John Reutener

We have been serving the Lord together for 11 years.  In 1994 we met in a laundry room while attending staff training for Campus Crusade for Christ.  At that point, only a world of differences seemed to separate us.  Lisa had left her law practice to join Athletes in Action and invest in the lives of youth, and John was focused on completing the steps needed to journey to Africa.  

After a year of growing in our friendship, we married and God joined our two ministries.   We began serving  at the Athletes In Action (AIA) overnight camp and conference center.  Together we had the opportunity to disciple counselors and to see campers come to Christ.  

Then, in September 1996, we went to South Africa for a year to help develop an AIA ministry there.  While in South Africa we also had the opportunity to mentor a Zimbabwean professional soccer player and with him pioneer an AIA sports camp in Zimbabwe, Africa.  Before returning to the USA we visited the Campus
Crusade  for Christ ministry in Mali, Africa to promote and encourage sport ministry in northwest Africa.  

After our year in Africa, we returned to work at AIA’s camp and conference center.  But our heart continued to beat for the people in Africa.  In January 1999 God led us to take a group of college students with AIA to Africa.  The missions project started in South Africa, then it proceeded to Zimbabwe.  In our time there we were able to help show the Jesus Film in squatter camps where millions of Africans live in poverty.  We also discipled and trained key athletes and volunteers and helped run the overnight sports camp that we had  pioneered when we were there in 1997.

Shortly after we returned to the USA we added another member to our team!  Caleb was born in July 1999.  In March 2000, we moved to California to receive cross-cultural and seminary training to prepare us to return to Africa and minister there long term.  It was during our time in California that we added the fourth member of our team!  Josiah was born January 2002.  Both our boys have been an incredible blessing and are valuable members of our ministry team.