October 16, 2010
2010 International Christian Tennis Association Summer Updates..and more!
- ICTA Founder, Scott Paschal, with ICTA Student Leadership interns Mark and David
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
June 28, 2010
Get Out Of The Boat!
So blessed to reach 300,000+ for Christ at world's 5th largest professional tennis tournament.
To go from a fisherman to fishers of men.
The privilege, the honor, is mind blowing.
Jesus called for Simon and his bro, Andrew, to drop their fishing nets and follow him. (matt 4:18-20) They did. Me, too!
Mexico, USA, Australia, Canada..ICTA is raising strong Christian leaders to impact nations.
Cool thing here for me to think about…Jesus knew that Simon, Pete, and I were ridiculously flawed. Yet, he still wanted to bring us into his inner circle.
He didn’t ask for our grades in seminary, didn’t want 10 references, wasn’t interested in checking our credit score…and He def didn’t care if we made Him look good.
He said to drop everything and follow him. We did.
Pete even walked on water to follow Jesus. Lol…check this out…
“During the 4th watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come out to you on the water.’ ‘Come on,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” matt 14:24-25 (niv)
I remember clearly when God called me to “drop the net.” He put the words…International Christian Tennis Association…in my thoughts.
He then relentlessly developed my imagination to see mission trips to the world’s most famous pro tennis tournaments, a world class Christian tennis academy, pro tennis teams traveling the world sharing their faith, a global membership of believers…
The words…International Christian Tennis Association…were so clear that I dropped everything and my life changed. When you truly see God calling, you know. You might not exactly know what to do next…but you know that you know. 🙂
My wife, Mel (front left), leading 2010 ICTA Pro Team throughout Egypt. The team impacted Russian player, Lera (front right)...and countless others.
For a while I followed God in “my own little boat.” Then, like Pete, I got out. And, like Pete, I sank, too, after a few steps as doubt crept in.
But, there was no doubt what happened for those first steps out of the boat.
The vision God gave to me, the way God created my new imagination, the “walking on water” steps He gave me…are all very real. Same with my flaws he recruited me with. Very real.
Now, eleven years later… ICTA has reached 2,000,000+ people at famous tennis events on large-scale ICTA Global Outreach mission trips. Our incredible tennis academy program has developed players full time from 23 countries and 16 USA states.
Our ICTA Pro Tennis Team has reached 1000’s for Christ at pro tennis tournaments worldwide from Israel to Italy to Nigeria and beyond! Christian tennis.net gains over 100,000 visitors yearly, this blog has had over 150,000 readers…and ICTA membership has exploded worldwide to reach over 2000 cities in 60+ countries.
People have come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Seeds have been planted. In what is a truly Jesus-less sport worldwide, He is becoming known
My mom! It is a blessing for all of us who have Moms who pray for us. I am fortunate, indeed!
Aisa..Buddhism. Middle East..Islam. Globally, tennis is 80% non-Christian. Our harvest field is huge.
The potential to impact nations is fantastic. Political leaders, business owners, celebrities…worldwide…from all religions…they play tennis as their source of recreation and physical renewal and stress relief.
ICTA is raising up teen leaders to impact a global population. ICTA is reaching 100,000’s yearly at famous pro tournaments. ICTA is challenging the hearts and minds of world class athletes worldwide to question their religions they were born into. And, ICTA is confronting an over-churched, passive American Christianity culture to realize God’s plan for our nation.
Personally, I can tell you from experience that your life will change when you choose to follow Jesus.
And, when you follow, you will have your opportunities to “get out of the boat.”
Let me know how I can help.
I’m here for you guys. I know life is hard. And I know following Jesus can be tough, too…
It’s tough partly because anytime we get out of a boat…we end up rocking the boat.
Others may become upset because our bold choices are rocking the boat they are routinely sitting in.
Also, we will probably make waves around us, which may disturb others comfortably sitting in their boats.
You may even feel like your boat will tip over as you step out, over the side and into the water.
And, let’s be honest here, to those watching us…it can seem pretty insane for us to claim we’ve heard Jesus’ call…and are about to walk on water! Lol..!
Scott and Melody Paschal
But, that’s ok. Keep focused on Jesus.
Focus on the One walking on the water calling you to come to him…!
Step out! Rock the boat! Make some waves! Go for it!
Send me an email or give me a call. I am here to help. I do care. You are important.
We can take some time, together, and make some waves..! Lol…
God bless,
Scott Paschal
International Christian Tennis Association, President
Ultimate Impact Tennis Academy, Owner
June 7, 2010
Coach Scotty Paschal’s Maine Point..!
We love to visit Mom in Maine! (click pic to enlarge)
Melody and I were able to take a few days off at the end of May!
Days off are rare around here. Really rare.
Managing, maintaining, and growing a world class tennis academy program that has impacted junior and pro tennis players from 23 countries and 15 USA states, since 2001, who have trained with us full time, takes a lot of work.
Throw in developing International Christian Tennis Association, which has reached well over 1,800,000 tennis fans on large-scale mission trip outreaches to famous professional tennis tournaments…and, well, you get the idea…
So, when we have these really rare days off, what do we like to do?
Paris? Hawaii? Nope.
We like to visit my Mom in Maine! Lol…
My Mom is awesome. She’s Italian 100%. Was a teacher for decades..and a shrink. I am very fortunate to have had my Mom for a mom.
We made a pic collage of our trip for you. Couple pics of Mom ( in the kitchen, of course), me and Mel, and the Lobsters we bought for just $5.99lb (so cheap!) in Portland.
God bless,
International Christian Tennis Association, President
April 6, 2010
Christiantennis.net Egyptian Pro Tennis & Missions Tour
(Slideshow above takes a few seconds to load.)
Anastasia and Hiro, two members of ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team, have been able to email me a few pics, even though the internet is unbelievably slow in Ain Elsokhna-Suiz, Egypt…and I’ve made a little slideshow for you guys!
(I have been blessed to coach Ana (Ukraine) for 3.5+ years and Hiro (Venezuela) 2.5+ years full time here w/ International Christian Tennis Association in Florida.)
I’ve added a few captions to some of the slideshow pictures for you. Also, fyi, know the pictures appeared in a random order. As this is the first time I’ve used this new slideshow feature, I don’t know how to make them appear in the order I’d like them to…but, looks ok anyway! 🙂
After 8 days, the girls are getting pretty physically and mentally worn out…
Aside from adjusting to a 20+ hrs journey (after helping ICTA Outreach at 2010 Sony Ericsson Open for a week!), a new time zone, a new country’s customs, red clay tennis courts, oppression of women nationwide, and a complete lack of Christians… there is also much smoke in the air (burning trash?), sand gets everywhere (nose, eyes, mouth), and the mosquitoes are out of control.
Anastasia has been sick for 3 days/nights now. Melody has had much difficulty sleeping due to the difficult conditions, and has pain in her shoulder. Hiro seems to be ok, for now, though.
Please keep the girls health and safety in your prayers.
This Russian teen is meeting Jesus in Egypt!
Though it has been difficult for them, the ministry work has been really excellent.
I’ve received their many email updates, and I couldn’t be happier or more excited about the effectiveness of their outreach.
Most of you reading this really have little idea how difficult a trip like this can be even if simply traveling as a tourist.
If traveling as a pro tennis player with all the burdens and responsibilities to compete and win and improve…it is very, very difficult.
Add to this a calling to help others as a Christian missionary…in a land where you are not welcome at all…and the difficulties/burdens/duties/responsibilities multiply to the point only a few, select individuals can handle it.
God is doing a great work in Muslim dominated Ain Elsokhna-Suiz, Egypt through the willing hearts of Hiro, Melody, and Anastasia.
These are three very, very rare people….
Thanks for your prayers and support,
Coach Scotty
August 20, 2009
100,000 ICTABlog Visitors…!
Some of my tennis academy players in St. Joseph, Missouri, during mission trip. This pic taken at original Pony Express headquarters that is now famous western museum.
100,000!
Wow!
100,000!
Almost can’t believe it. So neat how ICTABlog has not only survived, but thrived.
To me, a couple years ago, 100,000 was too big of a number for me to wrap around. 10,000 seemed huge!
I get phone calls and emails from people who read something I’ve written and it reaches them in some way. Some folks are really positive and supportive…some are really nasty and mean. But, either way it’s good to see faith & tennis being connected and discussed.
Btw, remember my Gasquet article? I think it was just a few articles ago. Anyway, his suspension has been lifted! Turns out he didn’t do anything purposefully wrong. Never did cocaine!
But, he did kiss a girl at a party who did…and that caused him to get the equivalent of a grain of sand of cocaine in his body which caused his blood to test positive for a banned substance.
I’m glad Rafa kept speaking out about how Gasquet doesn’t do drugs! And I’m glad you guys told your friends to tell their friends to tell their friends to read my article.
Finally, thanks for your support of my Twitter micro-blog! Great to hear you guys like receiving the updates…either by coming here or christiantennis.net... or some of you have updates sent to your cell phones in real time!! Awesome!
God bless,
Coach Scotty
International Christian Tennis Association
President
386 793 0557/ teamICTA@yahoo.com
June 5, 2009
Video: Scott Paschal Snickers at ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team Member!
Those of you who know me have a pretty good idea I like to make people laugh.
Recently, ICTA welcomed a new player to the ICTA Women’s Pro Tennis Team. Her name is Lo and she is from Nigeria. I know her Dad.
Lo attends a college in the US where she competes on the school’s tennis team. She is training with me for the summer to strengthen her tennis, and to deepen her faith in Christ.
In the first 12 days I’ve coached Lo she has taken a bus to meet us in Sumter, SC where she trained for 4 days… drove with us to Palm Coast… drove a day later to Hilton Head Island, SC. where she trained for 4 days… drove back to Palm Coast yesterday… and will fly to El Paso, Texas at 7am in the morning.
Her schedule is stacked and packed. I don’t think she has ever experienced anything like this before.
Welcome to pro tennis… and Christian missions outreach.
Honestly, people really have no idea how much we do on a daily basis to follow the Great Commission…
I’m focused on developing Lo’s leadership skills, and on showing her facts about Jesus… that He is Christ.
Sure, her tennis will improve a lot. But, that’s the easy part.
The hard part can be looking inward and honestly seeing what needs to improve in your life.
In less than 2 weeks, Lo has been challenged intensely, and she can see her weaknesses… on and off court.
Part shocked and part excited for the challenge, Lo is undergoing massive training.
From extreme 2 on 1 tennis workouts, 10 mile bike rides, tennis matches in pro tournaments, travel to 4 new cities in 12 days by bus, van, and plane…
… to meeting new people from 6 countries… Lo has been busy.
In addition, I have Lo studying Lee Stroebel’s book A Case for Christ and John Maxwell’s book Failing Forward. My hope is Stroebel can deepen her belief that Jesus is Christ, and that Maxwell can teach Lo that mistakes can become our motivation and our guide to improvment.
That said, we have a ton of fun in between tennis training, matches, and discipleship.
Lo mentioned she’s laughed more in these 10 -12days than in the last 5 months combined since she has come to the USA!
On to the video…
Lo loves Snickers. She bought a whole bag of the little Snickers when I first met her. She loves to eat them when no one is looking!
When we were all in Sam’s Club (huge wholesale food warehouse owned by Walmart) in Hilton Head Island during our Christian outreach to a USTA Pro Circuit tournament recently, I saw a bunch of boxes of Snicker’s bars… so I wanted to take a pic of Lo with them.
But, instead of a picture I took a really fun video!!
Lo LOVED it minutes later when she found out!
Enjoy the video and please keep Lo in your thoughts and prayers. God is doing a big work in her life!
God bless,
Coach Scotty
May 4, 2009
Scott Paschal Goes to Church!
I really love attending church.
I know it’s a special privilege to be able to worship God at a Christian church.
This is a picture of me, a couple of my full time tennis academy students, and a special visitor a couple days ago before church started.
On the left is Hiromi Takeuchi who is visiting ICTA as she journeys around the USA and travels to different parts of the world. Hiromi is Japanese and has a passion to become a translator for people who journey to Spanish speaking countries or Japan! When visiting ICTA Hiromi also loves to hit tennis balls with my students! In front is Luke from Costa Rica. Anastasia from Ukraine is on the right…both Luke and Ana are full time students of mine.
My life is so blessed.
I am able to coach full time amazing young men and women from countries worldwide. I get to plan and implement large-scale mission trips to prestigious pro tennis tournaments. I have friends who care about me. I attend a tremendous church and am friends with my pastor, missions pastor, and worship leader. I am the director of an international sports ministry.
Wow. God is so good.
I pray God is leading you in your life. That you know the peace that comes from giving Him all.
That you ignore Satan’s lies as he works to destroy your confidence….
Regardless of how young or how old, how rich or how poor… God can and will use you, if you only open your heart to Him.
God bless,
Scott Paschal
April 4, 2009
International Christian Tennis Association Pics from Sony Ericsson Open
Enjoy some sights from the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open.
Man, have we had a great time shining for Christ to over 250,000 tennis fans from around the world.
We are each exhausted, yet fulfilled.
More soon… scotty
Huge Jumbotron Screen Showed Stadium Matches
Men's Draw
ICTA Gained Record Breaking Numbers of New Members at This Event!
Local TV News Interviewed Me... Great Time Sharing ICTA w/ Miami!
March 29, 2009
Coach Scott Paschal Raising Some Heaven With Christiantennis.net In Miami, Florida!
Roger Federer signed newly designed and embroidered ICTA God is Good Baseball Cap for ICTA Women's Pro Tennis Team Fundraiser
Women's Draw and Stadium
ICTA President, Scott Paschal, introducing ICTA Global Outreach to tennis fans.
ICTA Global Outreach has a fantastic location near the Grandstand, Beach Tennis, Fila Touring Camps, and Royal Caribbean Cruises!
Tennis fans worldwide have joined ICTA Membership. Christian books are travelling worldwide! A body of believers is gathering!
Melody Snelen, ICTA Women's Pro Tennis Team member, giving away ICTA God is Good fans. These fans have John 3:16 on the back and information on ICTA's Travel Tour packages to 2009 US OPEN!
View from inside ICTA Outreach booth as people excitedly join ICTA Global Membership
ICTA Full Time Academy Student, Mark (from Mexico), setting up ICTA Global Outreach booth.
Stadium
March 27, 2009
Scott Paschal and International Christian Tennis Association @ Sony Ericsson Open
ICTA Founder, Scott Paschal, with new ICTA members!
I’m having a great time here at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida.
ICTA Global Missions is hosting a large-scale outreach offering free Christian materials to over 300,000 tennis fans.
These two ladies with me in this picture are new ICTA members… and I had a great time with them yesterday, and again this morning as they came by ICTA’s booth on their way to watch a match in the Grandstand.
In our outreach booth we offer free Bibles and Christian books. ICTA also offers a free membership to anyone who would like to join.
Our membership has grown by about 150 people the first couple of days. Engineers, tennis pros, teachers, writers, financial investors, dentists, students and much, much more… a lot interesting people.
I’m having a really nice time meeting them.
Will send more updates as time allows. I have internet access here at our booth, but little time to write so far.
Thanks for your prayers as International Christian Tennis Association brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world’s 5th largest pro tennis tournament.
God bless!
Coach Scotty
ballboy4jesus@yahoo.com/386 793 0557/www.christiantennis.net
International Christian Tennis Association 2012 