July 20, 2007
Christian Tennis Camps: David’s Dad, Brian!
December 22, 2005
Our Story,
“I am proud to say that the impact David received from this 6 week ICTA summer camp may very well have been the single most influential moments in his life. I thank God for Scotty and his vision to bring glory to the kingdom of God through great athletes and great individuals with great character.” Brian Crossland, Father of ICTA Summer 2005 Camper, David Crossland
God has had his hands all over our relationship with Scott Paschal and his sports ministry, the International Christian Tennis Association.
The more I think about all the ,”so called”, “coincidences”, about how my family and ICTA got together, the more I have to laugh and realize God has put this whole thing together despite us!
It all started earlier this year, in March of 2005, when my son David (then 13), and I went to Florida for some much needed R and R. We played a lot of tennis, hit the beach a lot, and ran into a poster one day with these words written on it, “NASDAQ 100″.
Well, having never been to a professional tennis event before and being quite interested, David and I decided to check it out. I kind of had to pull him along though…..you see, David would rather play sports than watch a sport any day. So, eventually we found ourselves at the event. After a while we were getting ready to head out, and we ran into Scotty and the other ICTA missionaries and at his booth.
Well, I was very impressed with his vision and heart for young, Christian athletes. I decided that I would stay in touch and just see what would become of this whole Christian tennis deal.
Well, we head home….2500miles away in Idaho…and got back into our daily lives and never really made any concrete plans to have David go to ICTA Camps because, after all, I didn’t really know Scotty and as much as you might want to, you really don’t want to just take a chance like sending your son away to a camp that you know virtually nothing about.
While home I remember Scotty telling me about a girl he coaches in Boise, actually one of the absolute top players in our state, who had come to ICTA’s camp often and that we should talk with her and her mom and see what they thought about the camp and so forth.
I couldn’t remember what Scotty said their names were, and in time completely forgot about even contacting anyone.
As it turns out… it was Lynn and Brittany Moore that he was talking about.
So, during a weekly tournament tune-up for juniors I came to pick up David from practice. I was just a bit early and as I came through the door of the Boise Racquet Club…a very sweet lady grabbed the door for me and looked me square in the eyes as I said, “thank you”, she said with a big smile, “You’re welcome.”
I knew that this lady was differentand. she had a glow about her that made me want to know more about her, and having not seen her around before….I took the initiative and began aconversation with her.
Well, I was so surprised to find out that she was Lynn Moore, the lady who had sent her daughter to ICTA that Scotty told me about!
She said sending her young daughter, Brittiny, to train with Coach Scotty and participate in all of the incredible ICTA Christian programs, was one of the best decisions they have ever made.
She could not say enough things about Scotty and how much he really cares about the kids.
Well, I guess you can say that I am a lot like that guy in the Kenny Rogers song the Gambler….because I have made a living out of reading peoples faces for the better part of my life (the last 11 years as a pharmaceutical sales rep). And one thing I knew was that this sweet lady was telling me the truth, and once I combined that with the feeling I got from Scotty, well, that was all I needed to hear.
I began to get David ready for ICTA’s Summer Camp ASAP.
Scotty could not have been more accommodating. Though ICTA’s camps were completely full, he remembered me and wanted to give my son the opportunity to come!
He made things so easy for David to come and be a part of a high performance tennis camp and the Hall of Fame mission trip that followed.
Not only did David learn a great deal of tennis, but he also grew in wisdom and in understanding. Unbelievably, my son trained with amazing players we do not have in our area, and in a Christian environment, then drove with ICTA Global Missions 1500 miles to Newport, Rhode Island!
He participated in daily Bibles studies, creative Discipleship Training classes that teach kids how to preach. At the Hall of Fame he watched top ATP players play on grass in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Classic and trained every day for tennis in Coach Scotty’s tennis camps! It was so great and he still tells everyone about his experience with ICTA!
Granted, he is only a young 14 years old now…but, the things learned from Scotty and the others he carries with him to this day.
I am proud to say that the impact here received from this 6 week ICTA summer camp may very well have been the single most influential moments in his life. I thank God for Scotty and his vision to bring glory to the kingdom of God through great athletes and great individuals with great character.
I have to mention one more of the “coincidental” things that happened as I sent my baby boy… again only 13 years old … across the country for the first time… without his daddy….
When flying to Florida for his ICTA Summer Camp after he made his first connection on the plane in New Mexico …. David was sitting in his seat waiting for the plane to take off, the plane was almost full and there were just a few seats left when a nice young man and his father asked if they could sit next to David in the two empty seats.
Well, if you can believe this… it was Rob….one of the just 14 kids that were spending the next few weeks together at the International Christian Tennis Association! On the same plane as my son on his first flight without me ever!
Rob and his dad, Andy, had never met David before and never even knew about each other until they began to talk. David called me on his cell to tell me all about this!
I almost cried when I realized that my boy was truly in Gods hands!
I even spoke with Rob’s father. He put me right at ease as he told me he would make sure David made the transfers and everything on the way to Orlando.
There is so much more to tell but suffice to say…
I think the world of Scotty and the program and we are planning to send our son back to ICTA fulltime shortly.
Brian and David Crossland
