MAI
Missionary Athletes International
The Phoenix Eagles are a Division of Missionary Athletes International (MAI). MAI was founded in 1983 with a mission of glorifying God and seeing lives transformed by sharing the message of Jesus Christ through the global environment of soccer. Today, MAI has 5 Divisions in the United States, located in: Southern California; Charlotte, North Carolina; High Point, North Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona with additional ministry affiliate programs occurring in other states and countries around the world.
We offer a progressive pathway through the game of soccer, aimed at meeting players and coaches where they are, and moving them to the next level. Our goal is for everyone to experience:
Excellent Soccer, Authentic Community, Spiritual Growth and Ministry Involvement.
Missionary Athletes International has a passion to share the message of Jesus Christ with people around the world through the sport of soccer. Since soccer is the world's most popular sport, more countries belong to FIFA (the organization that governs international competition) than belong to the United Nations! Roll out a soccer ball almost anywhere in the world and you will attract a crowd of children. Through the common enjoyment of this world-wide sport, we are able to build relationships that allow us to share the message of God's redeeming love.
Our Core Values
FAITH
We root ourselves in a Biblical worldview, guides our decisions and our actions. We place a high priority on prayer, submitting our plans to the Lord and seeking His will in all of our endeavors. We trust God to provide for our needs and staff members experience this collectively as we raise our own personal financial support. We use the sport of soccer for sharing the gospel in places that may be difficult to access otherwise.
RELATIONSHIP
We establish the community through which we cultivate lives for Christ. We must be involved in relationships so that we can be transformed and have an impact on others. We strive to be a resource to the body of Christ and, in order to do so, we develop partnerships with other believers, increasing our effectiveness.
SUBMISSION
We desire to see God glorified over our own ambitions. We submit our love of the sport of soccer, our pride and ambitions to the cross. We seek to develop sports ministers who are “Christians who play soccer” rather than “soccer players who are Christians”.
TRANSFORMATION
We seek to see “lives changed” through the transforming power of the gospel applied through Sports Ministry Training (SMT). This happens through developing an authentic relationship with Christ and applying it on and off the field. The transformation starts in our hearts, is demonstrated in our actions and bears fruit as we serve others.
LOVE
We are motivated by love in everything we do. We cannot give away what we do not have. Because we have received the perfect love of the Father, we can now give it away to others. Once we have experienced the love of God, the natural response is to tell others about it. The result of being connected to the very source of love is a selfless, sacrificial, servant- minded approach to ministry. God’s love compels, motivates, and urges us to be practical expressions of His love through the environment of soccer.
