Newsletter Volume I, Issue 1

October 2022

COMPETITORS FOR CHRIST HOLD INAUGURAL DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

The first-ever Competitors for Christ dodgeball tournament was held on August 29 to raise money for the group. Close to 20 teams participated in the inaugural event with a team of mostly soccer players taking the crown. Over $800 was raised which will be used for food throughout the year on experiences such as Bible studies, cookouts, and other Competitors for Christ events.

“We appreciate everyone that came out. We had a lot of fun and got a chance to meet a lot of new people," Said sophomore baseball player Ryan Stark. "We are excited about developing those relationships and building bonds and connections that will have an important impact on campus."

DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THIS GAME?

Paavo Tucker, a Finnish middle/fullback, and I were warming up before a match in the early 2000s. I would often use this time to pray about playing well and winning.

I looked at Paavo and asked, "Do you think God cares about this game?" "Do I think God cares about the game of soccer or about our game today?" he replied.

"About us today -- how we play and if we win." I answered. After a long moment of silence, where we volleyed five or six passes back and forth, he answered, "I think God loves his children and enjoys watching them play."

This conversation comes to the top of my mind regularly when …

I fixate on things that don't really matter.

I think about my FHU experience and the moments that I cherish most.

I think about how blessed I was to play with some of the scholars, wildlings, niños, Zulu warriors, and brothers that I got to play with from all over the world.

And most often when I think about God the Father watching His children play at this game of life and ask myself: Am I playing in a way that makes Him smile with pride?

— by Joe Askew, FHU Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management

COMPETITORS FOR CHRIST SPEAK IN CHAPEL 

The Competitors for Christ were featured in Chapel on August 25. Diego Rojas, assistant soccer coach and Spiritual Growth Coordinator for the athletic department, organized the devotional and spoke briefly about some of the goals and intentions of the Competitors for Christ. 

“I am very proud of these men and women. They represent the school, not only as athletes but as Christian athletes,” Rojas said.

Sean Janiec, a junior defender on the soccer team, looked at John 13 and how we should be characterized by love. He challenged those that were Christians to be examples of the joy and love that Christ exhibited and provides to us and challenged those that were not Christians to become a part of the love and joy that is only found through Christ.

Pictured: Sean Janiec speaks in chapel.

“Sometimes we get wrapped up into other things and forget what’s important. We need to remember the bond we have and feel as Christians,” Janiec said.

Alex Rush, a sophomore forward on the hardwood, issued a challenge to all of the students to come together and unify under Christ. He closed out the service with an introduction of all of the leaders of the Competitors for Christ. 

“Our biggest goal is to reach people,” Rush said. "We want to bridge the gap that sometimes exists between athletes and non-athletes and worship God and glorify Him together.”

STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Name: Jalen Johnson

Sport: Soccer

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma

Major: Environmental Biology

What I wanted to be when I grew up (as a kid): A rock star

What I want to be when I grow up (now): Zookeeper/Aquarist

Favorite food: Chicken tenders

Favorite movie: MegaMind

Hobbies: Traveling and going on mission trips around the world

Favorite Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Why I chose to come to FHU: "I wanted a Christian environment and a place where the professors would know me by name, I was fortunate enough to also be given the chance to continue playing the sport I love on top of it all."

A little-known fact about me: "In high school, I worked at the Oklahoma City Zoo and spent my weekends training seals and sea lions when I didn't have a soccer game."

BE COACHABLE 

Are you coachable? It’s easy to think we have it all figured out, isn’t it? We don’t like when people tell us what to do or give us any instruction on something we have been doing for years. I recently saw a video of two NFL Linemen whose coach was chewing them out on the sideline after an unexecuted play. I noticed something interesting about their interaction with their coach: the amount of respect they showed him. They never took their eyes off of him. They were nodding their heads as they received feedback from the previous horrible play. These two linemen have been playing football for many years and are at the top of the food chain when it comes to professional football. They have “made it.” However, that did not stop them from being coachable. The idea of being coachable means to receive feedback well. But not only do you receive feedback well, but you APPLY that feedback to your game.

That is why doctors, who spend years of their lives in the classroom, are always finding better alternatives to surgeries or new and improved medicines. That is why mechanics, who spend countless hours working on cars, are always searching the web for better automotive parts. That is why lawyers, who spend many years in school, are always looking for ways to improve their tactics. What do all of these people have in common? They are coachable.

Romans 12:2 says, ”Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by TESTING you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We have heard this verse many times. But how are we applying it? Are we constantly testing ourselves? Are we taking feedback and notes on what we need to improve on? God has given us His divine Word. Are you allowing it to change and transform your life, or are you conforming to the world around you? Be coachable.

— by Alex Huey, baseball (pictured with fiancée Catherine Crabb

BECOMING BETTER

Raise your hand if you have, as a college student, a lot of time to read for anything other than required reading for class. I know, me either!! As a college professor, I read so much in preparing for classes that I don’t read much for pleasure. So, when asked to talk about a book or resource that has been instrumental in building my faith, my immediate easy response was “duh, the Bible.” However, the second book that came to mind was “Becoming Better Grownups, Rediscovering What Matters and Remembering How to Fly”.

So, in all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have read this book except for the fact that my friend, Brad Montague, wrote it. Brad and I have served children together at Mid-South Youth Camp since 2016. I have seen his love for children and his ability to connect with them firsthand. However, reading this book gave me such a different perspective and changed me.

In interviewing children, young and old, across America, Brad wanted to discover what children really need from grownups. Some things he discovered: they need grownups to really show up and to be present; they need to know they matter; they need to feel heard, seen, and valued; and they need us to remember what it was like to be a child so that we can Be Who We Needed When We Were Younger. Even though Brad does not use scriptural references, the very foundation of his book is based on us being like Jesus.

Reading Becoming Better Grownups made me want to be better. It made me realize that I need to recognize that each person has a story that is unique to them. I may not know their story, but I have a responsibility to treat them with kindness, love, respect, and patience. I need to make sure that the chapter that is written in story by me is one that brings them closer to the God who created them. 

The takeaway for all of us is that if we become better grownups, we become better children of our Father. Let’s go and….…BE BETTER!!!

— by Gayle McDonald, Faculty Athletic Representative

GO 1-0 TODAY

My favorite part of each day is when I get to take my daughters to school. Most mornings, when they get out of the car, I tell them, “Go 1-0 today.” Sometimes they smile and wave, and other times they scurry off, anxious to start their day. But the message transcends a simple goodbye catchphrase in the drop-off lane. It’s a Biblical principle that can help us draw closer to Christ. It’s a philosophy that we’ve emphasized to our players in order to help them grow athletically, academically, and most importantly, spiritually.

Jesus told the disciples in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Try as we might, it’s impossible to live more than one day at a time. We just can’t know what the future might hold (James 4:14). The only control we have over the future is determined by what we do today. We can’t win tomorrow, and we can’t change yesterday. We can only take up our cross today.

So what does this look like, practically? It looks like praying for and with our players. Talking to God changes how we interact with players. It looks like being intentional and being present. It’s easy to worry about upcoming games, player injuries, off-the-court/field issues, or any other concern that might pop up in coaching.

Focusing on the present directs our attention to what’s in front of us, namely, souls. Souls that need the saving power of Christ. It looks like accepting the things we can’t change. Spending energy on things outside our control robs energy from areas we can control. Lastly, it looks like accountability. We can’t make excuses for ourselves and then have a “no excuses” policy for our players. Well, we can, but there’s a word for that: hypocrisy.

What does daily cross-bearing look like for players? It looks like a clean slate. Players need a path to redemption, even if that path might not include future collegiate athletics. It looks like emphasizing process over product. Players won’t have their best practice every day, but they can put forth their best effort each day. They may struggle to achieve a 4.0 GPA, but they can show up to class and complete their assignments. They may be struggling in their faith, but they can show up to chapel each day for spiritual encouragement. When players conquer the process, the product is more likely to follow.

Progress, whether on the court/field or in the classroom, or in our walk with Christ, comes through the mundane. It’s a cumulation of tiny, daily decisions. That’s why progress is so difficult. It isn’t flashy or immediate. It’s the result of daily bearing our cross. So as we go out to do our jobs and grow the kingdom, let’s go 1-0 today.

— by Joshua Epperson, Head Women's Basketball Coach