Bad News...

Scott Paschal, Ministry Director of the International Christian Tennis Association, here.

Bad news! This is my second day in a row to not hit any tennis balls.

For me, this is a big deal. I love to hit tennis balls. God blessed me with an athletic body and a love for tennis. Tennis is an amazing sport and I love improving my skills while getting in shape in the Florida sun.

But, for two days in a row now I haven't hit. I want to. Why haven't I hit? Tropical storm Alberto cruised through giving Florida some much needed rain.

The last few years I haven't been able to train for tennis as much as I would have liked. Why? Well, I had a few injuries that came outta nowhere, and I was busy growing the International Christian Tennis Association from a dream in my head to a reality reaching the tennis world. But, now I can hit! And I love hitting tennis balls!

My personal tennis workouts are tough. Most of my students have a difficult time keeping up with my training routine. Recently, a young stud junior lasted only about 3 days training with me before he needed a couple days off. I was just getting warmed up!

I'm in my late 30's and fortunately I still have the ability to get strong quickly. I don't think I've lost much of my quickness from my days in college football workouts, but I'm not in as good of shape.

One of my goals for this year is to get into the best physical shape of my life. I think it's possible because in my late teens and early 20's, while I was very athletic and in great shape, I wasn't in the best shape my body could possibly be in.

So, I think my best possible shape at nearly 40 can be better than the great physical shape I was in during high school and college.

A few days ago I began my workout by walking a mile, then riding my mountain bike for a mile. After a stomach workout and stretches, I drove my Jeep to the tennis facility and hit 1700 balls on the outdoor racketball court.

Then, for two hours I worked on the backhand of an up and coming WTA player. She and I blasted the ball at each other! High balls, low balls , heavy topspin, flat, sidespin, dropshots... you name it... we hit it!

I love hitting with my students whether they come to train with me for an hour or for an entire year! Her already incredible backhand improved and I had another great time teaching tennis in sunny Florida.

The weather is supposed to be back to normal tomorrow. I hope so. I'm ready to hit and to spend some time playing the greatest sport in the world!

God bless and happy hitting!

Scott Paschal

Hello From the Christian Tennis Office

Hello from the office!

Scott Paschal, here! This is a snapshot of our office area for the International Christian Tennis Association.

I'm on the right throwing a lefty wave. Rachel Snelen is waving from her desk. Mel Snelen's desk is there on the left.

I have worked for Int'l Christian Tennis Association for 8+ years now. During this time, our membership has grown from 5 of us in Arlington, Texas, USA to 1000's in over 1500 cities in 47 countries worldwide.

As we busily grow our Christian tennis membership base, we then look to develop interesting things for our members to do and be part of. I have a fantastic time inventing and growing ICTA programs.

It's great to watch God bless ICTA. I work about 80 hrs a week developing our sports ministry. Rachel and Melody Snelen (Rach and Mel) add an easy 70 additional hours a week.

That's 600 hours a month devoted to reaching people with the Gospel through the sport of tennis. We also have tremendous friends in other parts of the country who volunteer their time as well.

Right now, I have three interesting projects I am focused on. The first one is I am developing a tennis tour company designed to offer first class tennis tours to Grand Slam tournaments for ICTA members.

Next, Breck and I are working to launch ICTA's Faith & Tennis Magazine in 2006. And finally, I am looking for a piece of land on which to build ICTA's tennis facility in partnership with others.

As the French Open draws to a close and we begin to look forward to Wimbledon, I'd like to ask you to keep our mission trip to Ghana in your prayers. We have began a partnership with a racket manufacturer and a health food supplement company for this trip.

Through a parent of a former student, I also have strong connection with Ghana's government, as well as a place to stay for our trip. If you would like to partner with ICTA to help us bring tennis training, tennis equipment, Bibles, and nutritional supplements to the poor and needy in Ghana, simply call me at your convenience.

We do not have a firm date set, yet, as we are waiting for all financial situations to be covered for this trip.

God bless each of you!

Scott Paschal
386 793 0557

You Can!

You can.

Really, you can.

I don't care what they say. You can.

Scott Paschal here, Ministry Director for the International Christian Tennis Association.

You know what gets me fired up and motivated? People who tell me I'm not qualified. Or capable! I love it when someone tries to put me in my place. You know the place I'm talking about. Down with them. Way down low where people have forgotten.

People forget that you can do all things through Christ who gives you the strength.

A favorite story of mine from the Bible is when Goliath showed his enemies their true colors... faithless. In the middle of Goliath forcing these men of God to focus on their fears, David stood up to take the power of God.

There is a wonderful moment when the giant gets irked at the sight of his younger opponent. "Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" he roars (1 Samuel 17:43). Goliath is truly insulted. " Come here... and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" (v.44)

David doesn't flinch. He doesn't reconsider his options. There is no hiding behind a rock or tree to rethink his plan!

Absolutely not.

" As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." (v.48)

Do you see it!? That's what God wants from us today! Run quickly towards the challenge. Get in the middle of it with your unqualifed in the world's eyes self.

Go! You can. I don't care what they say.

David's weaponry was rediculous; a slingshot and five stones. Yet, it didn't matter because David was not the one fighting the fight. This was God's battle and who can defeat the creator of the universe?

To this day God still uses foolish tools in the hands of weak people to build His kingdom! I know this because I am living proof.

Backed by prayer and His power, we can accomplish the unthinkable.

You can... and don't let 'em tell you differently.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prayer Request:

*I know it's French Open time and the tennis word is busily focused on Roger and Rafa. But, I'd like to ask if you could take the stars out of your eyes for a moment and pray for the familes of Hussain Ahmed Rashid and his junior students, Nasir Al-Hatam and Wissam Adel- Auda.

All three were murdered by Islamic extremists in Iraq because they wore tennis shorts during practice. Rashid, 34, was one of Iraq's best Davis Cup players and recently played in the 2006 Asia/Oceana Group IV.

These men and their murderers were not Christian. If a few of you reading this would like to offer assistance for an ICTA Mission Outreach to Iraq, let me know. We can gather racquets, balls, books, videos, shoes, posters, etc and ship them to the national tennis center. Or deliver the shipments in person while sharing the Gospel to tennis players we meet.


*One of my special friends is a sports agent. She has been with IMG over 20 years. She has seen everything in the pro tennis world... the good, the bad, and the ugly. She is a source I go to for advice and support when dealing with pro tennis players.

She is heading out of the country for 3 months. Please keep her in your prayers as she is pretty special around here.

*The pro tour is without a qualified chaplain to care for the players. A group of chaplains needs to be formed over the next year in order to provide professional counseling at tennis events worldwide.

Please keep the spiritual safety and care of the men and women pro players in your prayers as God guides qualifed, healthy chaplains to International Christian Tennis Association and helps us form a plan to implement their services in a God honoring way.

God bless!

Scott Paschal
Christian Tennis

Baghdad Tennis

What do you think about this time of year?

For many, the French Open in Paris is the talk of the town. Famous tennis players battle it out on the crushed brick in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans... media worldwide follow every move of the top players...

Yet, that's not what caught my eye in the tennis world while searching the internet this morning.

Even though 2006 ICTA Christian Tennis Academy alumni, Julia Vakulenko, easily crushed Meng Juan, her main draw French Open first round opponent, 6-1, 6-2; that's not what commanded my attention as I began thinking about how God could use me this morning within the sport of tennis.

I'd like to share with you something most tennis enthusiasts worldwide have not been able to hear...

I read a news article on Yahoo about two tennis players and their coach. These three men had just finished a workout in Baghdad, Iraq. As they left the Iraq national tennis center to drive home, a group of men followed them in a car. The group of men forced the tennis coach's car to stop. They ordered the older tennis coach and his two young, top national players out of the car and onto the road.

Then the leader of the group of men shot the tennis coach and his two promising tennis players in their heads. They died instantly.

As the world read of Roger Federer complaining that he had to play his first round French Open match on Sunday, instead of Monday, because he felt he would possibly lose his "rhythm" for his Wednesday 2nd round match... a seasoned tennis coach and two bright hopefuls were slaughtered in Iraq.

The question is why were these men murdered? Why were these two athletes and their coach forced down onto their knees and executed.

Well, the Islamic extremists said it was because the tennis players wore shorts during practice.

You see, Islamic extremists murdered this small band of tennis brothers because they feel they have a right to speak for God and carry out what they feel would be His justice.

My heart broke for these three men who died. Then my heart continued breaking for the men who killed them.

At times I have spoken with select people who disagree with my bringing Christianity into the sport of tennis. Usually, these people have a narrow view of the world or some particular agenda they are following. Some claim religion should be left out of sports. I say it is impossible to keep my faith in Jesus silent. I say I have every right given to me by God to speak of my faith at every opportunity given and created.

These people slander me personally, seek out my family and friends in order to harass them, then claim they are the ones who should be listened to. Yet, each of these people is harmless. They are merely expressing their freedom of speech. Each of them is living an easy life in an easy culture.

As inaccurate in their facts and agenda laden as these bullies can become, these people are about as harmful as a goldfish.

Compared to what my brothers are forced to go through in other parts of the world, my life is simple and easy.

I enjoyed a great workout today hitting with a WTA ranked player for 3 hours. The sun was shining in beautiful Florida, our tennis courts have just been resurfaced, lots of locals talked with us after our workout ended. When I drove away from the tennis courts my mind flashed to the scene in Bahgdad. What it must have be like over there for my three tennis brothers. I talked with my student as she happily discussed her plans for the rest of her day. I safely drove home without incident....

There is a big world out there. It's easy to be locked into our safe routines, easy to force ourselves to justify our lack of appreciation with our liberty and freedom.

The Bible says, "If any of you lack widom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him." James 1:5

If in your day, you find yourself able to freely worship in your religion, freely travel where you wish to go, freely play tennis in the clothing of your choice, freely drive home in relative safety, and freely watch the greatest tennis players today compete in Paris, France in Rolland Garros; just know that others worldwide do not have the priviledges we so often find ourselves taking for granted. Ask God for the wisdom to see your foolishness.

Tomorrow, I look forward to following the matches in Paris. In particular, I look forward to Julia's match against Sofia Arvidsson, who is ranked WTA 31. Yes, I would like Julia to win another round. But that is not why I look forward to her match.

My excitement comes because God used both me and my little sports ministry to bring Julia back from the brink of death, both spiritual and physical. The thought of her first workout with me 18 weeks ago makes me smile. Though Julia was very sickly and frail then, I knew she had everything needed to reach the top. I also knew that God chose me to reach her and to begin to undue the abuse heaped onto her by others.

Unlike my brothers in Bahgdad, Julia's life was snatched from Satan's claws. Now, she has the priviledge to follow God's plan for her life.

One day, I pray our little sports ministry can grow large enough to help more players, and more people worldwide. One day I pray the International Christian Tennis Association reaches a level where we can truly impact the lives of others on a global scale.

God Bless!

Scott Paschal

Major Changes

This has been a big season in the history of the International Christian Tennis Association, ICTA.

Several key decisions have been made on the long term direction of our ministry's goals and focus. God has blessed me with mentors who know what it takes allow God to work in their lives. These mentors have lovingly allowed their experience to flow to me.

God has asked me to step out on faith from the first day He placed the ICTA dream in my heart. Remember, the fact that you are reading this blog is part of my dream come true! Now, God has called me deeper. He wants more from me. He wants to grow and shape me to become a stronger witness for His power and glory.

God is calling me into fulltime missions. I love it! This picture is of me and Joe, a former Mormon. We are traveling together with the whole International Christian Tennis Association gang on a mission trip. God used me to reach Joe for Him. Joe is now a Christian, boldly procaiming his faith and feeling called into fulltime ministry. I met Joe when he was just 14! Now, he is a 20 year old man committed to the Lord! Both of us are being called deeper into His ministry!

Jeremiah 32:17 NAS says, "Ah Lord God! Behold! Thou has made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee!"

What an impactful thought and realization.

This tells me that God created all, and that there is nothing He cannot accomplish. Thus, when God calls someone like me and you into ministry, either for the first time or deeper, He is in control. We have given Him our lives for His will to be accomplished for His reasons and in His timing.

This amazing scripture can be a source of comfort for those in difficult situations in their lives. "Nothing is too difficult for Thee!" Remember, whatever is going on in your life, nothing is too difficult for Him to accomplish. He loves you and He wants to help.

You are a child of God made in His image. His great power and His outstretched arm created everything! You are part of the everything He has created! God loves you and He is in control.

As I move deeper into ministry, my time for being used by God as a tennis coach will be limited. He is calling me into other roles and responsibilities.

Last summer, I enjoyed up to 15 fulltime students living in my house and training with me fulltime! What a great blessing and a great time in my life! Their parents have become some of my best friends and I have many, many cherished memories for the blessings involved in discipling teens.

This summer I have been called to a much different role and I am excited! The fire and passion I once had for coaching has been replaced with a God-blessed call to share the Gospel. You will see both myself and International Christian Tennis Association dive deeper into Him.

God is growing me! The creator of all is personally interested in me! I don't understand exactly how that works, but I am grateful it does.

God is all I want in this life. There is nothing more I live for. The creator of the universe loves me! He loves you! And nothing is too difficult for Him to accomplish in us or through us.

Deeper in Christ,

Scott Paschal
Ministry Director
International Christian Tennis Association
www.christiantennis.net

A Christian tennis Welcome!

Welcome to the web log location to learn about Christian tennis activities worldwide.

Here you can look forward to reading articles brought to you by the International Christian Tennis Association, as well as upcoming videos you can watch.

God bless!

ICTA Staff