Competing for Christ Podcast

When I set out to start the Competing for Christ Podcast, I had no idea that nearly 3 years later, I’d still be doing it. To be honest with you, I didn’t know what to think. I had maybe a handful of topics to discuss in mind and only 3 people that I wanted to interview. Never could I have imagined that I would get to 100. But over and over again I have seen God move in ways that are unexplainable.

I have seen Him reach people across the world with a simple, yet profound message: glorifying Christ through sports. I wanted to blend together my love for Christ and my love for sports because I felt like there wasn’t a resource out there where athletes could go to learn, discuss, and share about how to bring Christ into any sport that you play. Little did I know that it would make it this far.

With individuals from nearly 50 countries that have tuned in, thousands of downloads, and hundreds of people that I have gotten to meet through this podcast, God has taken it further than ever expected. Today we dive into 11 major lessons that I have learned from from 100 episodes, including:

• Identity issues being the NUMBER ONE way Satan is attacking Christian athletes
• You don’t need a degree or title or level of success to make an impact
• Jesus doesn’t call you to be perfect, He calls you to trust in His perfection
• Coaches should not be who you want to impress the most
• Jesus is in everything, especially sports

NEW MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for brand new Competing for Christ Podcast merch, celebrating 100 episodes!

From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

When you’ve gone through a challenging time in your life, you may find it quite hard to experience Christ through that time. Or you could be on the other side of the spectrum where you feel God’s love so deeply during this challenging time. For myself and our guest today, we have both been on either side of that coin. But how do we navigate this topic when you are pursuing a relationship with Him, and want to feel Him in your life and while you pursue your dream as an athlete?

Today we get to talk to Abilene Christian University football player Anthony Egbo Jr., and throughout his life, he has faced numerous challenges that we will discuss today. But as someone that continuously pursues Christ, even outside of his sport, Anthony has not only become a better athlete, but has transformed his perception of Christ and what His plan is for Anthony’s life.

From being a walk-on to becoming a captain of the ACU football team, he replicates Christ and knows what it means to experience God through anything he goes through. Listen out for these topics:

• Anthony's thoughts on continuously battling for a spot on the team
• Why he thinks God called him to ACU
• How he's been able to experience God’s love and His presence through challenges
• What he has learned about patience
• Getting involved outside of sports

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

Today we are talking with Lipscomb University softball player Joie Giarrizzo about her softball career, her faith, and a what she has learned as a Division 1 Christian athlete. Joie is entering her 4th year of Division 1 collegiate softball and she has been living for Christ on and off the field during those years.

There are many things that you learn as a college athlete, but maybe even more so if you follow Christ throughout. Joie gives her thoughts and opinions on many different topics, including:

• How Joie has managed to stay close with Jesus throughout college
• An incredible mission trip that she recently went on
• Who she relates to most with in the Bible
• Why it's important to mentally and physically push yourself
• Being able to show both servanthood and leadership

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

Who is Jesus? The Bible says a lot about who He is, was, and will be. John says that He is the bread of life. Colossians says He is the firstborn of all creation. Luke says that He is the Son of Man. There are so many ways to describe who Jesus is and what He means to so many that put their faith in Him. What should that mean for athletes? It should mean EVERYTHING for athletes! 

That’s why today we are talking to Charleston Southern University Associate Athletic Director Mike Vigue about who Jesus is to him and what Jesus can do for everyone that puts their faith in Him. This conversation was an intriguing one, and Mike brings many helpful insights that can help athletes that are wondering who Jesus really is.

Listen out for these topics today:

• The biggest challenges Christian athletes face today
• What Jesus has meant to Mike throughout his life
• How to consistently remind yourself of who Christ is
• Finding Jesus in sports
• How God has guided Mike's steps to get to where he is today
• What he has learned about representing Christ throughout his career in sports

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

Guess what? Your career as an athlete is going to come to an end. It may sound crazy, but your days as an athlete are numbered. But you have to ask yourself, what’s next? Who are you if you aren’t an athlete? Are you going to rely on Jesus for what's next?

Today we are talking about life after sports and what that looks like for Christian athletes. That is why today I invited on someone to discuss what that has looked like for her, what she’s learned since retiring from sports, and how she has been able to rely on Jesus to provide her sense of identity. We get to hear from a former Covenant College softball player and my wife, Lulu Burke.

Listen as we try to be serious and discuss:

• The most difficult part of not being an athlete anymore
• What we've carried on from sports into our post-athletic lives
• Something that no one talks about when thinking of life after sports
• Taking advantage of where God has placed you before it's too late
• How to prepare for life after sports with Christ

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

When you think of certain mentors in your life, you probably don’t have to think too long before thinking of someone in your time as an athlete that helped mold and shape who you are as a person today.

For Coach Evan Kee, he continues to mentor and shape the minds of young men as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at The Apprentice School. The Apprentice School is a very unique Division 3 school, where athletes learn a trade, get paid for it while going to class, and get to play collegiate basketball. Coach Kee strives to be someone that these players can look up to, and someone that continuously points to Christ for his success.

Talking points for todays episode include:

• What Coach Kee contributes his success to as a coach and mentor
• Where he learned how to be a leader
• Having a healthy mentorship aspect to a coaching philosophy
• How he's looked to Christ for his identity, not sports
• Why it's important for everyone to have mentors in their lives

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

As someone who wants to grow closer to Christ every single day, I often ask myself, “Can I grow closer to Christ while simultaneously growing as a person?” While this may be very challenging to find that balance, as people and as athletes, we always want to be the best version of ourselves while still shining the spotlight on what Jesus has done through us. 

Today, we talk about consistent growth with David Gibson, founder of Elevation is a Must, providing young professionals with the tools and strategies that help them build, grow, and live out their ideas and visions. He is an entrepreneur, speaker, and former boxer! As we discuss getting better every day while growing continuously with Christ, some topics that come up include:

• What David learned from his boxing career
• Why it's so important to grow every day
• “Your mountains aren’t for you to carry, they’re for you to climb”
• Allowing Christ to shape our future rather than push our own agenda
• Finding the balance of wanting to succeed but not wanting to be self-indulgent

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

KD Hill was a football player at Ole Miss and getting ready for the NFL Draft, destined to play with a pro football team. But in an instant, this reality shifted dramatically. KD’s life changed when he got in a car accident that severely injured his leg, and eventually had to get the leg amputated. To most people, this would be seen as a curse and would be stuck asking God, “why me?” But not KD. 

KD has the most optimistic attitude for someone that is in his position. In fact, he said he’s even thankful that it happened, because it showed him that God has other plans for him besides football. But today we get to talk about his life, his path to get to where he is, and what he plans to do now as a motivational figure and someone that portrays Christ in everything he does!

Listen as we discuss:

• KD's testimony as an athlete and his mindset through tragedy
• Trusting in God's plan over your plan
• Advise on never quitting and maintaining courage
• What he would tell his younger self to prepare for what was ahead
• If his outlook on life has shifted at all

Follow KD on Instagram and TikTok!

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

On this episode, we are talking with Ultra Runner Matt Burdette about a friendship that he has that is one of the coolest things you will ever see. You will hear the background of Matt’s athletic journey, more on him as a runner, but something that we focused on today was his relationship with Kevin DiLegge. Kevin has cerebral palsy, but this does not stop him from being inspirational and just an all around amazing human being.

Matt and Kevin actually do races together, like the Boston Marathon and Baltimore Marathon, with Matt pushing Kevin throughout the entire race and over the finish line (Matt will tell you that Kevin actually pushes him more). This friendship is inspiring, and getting to talk with Matt in depth on them racing as a pair is something you can not miss.

We touch on a lot today, but here are some key topics discussed:

• Why God has called him to running
• Participating in the 2013 Boston Marathon
• How this friendship with Kevin began
• Striving for inclusivity in all sports
• Showing love to everyone the way Jesus did

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]

It seems like everyone is in a hurry nowadays, especially athletes. You are constantly going and going, and a lot of times your faith is the first thing to go on the back-burner. But for athletes, what can we do to slow down while still competing at the highest level and getting everything you need done, all while growing closer to Christ? 

For University of Indianapolis soccer player Sam Hevesy, this issue has been something that has been on his heart for a while now. Sam is early on in his college career, but the knowledge that he brings to our discussion makes it seem like he’s older than he is! Even through some difficult experiences as an athlete and Christian, you can tell that God is working in his life and brings excellent advice to this conversation about being in a hurry.

Listen as we talk about:

• What Sam has learned as a Christian collegiate athlete
• How he feels connected to God when he plays soccer
• Why it's so difficult to not feel hurried in today’s society
• Sports getting in the way of faith
• “Our time is our life, and our attention is the doorway to our hearts.” ~ John Mark Comer
• What he does to prioritize his relationship with Jesus

PODCAST MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!! Check out the official podcast store for Competing for Christ hats, shirts, hoodies and more. From every sale that we get, half of that money is going to Christian sports organizations that are making a difference for Christ in the world of sports. Use discount code CFC20 to get 20% off your order TODAY!

Subscribe to the show and share this episode!

https://www.competingforchristpodcast.com/

Need encouragement or want to come on the show?

Text me: (904) 463-5917

Email me: [email protected]