My name is Scotty Paschal.  My job description here at the International Christian Tennis Academy is to grow Christian tennis athletes into professional tennis players.   I'm not really a writer.  I'm good with chalk on a tennis court, though.  Usually when someone asks me to write an article, I start to squirm and try to remember my favorite excuses. But, this section on Becoming a Christian is something I really wanted to do.   It's important to me.  Well, you're important to me.

I may not have everything spelled out just right or worded properly, so you'll just have to keep your red marker in your pocket and "bear" with me or end up with a really messed up screen.  I'll use both of my typing fingers on this to try to keep errors to a minimum.  I'm also Italian, so if I get a bit loud you'll understand.   When you are finished reading this, send me an email.  I want to know if it helps you.

Go grab some pizza and a coke, then settle back in here, like that bear in the picture, so we can talk.

I thought I'd visit with you for a bit before heading out to the courts.  I want you to know about my Jesus. 

( That's me on the right of the picture along with Coach Tony and some of the gang!  This was at our awesome outreach booth we set up during our ICTA 2nd Annual Nasdaq 100 Open Mission Trip in Key Biscayne, Florida! What a good time we had...) 

I am a Christian.  Wasn't always.  Thought I was, you know.  But, I am now.  My life was affected by a few people who cared enough to keep at me.  Mostly my brother, David, and sister in law, Mindy.  You too, Mom.    These people kept telling me things about God and life.  Took a while to sink in.  Kinda like someone telling me to change my grip on my serve.   My life as a kid and a young man was kinda rough as my dad died when I was in High School   I'm glad I had a few people who cared.  I needed a change.  I needed a message that made sense to Scotty Paschal.

That gets me into the Christian part of the International Christian Tennis Association. You've probably noticed our name by now.   It's  kinda "in your face" stuff.  Wow!  You know... I like that.  That's how I teach tennis!  My kids go all out on the court in a definite "in your face" style of play.  Why play like a wimp?  Play confident and strong with no excuses.  My International Christian Tennis Academy is also strong and confident.  We're here to become tennis playing professionals.  Why?  I'll tell you why.  So that we can share the Word of God to the world when we play in the Slams.  So that we can share the awesome news of Salvation through Jesus Christ in dozens of countries when our juniors play tournaments on our mission trips.  So that when our lives are completed, we can confidently look back and know we gave it everything  we  had... no excuses.      

And let me tell you something.  There is a world of people out there who need your help.  They are lost and confused and have bitten into all of satan's lies.  Our sport of tennis is a mess.  Anyone who doubts this should go watch a junior tournament.  Take a look at the parents.  Watch the kids with poor attitudes.  Ouch!  When God used me to bring Christianity into this sport, MAN was I pounded  from all directions as the Holy Spirit convicted people everywhere.  You know me... I don't chase people with bibles or anything, but I do stand up as a Christian in our Godless sport of tennis.  Some of these people hate Jesus and spend a lot of their time to trying to get me to zip up.

But you know what?  I'm not going anywhere!  I'll let my Jesus deal with those folks. 

You see, I'm a Christian and that means I am forgiven.  Completely and totally forgiven.  My students are forgiven.  Their parents are forgiven.  If you are a Christian...you are forgiven too.  And you and I will be playing tennis together in heaven!  If you are not a Christian... watch out, you need to become saved today... right now or you will spend eternity in hell.  You can become a Christian no matter what your life is like or what you have done and don't believe people who tell you different.

The International Christian Tennis Association is just that... Christian!  Sometimes, our being a Christian tennis sports ministry/ association doesn't agree with some people.  Many religions and cultures in the world are not based on Christianity.  Satan has a tight control in some places.  We'll receive emails that sometimes are just downright mean!  Sometimes, our ICTA Christian Tennis Team players are met with people who choose not to hear one word on Jesus!  Not one word!  To us, that's a situation we love.   It gives us an opportunity to share His love and message for hope.

That's when God comes in.  He gives us a pretty powerful, life changing way to share his message of Salvation through Jesus Christ with those who are a bit "disagreeable."

That fantastic way is by planting seeds.  Seeds of love.  Seeds of hope.

Some people we reach on International Christian Tennis Association tournament mission trips have never heard of Jesus.  Some have been mistaught in their "religion."  Some come from the hopeless, aetheistic ways of communism.  We never know what we'll run up against.  But so what!  We have a plan.  We plant seeds!  Now, I'm not talking seeds like in carrot seeds, or watermelon seeds and such.  We're not really into farming or agriculture.  What I'm talking about is planting "seeds of life."  You know... seeds of an everlasting life with Jesus!  That's what I'm talking about here!  Going to Heaven.  But you know, each of us is like that watermelon.  Full of potential for planting hundreds of seeds!

Wanna know our plan of seed planting?  Then read on, but sit a little closer to the screen... I want you to get the full effect.  Ready?  Enough, Coke?  Another piece of pizza?  Go get it and come back,  I'm not going anywhere right now.

Seed planting goes a little like this: 

1. We give out info.
2. Refer back to No. 1

Got it?  Ok, good.

"What?" you ask.  "Is that it... to plant a seed, you just give out info!?" 

Yes.

Our job is to plant the seed.  We love it.  We plant and plant and plant.  Some ways we plant are:

• We tell someone at a tournament that we're Christians.  That may lead into a conversation where we can share Jesus.
• We hand out Bibles.  Subtle, huh?
• We hand out pieces of paper called tracts that share a Christian message.
• We give away stuff you guys donate to the ICTA missions programs; like old tennis equipment and Christian literature, to the poorer communities both here and abroad.  That gives us a tremendous opportunity to witness!  This is actually our best way to really reach in there and preach!  Kinda like we give them tennis shoes so they can run away from satan!
• We donate money to their lives. ( The kids really prefer shoes, but mom and dad like the groceries! )
• We have this website. 
• Worldwide mission trips
• Youth rallies
• We listen.

Here is a simple bit of writing I want to share with you.  It shares how to become a Christian.  I like it.  It's easy reading with a tough message.  Let me write it for you.

How To Become A Christian

A Christian is not someone who is perfect or who promises to be perfect.  Instead, a Christian is a person who admits imperfection before God- having many faults and sins. A Christian knows that forgiveness does not come from attending religious services, or by being baptized, or by trying hard to be a good person.

A Christian is someone who trusts in the Lord Jesus alone as the Forgiver of sins- because Jesus died for those sins on the cross, and as the Giver of eternal life- because Jesus conquered death by rising from the grave.

You are invited to follow simple prayer of accepting Jesus' gift of forgiveness and eternal life.  You need only ask and believe.  Becoming a Christian is not complicated, but it is humbling.

Pray this prayer:

 " Dear Jesus, thank you for making me and loving me, even when I've ignored you and gone my own way.  I realize I need you in my life and I'm sorry for my sins.  I ask you to forgive me.  Thank you for dying on the cross for me.  Please help me to understand it more.  As much as I know how, I want to follow you from now on.  Please come into my life and make me a new person inside.  I accept your gift of salvation.  Please help me to grow now as a new Christian."

Ok, I feel better now.  I'm going to head out to the courts and hit some balls with the kids.  If you need me, I'm just an email or phone call away.  I'm here for you guys. You're not alone. Grab a Coke and some pizza and get a hold of me...  we'll figure it out together.

God's love,  Coach Scotty Paschal

email: ballboy4Jesus@yahoo.com / 704 402 8602