On June 4th, Uncommon Sports Group will return to Nairobi, Kenya, with 16 Christian sports professionals and 4 staff members for a two-week short-term mission trip. Each summer, Uncommon Sports Group offers a fully-funded international trip for sport industry professionals to experience life, faith, and community outside their normal context. USG members apply for international trips and are selected based on criteria outlined by USG staff. USG has had the opportunity to serve in Kenya four times before, and we look forward to returning for a fifth time alongside our ministry partners there. This year’s team includes Christian sport industry professionals from various universities and organizations, including the Charlotte Hornets, University of Kentucky, Nashville Predators, Baylor University, University of Houston, University of Michigan, Texas Christian University, Hawai'i Pacific University, Jackson State, and more. What Are We Doing? Upon arrival, the team will minister alongside the Rosslyn Academy, a top-rated International School in Kenya, which inspires and equips each student to develop their God-given gifts for Christ-like service in the world community. After partnering with the local community, the group will attend church with one of our ministry partners at Huduma Cathedral in Kawangware. Another partner is a Christian church and primary school located in an impoverished community in Nairobi. The school provides education for students from preschool through eighth grade who would otherwise lack access to education. Over the next three days, USG will serve alongside the Huduma School in Kawangware. The USG team will provide various equipment for the school, including sports balls (soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, volleyballs), jump ropes, ball pumps, soccer goals, pencils, pens, and writing pads. Furthermore, the team will serve students through sports camps. The camps allow the students to compete with one another, develop teamwork skills, learn new sports, and practice Christ-centered principles. Following the three days of sports camps, USG will engage in gospel evangelism within the impoverished community surrounding the school. We will be sent out in groups with members from the local church who can help with translation and engaging in conversation with locals. The third partner that USG will be serving with is a local pastor and sports minister. Alongside this partner, USG will host a coaches' clinic for approximately 100 sports coaches from across Kenya and neighboring countries. The clinic will focus on providing practical instruction for the coaches in attendance to help them become Christ-centered leaders for their athletes. During the clinic, the attending coaches will hear instructional messages from three USG attendees, including three staff members. The topics that these messages will cover include “Spiritual Disciplines for a Coach”, “Serving God with the Big Picture in Mind", “Power of God's Word for Coaches”, and "Developing Healthy Relationships." After each speaker, attendees will reflect on the message in small groups. Following the Coach's Seminar, the Kenya team will serve at a soccer tournament (Kenya Assemblies of God Church & School), sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, officiating games, encouraging the players/coaches, and more. Beyond the important work the group will be doing alongside USG's partners in Kenya, they will also do a six-session Bible study together as a team through the book of Galatians. The group must remain grounded in the Word of God while serving throughout the day! Lastly, the group will have the opportunity to enjoy Kenya's beauty by going on a safari in Amboseli National Park! Who Is Attending? USG is grateful to have seventeen sport industry professionals attending the mission trip to Kenya. Below is a short biography from each attendee to help you get to know them better. Each of their biographies will have their reason for attending and a prayer request that they have leading up to the trip, and we encourage you to lift those requests to the Lord in prayer! Travis Jarome - Jackson State, Associate AD / Sports Media To be the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve as I am called to serve. Also, to grow in my faith. A prayer request(s) is for safe travels and discernment of His Word while on the trip; prayers for grace and mercy while traveling to an unknown place. Rusty Watson - Mill Creek High School Basketball I am attending this trip to follow the Lord's commandment to spread the Gospel in all the ends of the earth Acts 1:8 I truly believe he has called me here to use my strengths to further his kingdom. Please pray for me to be completely focused on where my feet are while I am there. To listen to those around me and follow the Holy Spirit in everything I do. Pray for the Lord to use me to speak at the coaches' clinic. Pray for our team to come together as a family on mission for the Lord. Pray we all stay healthy and have the energy each day to give it our all! Garrett Shifflett - Hawai’i Pacific University Men’s Basketball I am attending the trip to see how the Gospel reaches parts of the world that don't have the same earthly blessings as we do, and to see a new place. Pray for safe passage to and from Kenya, and that God would use us to plant seeds in the hearts of those we meet. Elizabeth Hornak - Account Executive, Group Sales / Charlotte Hornets I am attending this trip to spread the beautiful name of Jesus as well as to strengthen my relationship with Him and grow closer to other brothers and sisters in Christ. My prayer request is for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully throughout this trip, and the people we interact with encounter the glory and love of God. Dana Blount - Texas Christian University My reason for attending the Kenya Mission trip is to live out my faith through service, use my leadership and service experience to support others, and continue growing spiritually through cross-cultural, faith-based outreach. Please pray for spiritual strength, fortitude, and endurance throughout the journey. Gretchen LeVan – University of Valley Forge, Director of Athletics I'm attending because God has been nudging me to step beyond my comfort zone. Kenya feels like that invitation — a chance to serve, to give, and to be used by Him in ways I can't yet fully imagine. Pray that we have divine appointments where those we encounter can sense the presence of Jesus on us and we have the opportunity to share the gospel. Hans Malebranche - Baylor University I was invited by a friend and supported by my employer to attend this trip. Pray that God would arrest any judgmentalism and pride that I have about my culture and my way of doing things, and be open to receiving wisdom from other people and other cultures. Geoff Green - Neuroscientist at University of Houston, Cognitive Performance Consultant for fitness and athletics God has given me so much and done so much for me. Everything I’ve asked for, He has been supplying. However, instead of asking God to provide this and bless me with that, I’ve started asking God what do You want me to do, where do You want me to go, and to whom do you want me to meet/speak? God provided an opportunity for Kenya, so I didn’t hesitate. For God to speak through me at every minor and major encounter/opportunity. Learn to see with my heart and not my eyes. Rasheed Flowers - University of Kentucky, Associate Professor (Sport Management) My reason for attending is to answer the call to use the platform of sport to share the Gospel (and a precious gift to do that with my wife!) The prayer request is for God to be glorified through our humility, surrender, and service. Natalie Bale - George Fox University, Doctor of Psychology Student/Linfield University Sports Psych Practicum Student I wanted to attend the USG Kenya mission trip because I got to see the impact of USG’s partnerships in Nairobi first-hand two years ago. It is such a gift to get to love on the kids during sports camps, but also to see the long-lasting change happening thanks to Huduma’s heart for people to know Jesus. I also met my husband on this mission trip in 2024, and getting to go back as a married couple is a great way to live out God’s purpose for our marriage. We are excited to serve the Lord as a team! My prayer request is for good sleep and recovery throughout the trip so that we can give all that we have to the people we are serving! David Ingemi - Nashville Predators I’ve always had a strong desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus overseas, and the timing of this trip truly feels like an answered prayer. Serving at a sports camp in Kenya is a perfect opportunity to combine my passion for sports with my faith. I’m excited for the opportunity to grow spiritually, step outside my comfort zone, and gain a broader understanding of different cultures and perspectives around the world. Please pray that our team would make a meaningful impact on everyone we encounter, that we would have safety and protection throughout the trip, and that I would grow closer to the Lord and experience Him in a new way. Victoria Smith - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities I want to attend this trip because I have truly felt called back to the mission field and to the Kawangware community ever since our farewell last summer. I am deeply looking forward to the opportunity to continue serving a community that holds such a special place in my heart. Prayers that the Lord would continue to shape my heart into one that desires a life of servitude. Jalen Stone - University of Michigan The reason for attending the trip is to deepen my trust in God's plan for my life. The prayer request is for physical health. Preston Fore - Missouri Baptist University football. I am looking forward to attending this trip. At first, I was hesitant to apply, but God says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." After a couple of days of prayer, I felt led to apply and wanted to challenge myself in my faith by stepping outside my comfort zone. My goal is to serve God and share His love with those who may not know Him. I ask for prayer for the people in Nairobi whom we will meet, that God would fill our conversations and time together with joy and love, and that He would open their eyes to see how good He is. I also ask for prayer for our team, that God would keep us safe throughout the trip and fill us with wisdom, strength, and joy as we serve there. William Bale - George Fox University Two years ago the Lord divinely opened the door for me to attend and challenged me in service and boldness. I experienced the love of Christ abroad and even met my wife. I am returning to serve once again with a new team to walk in unity and love in the body of Christ and see the Lord move once again. Prayer request: Prevent any illness, and that our team would walk in humility, love, and patience. James Berkenpas - Uncommon Sports Group. I am going to live out the Great Commission and grow in community with the global body of Christ. Prayer request: That the team would bond as one in our goal to serve God and our Kenyan brothers and sisters. Conclusion USG is grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Lord in Kenya alongside a group of Christ-centered sport industry professionals. A special thank you to every supporter of Uncommon Sports Group, specifically those who have donated to the Clean Out For A Cause funding operation. Without your prayerful and financial support, trips such as these would not be possible! If you are interested in keeping up with USG’s activities in Kenya, be sure to follow our social media pages or subscribe to our newsletter so you can see what we are up to!

In this episode, Dean Inserra, Lead Pastor at CITYCHURCH in Tallahassee, FL, shares on his book The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel. In this conversation, Dean discusses the difference between cultural Christianity and true Christianity, and how to minister to those who are stuck in a cultural understanding of the Christian faith. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here.⁠⁠⁠

Uncommon Sports Group is humbled to have the opportunity to provide $15,000 of scholarship funds to thirteen young professionals who desire to work in the sport industry each semester. These scholarships are awarded thanks to our generous sponsor, Helmet Tracker. Our Spring 2026 Reflection Scholarship required applicants to watch a choice of 2 videos from our 2025 CWS Conference. Applicants were then asked to answer three reflective questions based on the video. We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to apply! Scholarship Winners: First Place - $3,000 Scholarship: Olivia Nicholson- HR Assistant for Athletics, Florida State University Second Place - $2,500 Scholarship: Alexa Hackmann- Football Intern, Clemson University Third Place - $2,000 Scholarship: Jac Bors- Swimming & Diving Coach, Roberts Wesleyan University. Honorable Mentions: $750 Scholarships Tracy Abesamis- Ambassador, Las Vegas Raiders Etornam Akplagah- Graduate Assistant, University of Kentucky Natalie Bale- Doctoral Student, George Fox University Calvin Custance- Student Football Manager, Central Michigan University Delaney Dahl- Sports Management Student, Taylor University Danika Dodson- Student Football Manager, Iowa State University Jaylon Joyner- Adjunct Instructor, Loyola University Chicago Lily Sweet King- Director of Recruiting and Operations, Appalachian State Football Sam Morgan- Personal Trainer/Nutrition Coach, American Family Fitness Gianna Sanda - Kinesiology Student, University of Rhode Island For those who are new to Uncommon Sports Group, USG is a non-profit that provides professional and Christ-centered training to individuals pursuing a career in collegiate or professional athletics. For more information, check out our website or contact us. We'd love to hear from you.

In our latest episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Claude Thomas, Campus Pastor at Elevation Church, Chaplain for North Carolina Central Football, and former USG Academy Graduate, shares how to walk in purity, finding identity in Christ, not the sports, job, or dream, and more! Discuss the necessity of seeking first the kingdom of God daily and learning to crucify "self" to walk in the fullness of God. This episode features special guest Rasheed Flowers, Sports Management Professor at the University of Kentucky. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here.⁠⁠⁠

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." In the gospel of Matthew, scripture reveals a fascinating truth about the way of the Kingdom. Let's take a closer look at what Jesus teaches about childlikeness, starting with Matthew chapter 18, verse one... "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." I love how Jesus steps into the room and flips the status quo on its head. In the early 1st century, children were viewed as having the lowest status in society. Jesus calling the children to Himself shows how He brings value to the lowest, most forgotten places. Jesus Christ Himself took the lowly place, as we read in Philippians 2, and beckons His beloved disciples to follow His way. "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Phil 2:6-8 Throughout various teachings, Jesus tells the disciples that to be the greatest of all, you must be the servant of all. To emphasize His teaching, Jesus takes action, stooping low to wash His disciples' feet at the Last Supper during Passover. He took the lowest place of all, descending from Golgatha to the depths of the earth (Eph. 4:10), to defeat death once and for all. Time after time, Jesus shows His humility, crying, "I am meek and lowly in heart." When a believer follows and surrenders to the Lordship of Jesus, the Holy Spirit transforms and regenerates the born-again life. He is redeeming Christ-likeness in His followers, as the individuals in the body of Christ constantly saturate themselves in the Word, prayer, communion, fellowship with believers, worship, etc. On a personal note, the more I follow Yeshua, the more He molds me in meekness and lowliness. The more I follow His path, the more I realize that lowliness unlocks intimacy and is where life is birthed. Jesus came into this world as an infant, born in a manger (probably surrounded by animal dung and other unmentionables), and from the first moment He took a breath as a baby, He walked in lowliness and complete dependence on the Father. Even though Jesus matured, He never outgrew dependency. Just as we mature physically and spiritually, we never, ever outgrow dependency. Let's return to Matthew 18. Jesus tells His followers to take the place of a child, yes, to showcase servanthood and humility as two pillars of the Christian walk. But, there's more to it. Picture a child you've seen recently. They're pretty needy, right? Constantly relying on Mom or Dad for food, water, clothing, toys...for everything! Hopefully, that child was unafraid to approach the parent for its needs because a secure environment had been established. (I'm aware this is not always the case in families, and for that, I'm extremely sorrowful. However, our Heavenly Father is perfect, and His Fathering is always perfect. Please look to Him for the most Holy and loving example of parenting.) To walk, to run, to speak, to climb...A child is completely at the mercy of their parents' care and the lessons they learn from them. Jesus says in John 5:19-20... “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Sounds a lot like childlikeness, yeah? Jesus, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, was constantly in Oneness with Father. Supernaturally, He was connected even while He walked as a man on earth. If Jesus stayed this close to the Father, how much more do we need dependency on the Father? Let's take a moment to reflect on scriptures that point us to childlike dependency: “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.” Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God." Psalm 22:9 "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you;" Isaiah 66:13 "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 Everything we have, we have first received from Him. So this means that if you're a seminary professor or a sideline reporter, you need Jesus. If you're a Pastor or professional athlete, you need Jesus. If you're a worship leader or athletic administrator, you need Jesus. We don't outgrow our dependence, or look only to Him for help when we're doing "sacred" things. We are constantly, forever, and always learning to walk in daily dependency in His presence and His life alive in us. So, right now, let's turn to God and repent for self-reliance (myself included). Holy Father, I'm so sorry for trying to do this walk without you. I'm sorry for trying to perform my way into right relationship with you. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for bringing me into your family. I am your child. I need you, God. Please reveal your Help to me. Amen. It's amazing and true that God really does know what we have need of, and He knows what we need before we ask. John 14:26 says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." When the scriptures testify that God will never leave you nor forsake you, we need to believe that. The Father sent the Holy Spirit (Helper) to now dwell in the lives of believers and to fill/empower the church to walk in the power of God, with an awareness of the presence of God. This radically changes everything! Imagine a child coming to Jesus. They're not trying to win His approval or puff themselves up to enter His presence. They simply come, as they're told. And so now, the Lord is telling you, asking you to come to Him, like a child. Can you do this? Can you trust in the Father's goodness as you come humbly and dependent on Him, believing that He is pouring out His love on you? So, to close, we should not view dependency as a limitation. When Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall of humanity, they were in perfect communion with God. The creation in union with the Creator. When sin entered, the couple hid from God. Church, it's time to stop hiding and run back to the Father. This is what Jesus bled, died, rose, and paid for. In Christ, you are now tethered together, fully restored to right relationship with the Father. This is freedom; knowing that you can come under the shelter of His wings and entrust yourself to the Father's care. There's nothing too hard for Him. He is totally and completely in control. He is Good and Just and Wonderful. He never makes mistakes, and He knows exactly what to do with you. Your Father loves you. He desires for you to know Him and love Him. He's made a way for you to do that boldly and freely. He's created you to depend and lean upon your Beloved. Cease striving, and come to Him like a child. Surrender means total dependency, over and over again. As I'm writing this, I pray for a fresh wind of grace to fill you. May you see and know truly how much better life is when you release control and depend on Him. I bless you to ask the Holy Spirit to take you by the hand and lead you into life everlasting in His presence. Thanks for reading this month's blog post. If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group or getting connected, click here.

In our latest episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Eric Russ of Christ Covenant Church explores the biblical foundations of the complementarian view on gender roles in the church. Understand its significance for believers and the implications for worship and authority. Learn about the ongoing dialogue about gender roles within the church and society, and explore how both genders are equally valuable in God's eyes, created in His image. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released!   Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here.⁠⁠⁠

On the weekend of March 20-22, Uncommon Sports Group hosted 24 USG Academy participants and 5 shepherds in Dallas, TX, for an Impact Weekend! USG seeks to connect, encourage, and equip Christians working throughout the college and professional sport industry. A large part of how we accomplish this mission is through the USG Academy and Impact Weekend. These weekends allow Academy graduates to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, such as networking with present leaders of the college and pro sport industry, fellowshipping with other Christians in sports, and being challenged to grow in their walks with Christ. One of our participants during the Impact Weekend, Elizabeth Hornak, is presently working as an Account Executive for Group Sales with the Charlotte Hornets. Read below to hear a testimony of her experience during the Impact Weekend: "My favorite site visit was the Cowboys stadium. I have been working in sports for roughly 5 years now and have never seen a stadium like that before. It’s massive! It was very cool to get a tour of the place and envision what it could be like working for an NFL team. I absolutely recommend any Christian working in sports to apply for the Academy and participate in an Impact Weekend. The USG staff pours into their members professionally and most importantly spiritually. You are covered in prayers by people who genuinely have your best interest because Christ is at the center of it all! We are all here to help one another in your career and walk with Jesus.” USG is 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 .

In our latest episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Jamaal Walton, Director of Athletics at VMI, shares his incredible journey of faith and service and reveals how he balances a demanding role as an athletic director while keeping his relationship with Jesus as his top priority. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released!   Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here . ⁠⁠⁠

If you are asking this question, you are not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people have wrestled with the subject of human suffering. Even the most faithful followers of Jesus struggle to understand why a holy, righteous, sovereign God would allow such terrible suffering in this world. While we cannot fully understand why God allows suffering, I believe it is essential for every Christian to adopt a biblical theology of suffering. The pain of suffering will still sting, but if we have a proper theology of suffering, we’ll be able to persevere by God’s grace through difficult seasons and continue to trust in His goodness. My prayer is that through this blog, and more importantly through God’s Word, you would be comforted and reminded that the Lord is good, and His plans are perfect, even amidst our suffering. Suffering Glorifies God The Scriptures make one thing crystal clear: suffering glorifies God. The clearest evidence of this is Jesus Christ. God’s Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, became a man. And during His time on this earth, He suffered more than any other human has suffered. He endured a grueling death on a cross. Why would God the Father allow His Son Jesus Christ to suffer in such a way? 1 Peter 3:18 tells us that Christ suffered to pay the penalty for our sins and to reconcile us to the Father. Jesus says Himself in John 12:23 that the Son of Man would be glorified. Through Jesus’ suffering, He was glorified! While it’s hard to make sense of this in our limited human understanding, it is clear that by means of suffering God glorified His Son. In John chapters 9 and 11, we see two more examples of God being glorified through human suffering. In John 9, Jesus comes across a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked Him if it was the man’s sin or his parents’ sin that caused him to be blind (verse 2). Jesus responds in John 9:3 by saying, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” In essence, Jesus is saying that this man was allowed to suffer so that God could be glorified! Similarly, in John 11, Jesus’ friend and brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, becomes ill. Upon hearing this news, Jesus says in verse 4, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus makes it clear in His response to Lazarus’ illness that the purpose for his suffering was the glory of God! In both of these examples, two things happen that bring glory to God. First, God is glorified through physical and miraculous events. In John 9, the blind man is healed and given sight through Jesus. In verses 6 and 7, Jesus puts His saliva and mud on the man’s eyes and commands him to go wash at the Pool of Siloam. The end of verse 7 says that the man went home seeing. God is glorified through this miraculous healing! If the man had not been blind, Jesus could not have healed Him and received the glory for performing a miracle. In John 11, Jesus does something even more extraordinary. In verse 14, Jesus says that Lazarus was dead. The illness that afflicted him led to death. Not only did Lazarus suffer, but his loved ones also suffered his death. In verses 41–44, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead! Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Yet, Jesus raised him back to life. Through this miraculous, supernatural event, God is glorified! Had Lazarus not fallen ill and died, Jesus would not have been able to raise him from the dead. Once again, God uses human suffering to glorify His name. The second thing that brings glory to God in both of these examples is salvation. While physical healings are a way God displays His power, the ultimate goal of Jesus’ ministry is spiritual healing. In John 9:35–38, Jesus finds the blind man that He had healed. In this second encounter, Jesus reveals Himself to be the Messiah. In verse 38, the man says, “Lord, I believe.” This man not only received his physical sight, but also spiritual sight. He received eternal salvation through faith in Jesus! God used suffering to draw this man to salvation. How incredible! After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11, verse 45 tells us that “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.” Lazarus’ suffering and death led to the salvation of many! Had Lazarus not suffered and died, those Jews would not have visited Mary, and they would not have witnessed Jesus’ miracle. It was only through Lazarus’ suffering and death that God could be glorified through salvation. These are just a few of the many examples in Scripture of how suffering is a vehicle God uses to glorify His name and bring sinners to salvation. It is important to note that God does not cause suffering. Suffering is a result of human sin. However, God, in His sovereignty, allows suffering to accomplish His eternal and perfect purposes. A Biblical Response to Suffering Charles Swindoll famously said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” While this is not a quote from Scripture, its point is relevant for the topic of suffering. How you and I respond to suffering is extremely important. Not only for ourselves, but for our witness to who Christ is. Biblically, there are three proper responses to suffering. The first biblical response to suffering is being cooperative. 1 Peter 4 gives us two examples of what this response looks like. In verse 1, Peter says, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” Summed up, Peter is telling us that if Christ was willing to suffer, then we need to have the same attitude! Later in the chapter, in verse 12, Peter says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Peter makes it clear that we should not be surprised at our suffering! In fact, we should expect to suffer in this life. Through suffering, God is accomplishing an important work in your life. He is disciplining you (Hebrews 12:4–11) and conforming you into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28–29). Our response to suffering should be cooperation, so that God can accomplish the work He desires in us. The second biblical response to suffering is trust. Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Oftentimes, we are tempted to think we know what is best. Instead of trusting that the Lord knows what is truly best, we fail to trust Him and rely on our own limited thinking. Our trust in God during times of suffering should seem radical. Even if the results don’t go as we prayed they would, we should know that God is good and sovereign, and that He has a good purpose for His kingdom even in the most difficult situations. The third biblical response to suffering is submission. What do your prayers sound like when you pray for a sick person? Or when you pray for a hard season to pass? My guess is that it goes something like this: “Lord, please heal this person from their sickness.” Or, “Lord, please remove this challenging situation from my life.” These types of prayers are not submissive to God’s will, but rather place ourselves in the driver’s seat. Instead, our prayers during times of suffering should reflect Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus says in Matthew 26:39, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus made His petitions known to the Father. He did not want to suffer crucifixion. But He also submitted Himself fully to the Father’s will. Jesus was more concerned with submission to His Father than being comfortable. In our lives and in our prayers, we should seek to reflect the same attitude that Jesus had in the garden. Conclusion Why does God allow suffering? I believe there are a lot of good, eternal purposes that God has in human suffering. The few examples that were shared in this blog are just a few of the many ways in which God has used suffering for His perfect purposes. The greatest example of them all is the suffering of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His suffering on the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sin and reconciled lost sinners back to God. Salvation was made possible through suffering! In Job 42:5, after Job had suffered immensely, he says, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” My prayer is that even while you suffer, you would conclude with Job that through suffering God is revealing to you more of Himself than He ever could in your comfort. Thanks for reading this month's blog post. If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group or getting connected, click here .

This Easter episode explores the profound significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, its historical and theological foundations, and how believers can marvel and communicate the resurrection. We touch on the origins of the holiday, ways we can honor the Lord as we celebrate, and share scripture alongside personal reflections to deepen our understanding and faith around Easter. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released!   Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here . ⁠⁠⁠

This past weekend, Uncommon Sports Group hosted an Impact Weekend in Dallas, TX, for twenty-nine USG Academy participants. Each of the attendees spent eight weeks walking through USG’s Academy program, which provides faith-based and professional development opportunities for 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 Dallas, the weekend officially began on Friday afternoon with a welcome session and a visit to AT&T Stadium. A tour guide walked our group throughout the entire facility, including the Cowboys locker rooms, stadium suites, press box, and much more. It was very cool to see one of the most well-known spectacles in sports and to learn more about the operations of a professional sports facility. Following the tour, our group drove around the corner to an entertainment complex called Texas Live! for dinner and a panel session with Christian sport industry professionals from the Dallas metro area. The panelists included Paul Conner, Account Executive with Seminole Boosters; Dana Blount, Assistant Athletics Director of Academic Services at TCU; Angela Marin, Director of Athletics at the University of Texas at Dallas; and Luke Unverferth, Coordinator of Corporate Partnership Marketing at the Dallas Cowboys. The panel touched on a number of topics, including how they got their foot in the door in the sport industry, the importance of having a “why” for working in sports, their day-to-day responsibilities in their specific roles, how they have navigated various transitions in their careers, and how they make Jesus a priority in their lives despite a busy schedule. 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 Southern Methodist University (SMU) for a tour of their football facilities with Carter Stanton, the Associate Athletic Director of Creative Strategy with the Mustangs. The group was able to see the new state-of-the-art football facility, the Gary Weber End Zone Complex. Our tour included seeing the team’s locker room, weight room, team room, and the football stadium itself. The tour wrapped up in the creative team’s office for a mock recruiting photoshoot! Our next stop after SMU was outreach with a local ministry called Mercy Street. Through the vehicle of youth sports, Mercy Street reaches out to impoverished communities in the Dallas area to connect children and families to sports and ultimately the gospel of Jesus Christ. A USG member, Garrett Sons, serves in an operations role with Mercy Street. Our group helped tidy up the facilities at Mercy Street and prayed over specific prayer requests that Garrett shared for the ministry. Afterwards, the group had some time to play sports with one another, including basketball and volleyball. Finally, Saturday wrapped up in downtown Dallas with dinner and a Mavericks game. During each Impact Weekend, the group is provided an opportunity to fellowship with one another during a social event. The Mavericks game provided a space for the group to build relationships with one another and to enjoy a professional sporting event. The weekend wrapped up on Sunday morning with a church service at Watermark Church. A part of our mission at Uncommon Sports Group is to connect Christians working in sports to community, 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 this group of future leaders in 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. If you are interested in learning more about our ministry work at Uncommon Sports Group or getting involved, please click here .

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, host Noah Weiss speaks with Tracy Hanson, a retired professional golfer and founder of the Tracy Hanson Initiative. Tracy shares her journey of faith, the impact of her past abuse on her life and career, and how she found healing through counseling and support. The conversation delves into the challenges of performance identity in sports, the importance of creating safe spaces for athletes, and Tracy's mission to help others navigate their struggles. Her story is one of resilience, faith, and the desire to make a difference in the lives of those facing similar challenges. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released!   Do you want to join our community of Christian leaders working in the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here . ⁠⁠⁠