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| H&N file photo ‘It was life-changing’: Oregon Tech junior Myles Daley, shown during this year’s NAIA Division II national tournament in Branson, Mo., spent a month in Lebanon representing Athletes in Action, the sports ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. AIA works with athletes and coaches to use athletics to help people around the world with questions of faith. |
OIT junior spent one month in Lebanon with Athletes in Action
By STEVE MATTHIES
H&N Sports Writer
The 6-foot-7 Oregon Tech junior was not alone.
It happens all the time for those who tour with Athletes in Action.
“It’s not easy to share about your whole life before a bunch of strangers,” Daley said of his AIA tour to Lebanon, where he and his teammates spent most of their time in the capital city of Beirut.
“It’s hard.”
Like everyone on the team, including support personnel, Daley had to learn to share his Christian faith in three minutes, which was done at halftime and after games, during camps and at orphanages.
“Our task was to help establish the ground work for AIA in Lebanon,” he said.
The ministry, in which all members are required to raise their own travel funds, previously sent soccer sides to the Middle Eastern country, but Daley and his teammates were the first to go as a basketball team.
“We only had six players, so I pretty much played the whole game, every game,” Daley said.
The AIA often had Lebanese recruits, some of whom played for the United Brothers, the local team that the AIA contingent was in the country to support.
‘Lot of planting and watering’
As is so often the case, the disappointment comes when the many faith testimonies do not yield many converts.
“To not see the fruits of our labors before our eyes was discouraging,” Daley said, “but we did do a lot of planting and watering, though.”
As is often the case, the biggest change, the most visible growth, is with AIA members themselves.
“It was life-changing, especially to see a different culture and to see the brothers and sisters in Christ we connected with. Seeing them worship the same God, in a different language, had an impact on me,” Daley said.
“The challenge, so far as being a player, was giving it your all every game. Then, when you’re all tired, sharing your testimony.”
Daley, who shared his testimony six times, discussed how he has grown to understand the peace of God that passes all understanding.
“I shared about the shot I made to get (South Medford) into the state championship game my senior season, and then about the crash,” Daley said. “Popularity is not where it’s at.”
Within days after the big shot, Daley lost a grandfather to cancer. A few days later, three friends were killed in an automobile accident. He shared that after the crash, and the return to reality, he discovered his need to give his life completely over to God.
All of that helped culminate his actions following his tour this summer.
“I wrote on my shoes after the trip, ‘4 Him,’ ” Daley said. “I want to use the rest of my career to praise Him and have dedicated my career to Him. I really don’t have a plan, but will see how He leads as I go along.
“It will be a challenge. It’s an impact I haven’t yet met.”
He knows people will be watching, especially since he is expected to play a key role for the Hustlin’ Owls when they begin defense of their NAIA Division II national championship Nov. 1.
“I’m ready,” Daley said.
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Susan Stafford wrote on Oct 6, 2008 12:51 PM: