Skip to main content

Bud Schaeffer Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CN 132

Scope and Contents

Prayer letters written by Bud and Alice Schaeffer about their mission work with Overseas Crusades. Materials relate their experiences in the Philippines, Australia, and the United States with Sports Ambassadors, which sends various athletes to foreign nations to share their faith. The groups are known by the name Venture for Victory.

Letters documents the Schaeffers' work with Overseas Crusades (particularly sports evangelism with Venture for Victory and Sports Ambassadors) and describe everyday life in the Philippines (schools, food and customs, religion), their children, family news items, and material on the Free Chinese Olympic Basketball Team; later correspondence relates similar information during their work in Australia.

This collection consists of monthly prayer letters written by Bud and Alice Schaeffer about their work and experiences with Overseas Crusades, originally called Orient Crusades, from 1955 until 1993. The letter refer to their every-day life in the Philippines -- schools, local foods, local customs, and religions. Later correspondence relates similar information during their work in Australia.

Names of players for various Venture for Victory athletic teams, results of this athletic evangelism, and other evangelistic activities are also available in the correspondence. References were also made to various Billy Graham crusades and visits by Associate evangelists.

In 1956, Schaeffer coached the Free Chinese Olympic Basketball team that went to Melbourne, Australia. Material on the team members and information on their performance may be found in the prayer letters.

Family news items were also included in their letters to the U.S., including birth announcements for three of their four children, reports on chalk talks given by Alice Schaeffer, and activities of the children as they participated in school work and mission projects.

Dates

  • Created: 1955-1993

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Bud Stanley Schaeffer was born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schaeffer on May 13, 1927, in Franklin, PA, the last of four children. His mother died while Schaeffer was a young boy and he and his father moved to Michigan City, IN, where they lived with his sister, Mrs. Carl Brown. Mrs. Brown's husband was the pastor of the local Missionary Baptist Church. The young man was converted just prior to his leaving Pennsylvania and he became very active in church fellowship after moving to Indiana.

Sports began to play an important role in Schaeffer's life as he made a name for himself while attending the Isaac C. Elston High School in Michigan City. He graduated from high school in 1945 and joined the Navy Reserves. While stationed at Great Lakes, IL, and in California, he traveled with a Navy basketball team until his discharge in 1946.

In the fall of 1946, Schaeffer entered Wheaton College where he majored in Biblical Studies; he graduated with a B.A. in 1950. Summers were spent preaching and song-leading after he was licensed by the Missionary Baptist Church, Inc., of Michigan City on June 5, 1947. While at Wheaton, he participated in basketball (all-conference guard for four years) and baseball. He was also elected as president of his class during his Freshman and Senior years.

For a short time after his graduation, Schaeffer played professional basketball with the Boston Whirlwinds. He also went on an evangelistic tour of Europe with two others (Wheaton students Art Brown and Bill Wareham) sponsored by Youth for Christ. In 1951, Schaeffer entered Fuller Theological Seminary for further biblical training. He remained active in sports and traveled to the Orient in 1952 on the first YFC-sponsored basketball team. He later returned on the Venture for Victory team, sponsored by Orient Crusades. In the process, he developed a deep concern for and interest in the Filipino people.

Schaeffer married Alice Marie Brown of Elgin, IL, in April 1951. The couple joined the Orient Crusades staff and left in May 1955 for the Philippine Islands with Sheryl, their baby daughter. Three other children were born to the Schaeffers during their terms of service in the Philippines: Teri Ann, David and Kevin.

For twelve years, the Schaeffers lived in the Philippines directing and coordinating Venture for Victory basketball teams, camp work, and sport clinics and having many pastors' and youth conferences. Venture for Victory used athletes as evangelists and missionaries. Teams from the U.S. would play local all-star teams in schools and communities. At half time, the team members would sing, testify, and present the gospel to those present. Those people who made decisions at the game were encouraged to sign up for a Bible correspondence course available through Orient Crusades.

Orient Crusades changed its name to Overseas Crusades and in 1967 they asked Schaeffer to return to the United States so he could head a new division of the organization known as Sports Ambassadors. Athletic teams of basketball and baseball players, both men and women, were recruited and sent to countries all over the world -- South America, Australia, Europe, and the Far East. members of the teams tried to raise their own support before leaving the country.

Schaeffer was inducted into the Indiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1973, he moved to Australia to establish a sports program and share the gospel. The Schaeffers lived in Adelaide from 1973 until 1976.

Returning to the United States in 1976, Schaeffer has resumed his prior commitment to and responsibilities in Sports Ambassadors. The family made their home in Santa Clara, CA.

Extent

1 document case

.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Accruals and Additions

Materials in this collection were received by the Billy Graham Center Archives in December 1979, and February 1980. Subsequent prayer letters were received and added to the collection, 1980-1993.

Accession 79-140, 80-25

July 3, 1980

Mary Ann Buffington

S. Kouns

Revised, May 13, 1983

J. Nasgowitz

February 17, 1994

Sara Henning

P. Ericksen

M. Larson

Title
Collection 132 Papers of Bud Schaeffer
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Roman Script

Repository Details

Part of the Evangelism & Missions Archives Repository

Contact:
501 College Avenue
Wheaton IL 60187 US
630-752-5910