07.20.07
Radio Show Producer from Australia, Luke!
From Australia with Love It is hard to put into words what the International Christian Tennis Association and Coach Scotty Paschal has done for me and my work. I can not talk about how he has helped me with my forehand, backhand, or physical fitness because I do not play tennis. Don’t get me wrong, I love the game but if Scotty saw me with a racquet in hand he would be embarrassed beyond belief. I serve like Michael Chang at the French Open after being injected with a general anaesthetic. I am however involved in Sports Ministry in the media and a few years ago I was searching for some people who might know something about different sports to spend some time on the radio chatting about those sports and I came across this ICTA. I emailed asking if somebody would talk about the pro-tour and I received a reply with the enthusiasm that we come to expect from Scotty. “Hi Luke, Sure we’d be thrilled to talk pro tennis with you on your program! I’m excited at the opportunity! The Australian Open is about to kick off the new tennis season in a huge way… it’s a great time to get started with a new weekly tennis broadcast.” Was the email that came on the 8th of January 2004. A few emails later and I was starting to doubt whether I was actually onto the winner that I first thought. An email from Scotty mentioned the ‘kids running him around the court’ and I had this vision of a sixty year old man coaching six year old kids and being excited to talk pro tennis just because it was a chance someone would listen to an senile old man’s ravings. Well, Scotty was not sixty and the kids were not six (I can’t argue against the senile though) and I truly ‘was’ on a winner. I planned to have someone talk about professional tennis; I got a friend, a mentor, and an accountability partner. We have had responses from around the world loving the chats with Scotty about tennis and the ‘passion’ that he has and the stories that he can tell, but the biggest gift has been his friendship. It was almost immediately that we had a bond but still nearly two years later we have never ‘physically’ met. We have never experienced a hand shake or a hug but we have actually met. We have met in our prayers and we have met in the encouraging words that have lasted weeks afterwards. We have met in a deep spiritual way that simply can’t be explained. Scotty loves God and everything that is of Him. He loves his players that he has a chance to guide and lead on and off the tennis court and he can love you as well if you give him half a chance. Scotty and the ICTA are not about tennis but about God and tennis is just the added fun that they have along the way. I love the image that I have of Scotty coaching the number one player in the world in a Grand Slam final when the cameras catch him communicating to his player during a match. An investigation forces them to try and work out what he was saying and they discover that they can’t fine him for breaking the rules because his words were actually, “tell them about Jesus’. Can you imagine John McEnroe’s reaction to that? Luke H. Senior Presenter/Producer; Australia
December 2005
Luke
International Christian Tennis Academy: Brittiny’s Mom, Lynn!
Britty and Scotty Paschal on an ICTA Global Mission Trip to the International Tennis Hall of Fame! This pic was taken during Rachel and Melody Snelen’s birthday party at Chili’s. Britty has been with us since 2002 when she was just 12 years old!
The International Christian Tennis Association has awesome coaches and role models for our daughter, Brittiny! They do not settle for second best. They have high standards and morals for our children to abide by. I love all of the coaches as if they are like my family. We even had the privilege to have one of the coaches come and stay with us here in Idaho for a visit from Florida a couple of years ago. She was such a joy to all of us. You truly are building relationships for a lifetime when you send you child to the ICTA. They care about the youth and where they are going in life.
Several years ago, our daughter, Brittiny, was online looking for a tennis academy and found the ICTA web site all by herself. Britt was ranked #1 G12 Intermountain and was interested in further developing her tennis game. I talked with Coach Scott Paschal and was awe struck how God once again puts people in our lives and we have no control over His ultimate plan.
We first met the ICTA coaches on our way to the 2002 USTA Super Nationals in Florida (which, by the way, ICTA is now a sponsor of!). We told them we had a layover in Dallas, where they were located at that time, and they met us at the airport. They told us on how they were moving to Florida and about the new facility and training opportunities. My husband and I talked and prayed about sending our then 11 year old to train with basically total strangers. She had never been anywhere without us before! We decided to let her go.
It was the best thing we could have done for her. Not only did they train her in tennis and her skills improved, but also missionary training, working for others not only for herself, learning to depend on God, and also became more responsible for taking care of herself. Mel and Rachel are like big sisters to Britt. The kind of role models you could only wish to have for your children. Coach Scotty is a super coach that knows how to fix your tennis problems within minutes after watching you play. He has been such a great mentor for us in guiding us in the direction to take our daughter.
One of my most favorite memories with the International Christian Tennis Academy is when I came to visit them in Florida and see my daughter while she was training. The ICTA had a room in the house ready for me to stay in which was so awesome. It is truly like one big family. I had the privilege of cooking a yummy dinner with them. It was so fun sharing those precious moments with everyone who was there. Everyone pitches in to help. No one is exempt from helping! This is another great thing the ICTA offers, actual life training, responsibility, working together, and cooking!
Another neat memory I have was when my daughter was playing a junior tournament in Florida at Coach Scotty’s tennis facility, The Player’s Tennis Club, where Coach Scotty was the General Manager. Britt was playing a beginning player. I mean a complete beginner! It was not an even level of play and instead of a 6-0, 6-0 match, which if you had one of those, they are very discouraging, Coach Scotty stopped the match before the first game was over and started a fun practice with both Britt and the other player, and turned what could have been a terrible experience into a positive for Britt’s opponent.
He did not want to see the other child loose heart and give up tennis, instead he encouraged her and left her feeling positive about herself and the sport. I have NEVER in seen anyone care so much.
The International Christian Tennis Association has given my daughter so many opportunities that we could have never been able to give her. We are so grateful to the ICTA and wish all fellow Christian tennis athletes could go there and train. Brittiny is now almost 15 and we send her to train with the ICTA and attend ICTA Global Mission trips at every opportunity we can.
What a gift from God! Thank you ICTA for all you do. I wish everyone knew how hard you all work to further the Kingdom of God.
Lynn Moore~ Idaho
