Competing for Christ Podcast

Our biggest job as Christians in sport is to share the good news of the Gospel. Everything else is secondary compared to that. 2 Corinthians 5: 20 says, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God." With this in mind, it's our duty to live out the Gospel, even (especially) as we participate in athl...

The health and wellness profession can be scary, deceitful, and at times dishonest. God calls us to use the bodies He has given us for His glory, but where can we start? Why should we train, practice, exercise, and lift? What does it even mean to "steward" our bodies for the kingdom of God? On this episode, we invite personal trainer and coach Rodney Keller BACK on (that's right, our FIRST repeat...

So many things can prevent athletes from playing the sports that they are passionate about, but there is one thing that most athletes have faced throughout their time on the field or court: injuries. No matter how long you're out of play, it can be an emotional and difficult process when you have to watch instead of participate. The book Playing on High Ground by Ray Santiago highlights this theme...

Every athlete struggles with certain things while playing sports. As Christian athletes, it's crucial to discuss these issues and learn from others on how to combat them. How can we use those things to spread the Gospel? Can we take what we learn and use it to glorify God? Today we discuss the top 10 mistakes I made as an athlete throughout my career. While these are not the only things that I str...

On today's episode, All In Sports Outreach co-founder and podcast host Stewart Hardy joins the show to discuss what it means to be "all in" for our teams, and more importantly for Christ. All In Sports Outreach was founded to encourage coaches, athletes, and communities with the hope and power of Jesus Christ. Through athletics, Stewart and team have worked four 7+ years in creating spaces for ath...

Servant leadership is defined as, "a leadership philosophy in which the goal of the leader is to serve. This is different from traditional leadership where the leader's main focus is the thriving of their company or organization." As followers of Jesus that love to play sports, we are called to not only serve Christ, but serve our teammates, our coaches, our opponents, and pretty much an...

Sports are one of the only things in this world that can break down barriers that societies and cultures put up. Teammates become family, coaches become mentors, and fans become best friends simply because for the love of a team or game. As Christian athletes, we have the unique opportunity to not only break down barriers, but share the love of Christ while doing so. On this episode, TCU football...

Don "Fastest Pastor" Wickstrum joins the show today to talk about how he has overcame countless amounts of obstacles, including a battle with cancer, crashing cars on the side of a mountain, and wrestling with the existence of God. Throughout Don's life, he has had a desire to conquer one of the most dangerous racing tracks in the world: Pikes Peak Hill Climb . Little did he know that his journey...

This time of the year reminds us all to be thankful for what we have around us and what God has provided us. Usually, sports and the chances God gives us in athletics aren't mentioned when going around the Thanksgiving dinner table. This episode invokes these thoughts as you listen and makes you realize some of the things in sports that you can thank God for.  Listen as we discuss what it mea...

Do you ever feel like you don't bring God onto the field with you? "Leaving God on the bench" is a concept that many in the Christian athlete setting have wrestled with, simply because it feels like they don't feel like they show God through their play. Bob Schindler, CEDE Sports Ministries COO and author of Does God Care Who Wins, joins the podcast today to discuss this hard-hitting issue. As Bob...

Athletes across the world struggle to remember how to 'play where their feet are'. It's difficult to constantly appreciate the chances you get and the sports we play, but it's important to never forget that God has put you in a position for a reason . Playing where God has placed you, which includes serving your teammates, showing the Gospel through your play, and getting better day by day, is a p...

Jason Romano, former ESPN producer, author, and host of the Sports Spectrum Podcast joins the podcast today to discuss his journey as a Christian working in sports and being a light for Christ. Through the Sports Spectrum Podcast, Jason has been able to reach millions of people and share the gospel to athletes, coaches, and fans across the world. As he has had the chance to speak with coaches, ath...

Each athlete struggles at times with maximizing their time as an athlete. Maximizing the opportunities, lessons, and chances God gives you is a hard thing to do. Most athletes, no matter the age or level, often feel discouraged, troubled, or let down by something or someone in their sport at some point and this is why by age thirteen, seventy percent of athletes quit their sport altogether. ...

Focusing on the next play, next pitch, next snap, or next shot is one of the most difficult things to do in all of sports, whether you're a Christian or not. Knowing this, athletes will do whatever it takes to stay locked in while playing, even if it means weird rituals, gimmicks, or lucky charms. Focusing on the next play and not dwelling in the past is never easy, and even the highest level of a...

Have you ever screamed after an error on the field? Slammed your helmet after missing a tackle? Said something to a teammate that you immediately regret? Sports can bring out emotions in all of us that we must be able to keep in check. Passion and emotions are a part of every sport, but it's crucial to not let them harm your teammates, coaches, fans, and especially yourself. Rashad Byrd, former Ge...

This episode is the second of a two-part series about how God uses women through athletics. Women play a vital role in glorifying God through participating in athletics. This year in particular, the 50th anniversary of Title IX has made everyone in the United States realize just how far females have come, especially in the sports world. Women sports icons such as Serena Williams, Hope Solo, and Al...

Women play a vital role in glorifying God through participating in athletics. This year in particular, the 50th anniversary of Title IX has made everyone in the United States realize just how far females have come, especially in the sports world. Women sports icons such as Serena Williams, Hope Solo, and Allyson Felix have paved the way for female athletes all across the world to be able to play a...

While playing sports, it can be quite easy to get so wrapped up in them that it becomes your identity. When athletes eat, sleep, even breathe sports, they often forget that eventually, sports are going to end. This can be a difficult pill to swallow.  On this episode, Chad Simpson, Co-Host of The Christian Coach Podcast and Director of Tennis at Athletes in Action, comes on to discuss his exp...

Matthew 5 discusses how we as Christians must be salt and light in a world full of brokenness and darkness. How do we do that in sports, though? As an athlete, it can be difficult to want to stand out when the entire world is going with the current. But God tells us to go against the current and take the road less travelled.  Melvin Adams, former Harlem Globetrotter now motivational speaker,...

Athletes all around the world struggle with managing their time. While competing for Christ, excelling academically, and maintaining a life, athletes must be able to let Christ be in everything they do. But is there a specific order for these things? Dallas Baptist University Athletic Director Connor Smith comes on the podcast to discuss this balance and what the proper “order” looks like for Chri...

Recruiting is not talked about nearly enough as it should in the Christian athlete context. With so many schools to choose from, so many coaches to talk to, and way too many camps to attend, Christian athletes should know how to navigate their way through this process.  Lang Wedemeyer, Head Women's Soccer Coach at Liberty University, has experience at every level with this process. As a stron...

Competition can show a person's true character. Whether on the field, track, or court, competition can be what drives an athlete to success and can push everyone to do things they never imagined would be possible. In this episode, University of Florida track and cross country runner Nick Deal joins the podcast to discuss this concept of competition and how his experiences as a Gator have helped hi...

Everyone who plays sports is constantly improving their form, mechanics, strength, agility, speed, but pushing yourself mentally can help you perform better on the field and as a teammate. In this episode, Psychotherapist and certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Trainer Joni Neidigh comes on to discuss why Christian Athletes should be motivated to train their mental game just as much as their phy...

Does God really care about sports? This question has been debated for generations now, and even though we will never know God's "thoughts", we do know what His Word tells us. In this episode, Josh Vaughan, former NFL running back for a number of teams including the Carolina Panthers, San Fransisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons, comes on to discuss this question. Josh experienced many challenges and t...

Throughout the world, people are using sports in order to spread the Gospel. Every athlete may not want to talk about the Gospel or be interested in learning about Jesus, but every athlete does want to talk about sports. Bringing athletes in, showing them that sports and a relationship with Christ can coincide, and building that trust in order to spread the Gospel is crucial in the world of Christ...