“Uplifting individuals and communities around the world by demonstrating God’s love for His people.”
That’s the mission of the AO1 Foundation, or the Audience of One Foundation, started by Christian NFL quarterback Carson Wentz.
He may be a pro football player, but he’s also committed to sharing the love of Jesus with the world around him.
And God is indeed uplifting many people through the AO1 Foundation!
Carson Wentz is a star quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, but his vision reaches far beyond football.
“Audience of one” is a phrase that Wentz has thought about for years. He even has it tattooed on the inside of his wrist as a reminder.
It’s a reflection of his goal to live his life for one person – Jesus Christ.
Likewise, his Audience of One Foundation was born out of a desire to share the love of Jesus with a hurting world and those in need.
Wentz’s passion for God’s work was born both out of his mission trips to Haiti and his success in the NFL. After his first season in professional football, he felt called to use his platform to make a difference for God.
He had seen the need in both Haiti and the United States, so he formed the AO1 Foundation in response.
The foundation focuses on three main areas: food distribution, discipleship through outdoor activities, and an international sports ministry.
“We believe we are all uniquely gifted to serve others,” says the foundation. “We can do exceedingly more with others than we can do alone.”
The foundation’s ministries embody those ideals well.
Thy Kingdom Crumb (TKC), the foundation’s food distribution service, exists to “demonstrate the love of God and to infuse His hope by feeding all people and uplifting communities.”
To that end, TKC distributes free, high-quality food through various events and venues, making connections with local individuals and communities in hopes of spreading the Gospel. TKC recognizes that there are many ways to feed people, both physically and spiritually.
The Outdoor Ministry portion of AO1 exists to “foster a genuine passion for outdoor activities and bring people closer to God through discipleship.”
Wentz believes that people of all ages can learn valuable life lessons from working and playing outdoors. One part of the ministry in particular, Camp Conquerors, is focused on leading youth toward Christ.
Camp Conquerors works through a Gospel-centered curriculum to teach youth about self-confidence and healthy relationships. Wentz makes a point of sharing his personal testimony with the young people every time he can.
Youth who come to Christ during a Camp Conquerors program are mentored in their faith even after the program is over.
The final piece of the AO1 Foundation is the Haiti Sports Complex. Wentz’s passion through this ministry is “to bring hope to a nation through sport.”
By funding the continued development of a sports complex in Haiti, AO1 hopes to use sports to “mobilize and inspire people from different cultures and backgrounds.” The foundation firmly believes in the connecting power of sports.
These three ministries—TKC, Outdoor Ministry, and the Haiti Sports Complex—combine to fulfill Wentz’s vision of spreading the love of Christ.
What’s truly extraordinary about the AO1 Foundation is how universally it’s supported.
Wentz’s family is fully involved with the foundation – his older brother, Zach, serves as the foundation’s executive director and Wentz’s wife, Madison, has a heart for the Haiti ministry.
Even Wentz’s fellow Eagles teammates are unanimously in support of his dreams and vision for the foundation. They participate in charity events and help raise funds for the foundation.
The city of Philadelphia loves Carson Wentz, their star quarterback, and they extend that love to his foundation. Wentz praised his community, saying the community “gets behind what we’re doing” through the AO1 Foundation.
Despite the local and national attention, though, Wentz stays focused on his own audience of one by committing the foundation’s work to God, one project at a time.
His favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
The AO1 Foundation is certainly an example of giving one’s life over to God. Wentz has turned his talent for football into a platform for helping those around him draw closer to God in any way possible.
To learn more about the AO1 Foundation, visit the foundation’s website. Keep Carson Wentz in your prayers as he seeks to be a witness for Christ in his professional and personal life.
And remember to live life for your audience of one!
