Run to God for His glory
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Growing up, “athlete” wasn’t a label I would have given myself. I did swim for a few seasons in high school. Oh, and there was the time in elementary school when I cheered and played basketball — not at the same time, but during the same season. I did grow up enjoying watching and being around sports.
Even so, during high school, Fellowship of Christian Athletes was an integral part of my process of discovering and eventually trusting Christ. Some friends led some Bible studies in our public school FCA. I was in a season of asking many questions — some out loud, and a lot on repeat in my own mind.
After a weekend called Chyrsalis, I decided to follow Christ. Decades ago, my friends introduced me to my lord & savior. I have so many testimonies of God’s faithfulness in my life, and so many of them involve friends. I believe that’s how God designed us.
I’ve had the pleasure of raising my kids in church and enrolling them in a Christ-centered school. They know a lot about Jesus, but I continue to pray that they know Jesus intimately and personally. And I want that for their friends too.
Even at a Christian school, students need to be encouraged to draw nearer to Jesus, challenged to live according to God’s ways, and given opportunities to lead their friends. So, that’s where Fellowship of Christian Athletes comes back into my life.
As athletic director at New Covenant Christian Academy, I’m grateful to be working with my friend, Nick Coffelt, who is NCCA’s director of operations and track coach; my kids’ friends, senior Jacey Crowell, who plays basketball, and junior Eli Stanger, who is on the cross country, basketball, and golf teams; and FCA area director Wes Claiborne to get our chapter started. We’ll have our first multi-sport huddle next month.
Of course, FCA is open to any students, regardless of whether they play sports. Sports lingo is used, and team analogies are likely to be well-used. Even so, we all need Jesus, and this is another avenue. In his New Testament writing, Paul uses athletic analogies often, so let’s cling to the truth and praise our Creator who gave us our personalities, skills, and stories.
Like Paul reminds the church at Corinth, we need to train and be disciplined as we run after the eternal prize Jesus is preparing for us. Don’t run aimlessly, but run to God for His glory.
I trust God has led us here and has good stories to write at NCCA through this endeavor. Go, Lions! Go, Jesus!
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