David and Carolyn Urban

David & Carolyn Urban
David, Carolyn, Madison, Annika, and JD.

Sending Organization
Missionary Athletes International

Missionary Athletes International (MAI) is a Gospel-centered ministry that introduces people to Jesus Christ, teaches them to follow Him, and empowers them as leaders through the global environment of soccer.

MAI’s motto is: Playing a game to change the world.

We use the world’s most popular sport, soccer, to train coaches and create teams that influence people for Christ through a unique combination of soccer excellence, authentic community, ministry engagement, and spiritual growth.

We believe that soccer teams are an effective means to influence people for Christ and see God transform lives because:

• Soccer is the world’s most popular sport

• 90% of people make decisions to follow Christ before the age of 18

• A coach is one of the most influential figures in a young person’s life

MAI has six Divisions located in six major metropolitan areas of the United States: Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Eagles); Chicago, IL (Chicago Eagles), Los Angeles, CA (SoCal Seahorses), High Point, NC, (Imago Dei), Phoenix, AZ (Phoenix Eagles) and Orlando, FL (Orlando Eagles), with additional ministry partner programs occurring in other states and countries.

MAI is uniquely equipped and positioned to share the good news of Jesus Christ worldwide, including several regions restricted to traditional efforts. Since its inception, MAI has partnered with like-minded churches and organizations across the globe to create soccer ministry opportunities for hundreds of coaches, teams, and thousands of players. These opportunities include coach training and short-term trips, or tours, for players. We train these coaches and players by combining excellence in soccer, authentic community, and our unique sports ministry training curriculum. This is done in a context that encourages and serves ongoing overseas sports ministry initiatives. Through our international tours and training, MAI desires to generate teams of influential coaches and players who impact lives and inspire people to flourish in and for Christ wherever they are planted.

Prayer Requests

·  Wisdom and discernment to lead, serve, and love well the 60+ missionaries of MAI

·  Discernment for current and future opportunities to provide our Sports Ministry Training to local church leaders in hard-to-reach places around the world

·  See lives transformed in our urban and youth club programs

·  Personal: financial and prayer support raising for our family