting up with friends upon her arrival on Canadian soil. Her mission began at 4am Thursday morning when she drove herself to the Daytona International Airport from ICTA's international headquarters in Palm Coast, Florida. Two flights and a bus ride later, Rachel met with a friend who walked with her 20 minutes to her destination where they are staying. Rachel has been offered a wonderful host home for her mision trip in Canada. It is so great to have friends who care.

Rachel's text messages yesterday, and a phone call to fellow tennis missionary team member, Melody Snelen, revealed excitement as she explained how great her day was unfolding. At the tournament site, which is also the host site of the upcoming WTA Roger's Cup, Rachel and two of her WTA ranked friends were asked by the tournament staff to play sets on center court to test the electronic line calling system. All three happily obliged! They were each paid $80, given a great lunch, and treated really well.

What a great opportunity for Rachel to grow her mission field to reach the tournament staff. Today, she checks in for the qualifier between 3pm and 6pm.

USA Missions Update:

Melody Snelen is the ICTA Pro Tennis Team missionary operative for the USA this week. Leaving at 4:45am this morning, Melody drove 1.5 hrs to Jacksonville, Florida to catch a flight to Atlanta. Currently, she is en route to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she will catch a taxi for an hour drive to Hammond, Louisiana. ICTA is embedding Melody as a Christian missionary disguised as a pro tennis player in the Wolfe Lumber Women's $50,000 Challenger USTA Pro Circuit Event.

I received contact from Mel this morning as she confirmed her arrival to Atlanta, and subsequnt boarding of her flight to New Orleans.

I will pass on further information from both operatives as I am contacted...

Scott Paschal
ICTA Missions Headquarters

Welcome!

Welcome to the International Christian Tennis Association's blog for our Christian tennis misionaries we send out on ICTA Pro Tennis Team mission trips to the ITF and WTA pro tours worldwide!

This picture is of two ICTA Missionaries, Rachel Snelen (lt) and Melody Snelen (rt) flexing their biceps in College Park, Maryland with Cathy, who is a Christian power lifting national champion!

The purpose of this blog is to bring our ICTA Missionaries direct to you in real time! As internet access becomes available for our missionaries out in the mission field, they will keep a journal for you to read in the hopes of providing inspiration and support for your day.

The International Christian Tennis Association has a plan to develop missionary tennis teams at all levels and ages of the game. We believe the United States Tennis Association and the International Tennis Federation are not able to do enough to properly care for the emotional and spiritual needs of young players, who often spend the majority of their teen and young adult years away from family, friends, and their church.

Many fantasic Christians and caring non-Christians work for the USTA and ITF, yet their hands are tied whenever attempts are made to bring together plans or programs specifically designed to address the spiritual and emotional needs of promising tennis players of all ages.

Yes, I wrote 'non-Christians!' there are many people not of the Christian faith who still appreciate the morals and standards promoted by Christianity. These people believe in the mission and purpose of the International Christian Tennis Association in the sense that we are paving roads for people of faith to begin sharing their particular belief. The more sucess we have, the more confidence people of other faiths will have.

I envision a time when the ICTA sends several boys and girls teams in each age division to compete in national and international tournaments! I envision a time when ICTA sends several men and women teams to compete in ITF, WTA, and ATP tournaments!

I can see it! It is already beginning to happen!

Though we are starting out small and precise, I can see this ministry grow to fruition to offer the junior and pro tennis players a real purpose to their lives!

I can see emotionally and spiritually stronger atheletes & their families!

What a blessing this will be!

Serving for Christ,

Scott Paschal
President & Founder, ICTA