Fitness enthusiasts can show religious devotion while working out through sports apparel lines, such as the one offered by a company called Active Faith.
Launched in 2012, Active Faith is a Christian athletic apparel company in Texas that provides premium sportswear while using the influence of athletics as a ministry, according to the company's Facebook page. The company's self-declared mission is to use active lifestyles and sports platform to spread the Gospel and display love for Jesus Christ.
"We recognize it is a blessing to be active, and we use our talents to glorify God from whom our abilities come," asserts the company online.
Former professional basketball player Lanny Smith founded the Active Faith sports brand, selling to customers in 24 countries. In fact, Smith recorded a testimonial video as part of the launch. He credits his mother and his faith for his approach to recovering from a major foot injury and resulting surgeries. "I was blessed with His (God's) vision for a Christian sports apparel brand. I really feel it was something God placed on my heart," Smith said.
Active Faith products include shirts, tights, hoodies, slide shoes, socks, backpacks, hats, wristbands and phone cases. Some of the company's Facebook fans this month are beginning to make Christmas requests.
On Nov. 6, basketball announcer and Christian from Sullivan, Mo., Marty Tiefenbrunn retweeted that he loved Active Faith's line of products.
One of the company's blog entries from earlier this year stated: "Since the beginning of our brand being in existence, there has been one particular question that seems to always come up: What does Jesus have to do with sports? This question often leads to others like, 'Does God care about who wins games?' and 'How does praying help an athlete during a game?'"
Professional basketball player Jeremy Lin's sudden rise to superstardom coincided with the launch of Active Faith, as he wore his "In Jesus' Name I Play" bands on his wrists while taking the National Basketball Association and the world by storm, the blog continued. Lin currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets. He is one of the few Asian-Americans in NBA history, and the first American of Chinese or Taiwanese descent to play in the league. He also is known for his public expression of his evangelical Christianity.
"I do think my purpose is to play basketball, play well, and play for the glory of God," Lin has been quoted.
Lin was a leader in Harvard's Asian American Christian Fellowship during his time there. He credited his NBA success to playing without pressure. "I've surrendered that to God. I'm not in a battle with what everybody else thinks anymore," said Lin. He hopes to become a pastor who can head up non-profit organizations, according to Wikipedia sources.
Active Faith's Christian-inspired designs and messages earned its managers the 2012 Houston Upstart Business Award. On Nov. 11, veterans and active U.S. military personnel could order apparel at discounted prices.
Other Christian-themed sportswear companies include Cross Over Athletics and Prep Sportswear.
