USG Event Recap: 2025 Phoenix Impact Weekend
- Uncommon Sports Group
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
This past weekend, Uncommon Sports Group hosted an Impact Weekend in Phoenix, AZ, for twenty-four USG Academy participants. Each of the attendees spent eight weeks walking through USG’s unique Academy program that provides faith-based and professional development opportunities for the participants as they pursue careers in the sport industry. The Impact Weekend experience is a required in-person opportunity that each Academy participant attends to provide them with a more hands-on development experience and a chance to build Christ-centered relationships within the college and pro sport industry.
After traveling to Phoenix, the weekend officially began on Friday afternoon with a welcome session and a visit to Grand Canyon University’s campus. At GCU, our group had the opportunity to hear from a panel of speakers that featured six professionals within the Lopes athletic department including Anthony Martinez, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Services; Al Porteous, Associate Athletic Director of Media Production; Will King, Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations; Katy Keenan, Assistant Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Development; Katy Keenan, Director of Student-Athlete Development; Jayme Bailey, Softball Assistant Coach; and Hunter Hays, Softball Assistant Coach.
The panel touched on their career journeys, the challenges they face as Christians working in sports, how they are navigating the continuous changes that are happening within college athletics, and more! At the end of the session, our group was able to ask questions to the panel. Once the panel concluded, we were able to take a tour of GCU’s athletic facilities! Our tour included stops at Global Credit Union Arena, basketball practice facility, soccer stadium, and baseball field.
From GCU’s campus, we headed to PopStroke in Glendale for dinner and a group social. It was a great opportunity to fellowship with one another over a meal and some friendly mini-golf competition!
Following Friday’s activities, Saturday morning began with the group breaking into small groups to study the Scriptures together. Each group dove into Acts 2:42-47 to study the various disciplines evidenced by the early church. The discussion was rich and edifying for the groups!
After Bible study, we loaded up into our vans and headed to downtown Phoenix for an outreach activity. We broke into groups once again and spread out around downtown to pass out bags to the needy containing a pair of socks, a granola bar, a toothbrush, deodorant, a New Testament Bible, and a prayer card. Each group passed out bags, prayed over each person, and shared the gospel message of Jesus Christ with the person if they were open to hear it. This activity was a challenge for each participant that helped them grow spiritually and practice being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Our next stop after outreach and lunch was Chase Field for a panel discussion and a tour! The panel featured four Arizona Diamondbacks staff members: Amilyn Pierce, Vice President of Government Affairs; Taylor Merwin, Coordinator of Community Relations and Partner Programs; Lucas De Jong, Senior Manager of Corporate Partnership Sales; and Tristin Goldhammer, Senior Graphic Designer. The panel discussed their testimonies, how they live out their faith in the workplace, and how they navigate the challenges of being believers in a secular work environment. This conversation was powerful for our participants to hear because it proved that it is possible to be a Christian living on mission in the workplace.
After the panel and tour of Chase Field, our group gathered back at the AirBnB’s for a short commissioning message covering the parable of the sower and a conversation about ways to stay involved with USG moving forward. They also received their Academy completion certificates. The evening wrapped up with dinner and fellowship at a restaurant downtown.
The weekend wrapped up on Sunday morning with a church service at Pella Communities. A part of our mission at Uncommon Sports Group is to connect and the best way to do that is to be connected to a local church body! Attending a local church during the weekend emphasizes the importance of the community and discipleship that the church can provide.
It was a blessing to grow and serve alongside of this group of future leaders of the college and professional sport industry. Our prayer is that each participant will take what they learned and apply it to their future or present careers in sports.
We’re incredibly appreciative of our Clean Out For A Cause donors for their generosity and for making events like these possible. As we send these new USG members out, we’re confident that they are prepared and equipped to be Christ-centered leaders within the college and pro sport industry.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
If you are interested in learning more about our ministry work at Uncommon Sports Group or getting involved, please click here.