Pastor Bob Kraft,started to work spiritually with
world class athletes (NFL football, Indy Car racing, NBA basketball,
and Major League baseball) in the mid-1980's, world ranked women's
tennis players in the late-1980's and men's players in the
early-1990's. From 1996 the work focused on elite, world-class
tennis players. Bob has been in the tennis industry since 1972, and
is a Modern Tennis Methodology Coaches Association (MTMCA) Director, a registered player support coach with the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour (ATP), US Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) Pro 1 and a former
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) National Tester. His vision is to see that the players know truth
as only God can give it.
Grand Slam player countries for prayer: Remember to pray for the tournaments, administrators, umpires,
linespeople, ballpeople and fans of the tournaments that TMI attends for the next year.
For the those who have visited this site.
Tournaments attended in past year's:
3 Hopman Cup's - Perth, Australia (ITF), 1 R.M.K
Championships - Memphis, Tennessee (ATP/WTA), , 1 GDF SUEZ de
Marseille,
Marsille, France (ITF), 6 French Open's - Paris, France (ITF), 1
Indianapolis
Tennis Championships (ATP), 7 US Open's (ITF), 3 Salem Open's, Hong
Kong (ATP),
1 Hong Kong Senior (ATP), 3 JB Classic's - Hong Kong, China
(WTA)
Upon this Rock In the wise and foolish builders, Christ describes two categories in
illustrating the building of a house and our life. Many
times, seemingly good people seem to build their lives
well and wisely in terms of money, material possessions, and friends.
All these things seem good to the human mind, but their end can be
disastrous without a Rock foundation. Others build their
houses differently with Christ as the foundation.
Matthew 7:24-27 - "Therefore,
everyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise
man who built his house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat against
that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation was on the
rock. "Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't obey
them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain
fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and battered that
house, and it collapsed, and its collapse was devastating."
Method
- Confidential counseling, encouragement, discipleship materials and praise music.
- Continual prayer for the players, their families, coaches and administrators...more
- A Bible in their own language...more
- Sharing with players 'How to be born again'...
more
- In attendance at tournaments such as the US Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon and many others.
- Internet phone calls and weekly email message to players for counseling, fellwship, study and encouragement.
Helping hands
- Organizations such as Athletes in Action, Athletes
International Ministries, Champions for
Christ, Church Sports International, Fellowship of Christian Athletes,
Focus on the Family, Infinity Sports, Pro Athletes Outreach, RBC
Ministries, Sports Chaplaincy Australia and Youth With A Mission.
- Churches such as Anglican (Australia), Assembly of God, Calvary
Chapel, Christian Missionary and Alliance, Church of Christ (Australia),
Church on the Rock, Church Team Ministries
International, Every Nation, Fellowship of Grace Brethren, Lutheran
Church Missouri Synod, Southern Baptist, and
nondenominational churches.
- Professional Touring Men's, Women's, Top Junior's, their coaches, families and Tournament Administrator's.
- Former, and current, world class tennis players who have a heart to see others come to Christ. Our ministry values
Support hands
coming soon.
Touring Pros doc.
Churches doc.
Teaching pro doc.
Fans doc.
Testimonals
"Barry and I have come to know Bob Kraft during our visits to
some of the Grand Slam tournaments over the past few years. He
has a great heart for the players and is interested in not only their
personal lives, but their spiritual one as well. He is always
available for them. I would recommend that we get behind this ministry,
as it is a much needed ministry, especially to the younger players
coming into the game. Let's all help make a difference in the
sport of tennis. Keep up the good work; every soul you win
is a grand slam for Jesus!" - Margaret Court-Smith, Advisory board member. Grand Slam singles, doubles, mixed doubles champion, 1960, 1961, 1962,
1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968,1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975; world
number one singles and doubles
Endorsement: (used with permission)
"I was one of the original men on the tennis tour in the 70's that
was involved with the tennis ministry. It did not have a
consistent leader and message through the years. Bob Kraft has
given it leadership and consistency and I believe that God is working
through him on the tour to reach players at all the different levels
and nationalities. I believe that doctrinally he is solid and he
has a heart for the players." -Stan Smith Grand Slam singles, doubles champion, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1980; world number one singles and doubles
Endorsement (used with permission)
"As a Jewish believer in Jesus Christ it is exciting to see the work
that God is doing through Bob Kraft and Tennis Ministry
International. When playing professional tennis and traveling
around the world on your own it's easy to get lost in the ups and downs
of playing and lose focus of the bigger picture, like our relationship
with God. Bob has a heart for the tennis tour, players, coaches,
parents and administrators and recognizes the need for them to keep God
at the forefront of everything they do." - Brian Gottfried
Grand Slam doubles
champion and singles finalist, 1975, 1976, 1977; world number one doubles
Endorsement (used
with permission)
"I've known Bob Kraft
since we both resided in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where I was the Focus on the Family magazine editor.
I'm pleased to have served on the Tennis Ministry advisory
board since 1996 and have watched Bob labor long in a field
where the workers are few but the need is great."
- Mike Yorkey, Founding board member.
Co-author
of the "Every Man's Battle" series as well as books
with Michael Chang, Betsy McCormack, and Roscoe Tanner.
Endorsement (used
with permission)
Upon this Rock In the wise and foolish builders, Christ describes two categories in
illustrating the building of a house and our life. Many
times, seemingly good people seem to build their lives
well and wisely in terms of money, material possessions, and friends.
All these things seem good to the human mind, but their end can be
disastrous without a Rock foundation. Others build their
houses differently with Christ as the foundation.
"I was one of the original men on the tennis tour in the 70's that
was involved with the tennis ministry. It did not have a
consistent leader and message through the years. Bob Kraft has
given it leadership and consistency and I believe that God is working
through him on the tour to reach players at all the different levels
and nationalities. I believe that doctrinally he is solid and he
has a heart for the players." -Stan Smith
"As a Jewish believer in Jesus Christ it is exciting to see the work
that God is doing through Bob Kraft and Tennis Ministry
International. When playing professional tennis and traveling
around the world on your own it's easy to get lost in the ups and downs
of playing and lose focus of the bigger picture, like our relationship
with God. Bob has a heart for the tennis tour, players, coaches,
parents and administrators and recognizes the need for them to keep God
at the forefront of everything they do."
