ICTA's Anastasia Kharchenko and Niki in Tunisia!

Niki and Ana arrived safely at the hotel in Tunisa, Africa for their 25 day missions experience.

Thank you to everyone who supports their journey through prayer and finances. Thanks for making our God big in your life!

Ana is writing daily journal updates complete w pics and, hopefully, video, for you to read.

I’m thanking God this mission trip is happening. God placed a big priority on it in my heart. He said to go. And blessings are pouring in from it already.

Thank you so much to those who truly cared to help!  For up to date info of  International Christian Tennis Association’s Women’s Pro Tennis Team, visit our Facebook page.  Click link below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Christian-Tennis-Association/106824119396032

God bless!

Scott Paschal

Founder & President

God worked through this awesome guy, John Maxwell, to impact my life as a man and Christian leader in HUGE ways. John Maxwell is the world’s leading expert on Christian leadership development.

I am thrilled and honored to have this picture with him and my incredible wife, Mel!

God bless!

Scott Paschal

Check this out…  http://scottpaschal.tumblr.com/

I will definitely keep WordPress, as our main ICTABlog for articles…but our new TUMBLR blogging platform gets me really pumped up and, for me, TUMBLR brings the fun back into blogging.

Click on the link and come see our up to the DAY activities!

God bless!

Coach Scotty

Click the pic! France, Africa, Israel, Italy, Japan, Ukraine & more... ICTA Women's Pro Tennis Team serves hard!

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak..” Ezekial 34:16

International Christian Tennis Association’s Pro Tennis Team concept is a very special ministry project for me.

ICTA Founder, Scott Paschal, with his wife, Mel.

As you can see from the special picture collage above (click on it for larger view), the ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team is showing signs of effectiveness and success.

The team has planned, prepared, and traveled on 2-4 week mission trips.. worldwide… changing both the lives of our team’s members, and the lives of the special people from varying religions and cultures that the team encounters.

The team’s positive work has affirmed to me the importance of Christian mission teams in tennis.

Most reading this from the over 150 countries this blog has reached have little idea how truly Godless and lonely and painful are the lives of world class junior and professional tennis players (coaches & parents, too) competing on the world’s pro circuits while striving to become successful.

Mark (left) & David (rt) leading mission trip to Santiago, Chile. Have coached both for 4+yrs. Genesis stages of ICTA Men's Pro Tennis Team

The team’s incredible work, and the desperate needs of players worldwide, truly motivates me to hopefully provide the opportunity for missions for several teams, including a team for the ITF Men’s Pro Circuit.

I am amazed, and humbled, at the global impact this unique Christian missions project has had on the ITF and WTA pro circuits over the past decade.

Literally, 100s of female world class junior and pro tennis players, and their families and coaches, have been reached by our missionaries. Some of these players reached are now in the top 100 WTA, even in the top 20 WTA.

Yet, whether the players find pro success or not, each has had seeds planted for real success..the success of having Christ in their lives as their personal Lord and Savior. And that, to me, is so amazing and humbling and special.

Julia was suicidal. God miraculously led Scotty to her at her last moments. She flew to Florida and began an intense period of time w Scotty of full time discipleship, tennis training, and spiritual awakening. Suicidal thoughts left and she began competing full time on WTA pro tour, again. Her WTA ranking skyrocketed from WTA #217 to career high WTA #31..even reaching 4th round US OPEN. And beat 4 top 10 WTA including Kim Clijsters, Dinara Safina, and Daniela Hantuchova.

Back in the 1990′s I dreamed of sending world class junior and pro tennis players to compete in pro tennis tournaments worldwide, while using the opportunity to help tennis players, who were in need, the team encountered.

Honestly, it was a seemingly impossible dream. Especially considering the selfish, secular, confused life I was living at that point in my life story.

I hadn’t asked to have this dream placed in my heart. God, as I can see now, placed it there long before I was capable of truly seeing it clearly, or Him. I had little confidence I could actually help such a team come to exist…

As God developed me into the Founder of International Christian Tennis Association, He also taught me about the Great Commission.  The Great Commission then began becoming the banner over my life.  Slowly, yet surely.

As my life changed, God sharpened the focus and direction of the dreams He had placed in my heart. Dreams that were becoming what is now known worldwide as International Christian Tennis Association.

Mel (front left) & ICTA Pro Team members, Ana & Hiromi (back row), reaching Russian teen player in Egypt!

As recorded by Mathew in the Bible, my discovering Jesus’ Great Commission gave me a purpose and a reason for living.

I fully believe that every person on earth should discover this opportunity to have a purpose for existing.

So many people, including me back in the day, simply live.

Yet, there is more to life than simply being alive.

Here is the Great Commission…

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Mathew 28 in the Bible

ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team is the world’s only full time, Christian, missions-centered pro tennis team competing on the international pro tennis circuits. The sole (soul!) purpose of the team is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to disciple those willing to hear.

The ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team consists of ICTA’s Ultimate Impact Tennis Academy (our Florida based tennis academy) world class junior and WTA pro tennis players, and select guests.  Team members train for tennis and for Christian outreach in preparation for their mission trips.

Cross cultural studies, Christian apologetics, geography, route  mapping, team work, major religions, visa research…many aspects of training are involved to properly prepare each individual team member for successful missions.

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak..” Ezekial 34:16

Anastasia (middle) with my wife Mel (right) and Mel's sister (left).

A wonderful example of the potential of ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team shines when I mention Anastasia, who has been a member of the team since 2007 when she was 17.

One of our 2005-2006 team members, Kara, a 16 yr old from Florida, competed against Anastasia in Juarez, Mexico during an ITF pro tournament.  Ana, who was also 16 yrs at the time, won a close, hard fought match.

The next day our team saw Ana crying and offered to listen. Ana explained her life was very difficult, and she needed to escape a difficult, abusive situation in the USA tennis academy where she had been training.

With her Dad’s (who was in Ukraine) approval, ICTA immediately helped Ana, and flew her to our headquarters in Florida. Within a month Anastasia became a Christian! She fully believes God had come to find her in her darkest hours. Such a blessing!

Anastasia and David training on-site at Sony Ericsson Open, world's 5th largest pro tournament. ICTA booth directly behind!

Ana’s life quickly blossomed into a life dedicated to world class tennis and Christian missions.

As a student at our Ultimate Impact Tennis Academy and a member of ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team, Anastasia was fantastically positioned to become a world class tennis player and a world-traveled Christian missionary.

Take a look at what God has done with Ana since she became a Christian!

ICTA has helped Anastasia to travel to and compete in 60+ ITF professional tennis tournaments on 3 continents, 6 countries, 18 USA states, 42 cities.

That’s 60+ mission trips with ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team.

She has played 150+ pro singles matches and 60+ pro doubles matches…at the ITF $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000 levels! She has won two ITF pro circuit singles titles, and reached quarterfinals and semifinals of many others.

Ana has competed against players from 34 countries, and has given Christian materials to players from 47 countries.

She has traveled over 140,000 miles by airplane and over 26,000 miles by car and bus…that’s over 6 times around the world!

Ana (former #1 G18 Ukraine) competing in Egypt in 2010.

Ana has also read 101 Christian books…over 28,000 pages.. discovering and studying topics such as Leadership, Teamwork, Christian Aplogetics, Discipline, Accountability, World Religions, Health & Nutrition, Fasting & Prayer…

As a competitive pro tennis player, Ana is proving to be among the best in the world. Ranked as high as WTA#549, Ana is poised to continue to grow in skill with the hopes of reaching top 300 WTA in 2011.

Awesome journey!

Jesus parable of the lost sheep certainly fits Anastasia’s life.

Jesus told them this parable. “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.” Luke 15:3-7

My wonderful wife, Mel, is leading the team in 2011.  Mel is a meticulous planner, and amazing Christian, and has a generous heart to help people in need.

Our ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team mission and players are fortunate to have Mel’s passion for the Great Commission leading them.

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak..” Ezekial 34:16

For more info on joining or supporting the ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team, visit the ICTA web site where you can fill out an inquiry form.

Or call 386 793 0557 to talk with me.

God bless you,

Scott Paschal

Bio

You can support ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Teams, and help me help this wonderful Christian missions team reach players worldwide for Christ.   This is the first DONATE link I’ve ever added to an article!  Several of you have asked how you can help… so this link is where you can contribute.

Really proud of these two guys!

Have coached and discipled Mark (left..from Mexico where his parents plant churches) full time for 4+ years and David (aka: Aussie..from Australia) for 3+ years. Both are now in student leadership positions with International Christian Tennis Association and are founding members of the ICTA Men’s Pro Tennis Team.

2010 has been an outstanding year for International Christian Tennis Association.  Mark and David are a shining example of how God is working in and through our little Christian sports ministry.

During the next week I will write updates for you here in this ICTABlog post.

Mark warming up Anastasia @ ITF $10,000 Pro Tournament in Williamsburg, Va. Ana was #3 seed singles and #1 seed doubles. Mark assisted me the entire week to develop his outreach skills & understanding of the ITF Pro Circuit.

As many of you have noticed, I simply haven’t had the time to write blog updates like I used to.

This article will help catch you up on all the neat stuff going on here the past few months with International Christian Tennis Association.

I will write several times this week and will publish what I write each time for you to read. That said..understand this will be a work in progress.

Right now, I’m signing off to head out to the tennis courts to coach my Brazilian, Ukrainian, and Israeli players at a beautiful tennis location next to the ocean!

God bless and will check back in soon to write more…here on this article!  Scotty

Amazing video. I saw it and was instantly humbled. Especially when I first saw the living area for the Guatemalan pastor and his family, next to his church.

What I’m writing in this section isn’t International Christian Tennis Association stuff. Yet, it’s something that has impacted me, thus affecting my life, and my work.

My wife, Melody, brightening up the childrens' day with facepainting!

My awesome wife, Melody, journeyed to Guatemala on a 10 day medical mission trip.

She shot lots of great pics, and some videos..including this impactful video.

A friend of Melody’s parents for 30+ years, Karen, organizes this trip yearly. Karen is an incredible person.

Melody traveled to and through Guatemala with the entire medical missions team.

Remember hearing recently about the rain storms pounding Guatemala..wiping out bridges, creating sink holes, and basically bringing the country to a standstill? The medical mission team was in Guatemala at the time.

Mel’s sister’s fiance (now husband), Kevin, was part of the medical mission team as the team’s medical doctor.

My brother-in-law, Kevin, was the medical doctor for the outreach. 100's of Guatemalan received free medical care. Each was then prayed over!

In addition to organizing the medical mission outreach, Karen organized an entire Pastor’s Conference.

Like I said..she is incredible.

The video above shows Karen and her team preparing the church for the pastor’s conference, the never-ending rain, and the living conditions for the pastor’s family.

Like I said..I was immediately humbled. Not just from the living conditions, but also from seeing the love Karen has for the people of Guatemala.

She could be at home watching TV…and complaining about life… like so many others. Yet, there she is in her 60′s impacting lives for the Kingdom.

Literally..100′s of locals received free medical care!! Toys were given away..(and tennis balls!). Pastors had a conference to attend!

Karen and the entire medical team is an inspiration for me.

Will check back in soon to write more updates..! God bless!  Scotty

Alex, Ana, Aussie, Nik, Adam. Mel in front.

Something pretty awesome our tennis academy students had the opportunity to attend was Student Leadership University!

Student Leadership University is unlike anything you’ve ever encountered. Designed with the student in mind, they encourage these young leaders to commit themselves to excellence. SLU challenges students to develop the ability to rise above self, circumstances, obstacles, change and the crowd.

Their aim is to equip, motivate, enable and empower students for present and future leadership in their schools, churches, teams, families and workplaces. SLU believes their training gives students a 20-year quantum leap on a global level that accelerates the students’ leadership decisions.

Modeled after Fortune 500 corporate leadership seminars, each student is exposed to comprehensive programs focusing on leadership skills. These skills include time and life management, goal setting, dealing with conflict and difficult people, and developing a Christian worldview.

The Dad of one of my full time tennis academy students is on SLU’s board of directors.  As such, we were so blessed to have this incredible opportunity to attend SLU 101 at the Marriot hotel next to Orlando International airport.

Here are some of the programs… and click here to learn more!

• Time and Life Management Skills
• People Skills
• Goal Setting
• Dealing with Conflict and Difficult People
• Developing a Christian Worldview
• Servant Leadership
• How to Defend the Faith
• Insights from Business, Ministry and Government Leaders

Ok..to wrap up today’s journal entry, I’d like to share with you an email I received from the Dad of one of my 13 year old summer academy students from Venezuela…

Good Morning Scotty,

Juan Jesus arrived home yesterday morning after spending a week in Houston.

I would like to take this moment to thank God, you Scotty, Melody and all the beautiful people part of the team at Palm Coast for the opportunity of giving my son the gift of sharing three weeks at International Christian Tennis Association tennis camps.

Yes, I am sure he is hitting the ball better, ( Alex was immediately improved in the tennis trial outs for his school when he arrived from ICTA) but also JJ has also matured positively as a young man and as a Son of God.

One of his first comments was that he would like to go back next year for one month………..that says many, many things….!

Again THANK YOU ALL and God Bless your Ministry…..      Juan

God bless you all!

Scott Paschal

International Christian Tennis Association, Founder