Competing for Christ Podcast

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 anyone we come in contact with. We must be different kinds of leaders.

That is why TODAY, professional soccer player Jonathan Ricketts comes on the show to discuss what it means to be a servant leader! Jonathan has played with teams like Chattanooga FC, the Chattanooga Red Wolves, and is currently on Rio Grande Valley FC. As a Christian professional athlete, he has been able to use his platform to glorify God and has worked hard to get to where he is today. Throughout the conversation, listen as Jonathan and Ken discuss:

• What it means to be a servant leader in sports
• Practical examples of serving teammates, coaches, teammates, and more
• How Jonathan has used this mindset to guide him in his pro career
• How athletes can emphasize servant leadership EVEN when their team is losing or they aren't satisfied with their role on the team

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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 chaplain Chauncey Franks comes on to discuss this hard-hitting topic and share what he has learned from sharing the gospel to athletes through his work with FCA on TCU's campus. Listen as Chauncey and Ken talk about:

• TCU football's success and Chauncey's role in that
• How we can look to Jesus to break down any barrier that is put up
• How athletes can share God's word in the midst of adversity
• Why we can use this topic to glorify God

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 to get to that point was even more crazier than driving 140 mph on the side of dangerous mountain. Listen as Don and Ken discuss how he has been able to not only overcome adversity on the track, but in his life. While going from atheist to pastor and engineer to race car driver, Don has managed to find Christ's peace along the way and show thousands of people how to overcome obstacles that are put in your way.

Don's new documentary, "Chasing Hope" by I Am Second productions, is out NOW to view! Go check it out (and make sure to grab something to wipe your tears).

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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 means to be thankful for sports as a Christian, three main areas that you can thank God for, and what the Bible says about thankfulness, perspective, and love. 

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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 played Division 1 and professional golf, Bob struggled with wondering if God cares who wins in the sports we play and the things we are passionate about. This question transpires into conversation between Bob and Ken on:

• Leaving God on the bench versus "bringing" God on the field
• Why Bob wrote this book
• Having a Christian mindset in athletics
• The harm of saying "God's on our side!"
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Go get the Does God Care Who Wins book now!

Check out CEDE Sports Ministries!

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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 priority that all athletes must face when thinking of their sport opportunities. 

The Play Where Your Feet Are movement and podcast founder and former Miami Hurricanes volleyball player Cameron Dobbs joins the show today to discuss how she has used this movement to aid athletes across the world. Listen as Cameron and Ken discuss: 

• What it means to play where your feet are 
• How she has used injuries and the opportunities that God has given her for His glory
• What it was like being a Division 1 volleyball player and now working for her alma mater
• The most important advice that she could give to athletes that listen
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Go check out the Play Where Your Feet Are Podcast and Blog!

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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, athletes, and sports icons like Tony Dungy, Carson Wentz, and so many more, the work that he does for Christ through podcasting brings sports lovers from all over closer to God. 

Listen and learn as Jason and Ken discuss how he felt God calling him away from working at ESPN, encouragement for athletes in being witnesses for Christ on the field/court, and what major problems they see athletes face in sports today. 

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Go listen to the Sports Spectrum Podcast!

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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. 

Bruce Nadin is an author, sports pastor, former chaplain of Leicester City Football Club in the UK, and presently the chaplain of South African top flight football club Stellenbosch FC. He has spent the majority of his adult years serving others through the church, and especially through sports. 

Bruce joins the podcast today to talk about his life's work of combining his faith and sports. While discussing how God has used him through writing, mentoring, and running a sports chaplaincy, Bruce and Ken go in depth on how athletes can maximize their time in a Christ-centered way. Listen as they discuss three things that can hinder athletes' experiences: making mistakes, comparing yourself to others, and giving up. 

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 athletes still struggle with this. So how do we navigate that as athletes AND as Christians?

Landon Hughey, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Lubbock Christian University, joins the podcast to discuss this intriguing topic of focusing on the next play. With experiences as a player and now as a coach, his wisdom throughout the episode is made known through his answers to specific questions on this issue. As someone who has coached at every level including the University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, and more, Coach Hughey offers guidance on how this topic can apply to Christian athletes, how letting go of the past can push an athlete from good to great, and specific examples and quotes from people that used this to help them succeed. Coach Hughey and Ken talk about topics related to this subject, such as WHY athletes continuously focus on the wrong things, how social media has now brought a new problem to this, and how this issue shows Christian athletes where their priorities lie. 

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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 Georgia Southern football player, guest stars on the podcast today to discuss this hard-hitting topic and explain how he managed his feelings throughout his career. Growing up, Rashad said he was always a competitor, but it wasn't until college that he realized he needed to play for a bigger purpose than himself. Listen as he talks about his experiences as a highly sought after football athlete, how Christian athletes should act while participating in sports, and ways in which we can keep ourselves and others in check while playing the sports we are so deeply passionate about.

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