This past weekend, the 2025 Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference gathered over 200 believers working throughout the sport industry in Atlanta, GA, at Passion City Church’s Cumberland campus. This was the third annual CWS Conference, and for the first time, Uncommon Sports Group partnered with ADs4Christ to host the event.

The goal of this conference is to connect Christian professionals working in athletics, encourage them in their walk with Christ, and equip them to live out their faith while navigating a career in sports. These goals were accomplished through intentional fellowship and small group discussions, a lineup of experienced and inspiring guest speakers, and practical takeaways for attendees to apply in their lives and careers.

Doors opened on the afternoon of Friday, July 12th. The first session featured a keynote message from Pastor Mayo Sowell on living on mission as a Christian in the sport industry. Mayo addressed the common misconception that secular work is not spiritual, reminding us that for Christians, all work—including work in sports—can be used for God’s kingdom purposes.

Following Mayo’s tone-setting message, a panel of athletic directors took the stage to discuss navigating uncertainty in the world of sports, with Jason Romano serving as the panel host. The panelists included Graham Neff (Director of Athletics at Clemson University), Jamie Boggs (Vice President of Athletics at Grand Canyon University), and Jamaal Walton (Director of Athletics at VMI). The discussion centered on the major uncertainties currently facing college athletics and how these leaders are navigating those challenges through their faith in Christ.

Before dinner, after a time of table discussion, attendees heard from Chad Chatlos, Managing Director at Turnkey ZRG. Chad shared helpful insights on how Christians working in sports can approach job transitions with both wisdom and faith.

After dinner, attendees entered into a powerful time of worship led by Passion Worship. This corporate worship session was deeply moving and aligned perfectly with the conference’s goal of encouraging attendees in their faith. The evening concluded with a message from Passion City Church’s lead pastor, Louie Giglio.

On Saturday morning, everyone gathered again for another worship session to kick off the day. Afterward, renowned speaker and author Jon Gordon delivered a compelling keynote on the power of a praying leader. He emphasized the vital role of prayer in the life of the Christian—especially for those in leadership positions.

Following a time of reflection and small group discussion, another panel took the stage—this one led by Pastor Greg Hendricks. The topic: managing competitiveness and ambition as a Christian in sports. The panelists were Christina Hovestadt (Senior Manager of Community Relations with the NFL), Kyle Stark (President of Stark Contrast), and Jaunelle White (Vice President of Athletics at Point University). Each panelist shared personal insights on how they balance excellence and ambition with faithfulness and humility.

Before lunch, five individuals were honored with awards that reflect their faithfulness to connect, encourage, and equip Christians working in sports.

• The Rising Uncommon Leader Awards went to Alex Kaiser and Natalie Osborne.

• The Collegiate and Professional Uncommon Leader Awards were presented to Angela Marin and Christina Hovestadt.

• The Barnabas Award—given to someone who models encouragement and servant-hearted leadership—was awarded to James Weiss.

After lunch, ESPN sideline reporter and author Lauren Sisler shared a keynote on having bold faith in the workplace. She shared her personal story and the trials she’s overcome, while encouraging attendees to share their testimony boldly, even in professional environments.

Another time of table discussion followed, after which a final panel—hosted once again by Jason Romano—took the stage to address the topic of work/life balance in the sports industry. Panelists included Moses Ehambe (former NBA coach), Lori Krueger (Chaplain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team), and Matt Marasco (Senior Director of Leadership Development with the Kansas City Royals). Their vulnerability and practical wisdom made this session especially relatable and helpful.

The final session of the conference brought a strong close. Former NFL tight end, author, and speaker Benjamin Watson joined Pastor Greg Hendricks for a discussion on the Christian movement we are seeing across the sport industry. Benjamin shared about his family, marriage, and what it has looked like to live out his faith as a professional athlete. This honest and encouraging conversation was a powerful way to conclude the weekend.

Gathering over 200 Christians from across the sports industry under one roof for the purpose of glorifying Christ is a unique and special privilege. Watching the church within sports come together to grow, connect, and leave encouraged was a joy—and we’re excited to see how God will use the seeds planted during this conference to expand His Kingdom!

If you missed this year’s conference—or if you attended and can’t wait to return—make plans now for the 2026 CWS Conference, coming back to Atlanta, GA, on June 26–27. Registration is already open, so click here to register! See you next summer in Atlanta!