At just 13 years old, Brian Conklin’s dream of pitching in the Major Leagues ended in an instant with a devastating shoulder injury. The game he loved was gone. But in that moment, God was building something greater.

Today, Brian is a former Nebraska Cornhusker basketball player and serves as FCA’s Northland Regional Vice President. His pitching injury shifted his focus to a lifelong mission to reach others in sports with the Gospel. Brian learned that sports can never be God, but they can be an incredible tool to glorify Him.

In this episode, Brian unpacks:

• Why brokenness can be the birthplace of faith.
• The danger of making sports an idol and how Christ offers true hope.
• How discipleship shaped his life more than stats or trophies ever could.
• The incredible story of his parents’ salvation in Luxembourg and its ripple effect.
• What 21 years of FCA ministry has taught him about humility, leadership, and daily dependence on Christ.

Brian’s story will encourage athletes, coaches, and anyone navigating disappointment to see how God’s sovereignty works for His glory and our good.

Verse of the Day:

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" - Galatians 4:8-9

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Resources:

💪 Learn more about FCA in North Dakota: https://www.fcand.org

🙌 Support the mission: https://fcand.org/donate

☕ Thanks to our sponsor: Copper Dog Waffles & Coffee – Mandan, ND

Call to Action:

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