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Nick Schuetze

#0552493

Welcome Friends!


I am so excited you are here!  I want to tell you about what God’s called me to do.  You ready?  Let’s go!

There was a time I had no idea what I’d do when I grew up.  For nine years I taught high-schoolers about physics, but that job didn't last because it only hit one major passion: helping people grow and develop.  If you know me, then you know of my love of endurance sports, especially running.  And over all I absolutely love Jesus and want others to know Him too.

In 2015 God helped me see that I could incorporate my three main passions (people development, faith, & endurance sports) for ministry to runners by joining Athletes in Action Track & Field (AIA: sports-specific ministry of Cru).  At AIA we want everyone to know someone who truly follows Jesus, so we build spiritual movements everywhere using sport as an initial foundation for relationships.

I love getting to work with athletes and pointing them to Jesus.  I work to win athletes to Christ, build them up in their faith, and send them out equipped to be life-long ministers of the gospel.  What I do is unique: I don’t know of anyone seeking runners for Christ in a full-time position.   Being a missionary to runners, what I do isn’t tied to a location.
Look at the scope and awesomeness of this ministry:

Colorado Springs, CO (Home base & primary ministry location):
I am volunteer assistant coach on the men’s XC and men’s Track & Field teams at UCCS.  It’s SO cool!  I get to help young men learn about life, running, and Jesus through persistent interactions with them at practice, lifting, meals, meets, travel, and more.  I invite them to grow and learn about Jesus through bible study & discipleship.  I want them to know the one who made them and find ultimate satisfaction in Him, something sport can never give.  There's nothing quite like being there when someone gives their life to Jesus!
I lead a bible study through my church, serve with kid’s ministry, and meet with church leadership to talk about how we can grow as men, as a church body, and make a greater impact upon the world.

Around the USA:
Weekly Coaches Call:  In my travels I meet coaches and athletes from all over.  Most weeks I lead a 1 hour zoom call for coaches.  We talk shop, then discuss a Bible passage which leads into encouraging, challenging, opening-up, learning, and more.  We finish with prayer & many times a few stick around to keep talking.  It's life-giving for me and them.  We are known and we get to know each other.  One guy asks us specific questions about how God has responded to past prayer requests.  If you or someone else wants to be involved, please contact me (info below).

Events:  There are runners everywhere, so there are plenty of places to sow the seeds of the Kingdom.  Each year God takes me to a few different places.  I have done athlete and coaches chapels and/or been a sports chaplain at races & events all around the US. 
  • Each December at the week-long USTFCCCA Coaches Convention I team up with a few other AIA T&F staff to meet athletes and coaches in our sport, leading a chapel and inviting them to join us on projects and trips around the country.  
  • Every May AIA T&F hosts the Take Flight Distance Classic track meet at AIA HQ.  We invite youth runners to race and we have a fast all-comers mile!  It’s a great opportunity to introduce the idea of faith and sport going together.  It also introduces people organically to AIA.
  • I'm currently planning a summer project for college-aged distance runners (male & female) called Colorado Endurance.  Athletes will be living & training in community in beautiful Colorado Springs (6,000+ ft up!) for a month.  Athletes will be transformed by God through His word, small groups, experiences, community, trainings, the altitude, outings, service, and more.  After spending 15 years with the Altitude Project in CA, I am excited to offer another place for distance runners to come and be transformed.

Around the World:
Each summer AIA T&F sends athletes domestically and around the world to minister to others and grow in their faith. I've worked in more countries now than I would have ever expected.  Besides going to races and championships, some notable experiences have been in Estonia, Kenya, and Cameroon.  

Estonia (NE Europe) is a small country on the Baltic Sea where wonderful people live.  Tiidrek Nurme is their best Marathon runner & a great friend of mine.  Tiidrek is quite accomplished (Olympics, World Championships, and SO much more) But more than that He loves the LORD dearly and wants his country to know Jesus.  I've worked Tiidrek in at least 5 countries.  He's funny, motivated, and passionate.  I love getting to help him focus on the LORD and minister with him.

Isn’t it incredible, the variety and scope of all of this?  Just like running a great race, I can’t do this well by myself.  I first need the LORD.  And second, I need people like you.  You can be a part of God’s work transforming the lives of athletes by investing in this ministry.  How?  Prayers, financial support, & your presence.

Join me.  Make a difference, each of my guys needs someone to pray for them.  Please pray for me and my efforts.  Please invest in me with your financial and social and emotional support so I can keep going.  Come along and minister with me on a trip/event.  Your investment can do great things.

Reach out: I love talking about what I do and how you can make a difference!
Contact me with your questions, comments, great chats, or anything else.
+1 (503) 914-7799 (Calls preferred, texts are cool too)

Website: https://athletesinaction.org/track-and-field/

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