Pro athletes host fun, share faith

  • Published
  • By Airman Samantha S. DeVries
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Sharing their message of hope and peace, two former National Football League players, two former Major League Baseball players and one former Ice Capades skater visited the base April 23 through 27.

Sponsored by the Liberty Chapel's Protestant community here, the athletes came to volunteer their time and share their faith with Airmen and their families through Unlimited Potential Incorporated, or UPI, said Chaplain (Capt.) Richard Anderson, base chapel.

Bryan Hickerson, head of the military division with UPI, played five years in the Major Leagues with the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies.

Mr. Hickerson joined UPI more than eight years ago and spent this time traveling to Germany, Italy, Afghanistan, Kosovo and many stateside Army forts. This is the ministry's first Air Force visit.

According to Chaplain Anderson, the visit fell into place after clicking on a UPI link on the internet while trying to find an athlete to attend the national prayer luncheon, which led him to Mr. Hickerson and the other athletes.

The former NFL and MLB players who accompanied Mr. Hickerson were not knew to this kind of ministry work, said the chaplain.

Mike McCoy, who played 11 years in the NFL, spent time in Thailand with the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Mike Davis played nine years in the MLB including a trip to the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodger and has visited other military installations on similar missions.

"It's given me a chance to see a lot of the world while sharing my faith," he said.

Keith Elias played five years in the NFL and one year in the XFL after an extremely successful career at Princeton University where he left holding 21 of the school's records.

Mr. Elias' faith inspired him to join the base visit, he added.

During their stop, the athletes hosted a baseball clinic for Gunfighter children at Hamlet Field here April 24. On the following day, the group played against the base's first sergeants and chiefs in a volleyball game at the fitness center here with the shirts and chiefs winning two of the three games.

Throughout their time, the athletes attended cookouts with various squadrons to visit with Airmen. Meanwhile, Kia McCoy, former Ice Capades skater and wife of Mr. McCoy, spoke to different units throughout the visit, including the spouse's club.

These athletes simply love and appreciate military communities and believe in giving back to those who serve, according to Chaplain (Maj.) Dennis Saucier, base chapel.

The visit wrapped up April 26 with a sports rally at the Liberty Chapel where the athletes shared their faith.

"When we leave, we hope the Gunfighters will have been encouraged, loved and challenged spiritually," Mr. Hickerson said.

For more information regarding UPI, visit www.upi.org.