Uncommon Sports Group attended the 2023 Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) Convention in Oklahoma City, OK. On June 4th, the convention kicked off various training sessions ranging from conference meetings to establishing a positive culture. All of this was kicked-off with an attendee meeting that featured an outstanding guest speaker, Amy Downs, who shared her story about surviving the Oklahoma City bombing and living an intentional life. USG was there to connect with the many members of the AEMA that have been amazing supporters since we were once known as Managers On A Mission (MOAM). We were also able to kick off celebrating USG’s 10 year anniversary by sharing cupcakes with all attendees in the vendor exhibits. Being able to catch up with many who were there when founder Drew Boe announced the organization's creation at the AEMA convention in Las Vegas, NV, 10 years ago. While catching up with members, we were also able to share the amazing impact of the Clean Out For A Cause program. Big milestones were achieved in the past year while surpassing 600,000 pounds of donations since the organization’s inception. The benefit of the Clean Out For A Cause program is the numerous individuals that have been able to take advantage of the USG Academy, Impact Weekends, Mission Trips, Scholarships, and the many other opportunities USG provides future leaders of the sports industry in connecting with their faith and their passion in sports. During the convention, we were able to help host AEMA’s Fellowship of Equipment Managers meeting, where Augie Hernandez and Jalen Stone were able to share devotionals and inspire fellowship amongst the group allowing everyone in attendance to grow in their faith and connect with others in the industry. USG was also able to create a greater connection with those in attendance at AEMA by hosting a laundry service project for anyone in attendance. AEMA attendees were able to come by and help local community members in OKC in doing their laundry at a local laundry facility and getting to share a little bit about what equipment managers do and our passion for helping others in need. Renegade Brands was also in attendance and provided laundry detergent for those in attendance. This was a great event, and we look forward to working with AEMA to continue to grow this opportunity in future years during the convention. The AEMA convention was an awesome platform for sharing the opportunities USG provides aspiring professionals while providing information about our Clean Out For A Cause program. A big thank you to AEMA and its members for all of the support and opportunities to serve such a hard-working and essential industry within the sports world. We look forward to seeing everyone in Atlanta in 2024! If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Practicing Sabbath is a way to slow down, rest, focus on the Lord, and trust Him with your time. It’s a time to get in tune with the way God created for us to live. Sabbath is “God’s gift of repetitive and regular rest. It is given for our delight and communion with God. Time for being in the midst of a life of doing particularly characterizes the Sabbath” (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Calhoun). God instructed us to rest one day of the week (Exodus 20:8-10, also see Hebrews 4:1, 9-11). Although it’s debatable whether or not Sabbath is considered a command that all Christians should follow, it is clear that those who have begun consistently practicing Sabbath have reaped the benefits of a slower, more focused life that allows for greater awareness of God’s presence and voice. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Sabbath is a huge topic, so this writing is not extensive (and simply practicing the Sabbath will probably teach you more than reading a lot about it!). I want to share what I have learned and how practicing Sabbath has impacted my life over the past months. Earlier this year, I started scheduling a Sabbath into my routine every week. At first, it was really difficult. All my emotions that I had ignored from hurrying through life hit me, and I didn’t know what to do with myself during this time. Sabbath is a time to slow down, remove the task list, do things I enjoy, and intentionally connect with God. When it hit Friday night, I realized that I had removed so many things I enjoyed from my life and replaced them with other tasks (cleaning, working, doing homework). No wonder I was feeling worn out! When I slowed down, made room for processing through my life instead of rushing through it, and started enjoying the gifts that God has given me that I can tend to throw on the back burner (for me, this is playing piano, drawing, singing). I started to feel more grounded and whole. As a human being, I need this time with God! Having this 24-hour time to rest is something that I can look forward to each week. It also helps keep me spiritually on track when life gets busy because the scheduled time makes it harder to push off the enjoyment and time with God for other “more pressing” things. The biggest mindset shift for me has been, as Calhoun says, “trusting God for all that [I’m] not doing or taking care of.” When I am tempted to start checking things off my to-do list or taking control of a situation on my Sabbath, I can practice letting go of those things and trusting that God does take care of me. Not only my mind is affected, though. My body is also learning to slow down, and I am more in tune with my heart. If you are feeling overwhelmed and can’t seem to get out of the busyness of life, I would encourage you to check out John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way! It is simple, God-focused, experiential, and practical. With God’s help, it has helped me create healthier lifestyle rhythms, understand how holistically I am made, and show me through experience how entering into the way that God created humans to live can be greatly beneficial to the whole person. This is a great resource if you want to take a biblical approach to slowing down. Tips on practicing Sabbath: Plan out your Sabbath! Put it on your calendar so that you actually follow through. Give yourself grace if you feel like your Sabbath time didn’t go exactly as you wanted. For many people, it can be a shock to our minds and bodies to slow down. If it feels like a struggle, that’s okay! Keep going - you will likely adjust to the new pace after a few weeks and feel better for it. Consider turning off your phone (you can do it). Cook, clean, and do your other tasks before your Sabbath so you aren’t distracted on your day of rest. Sabbath Resources: Practicing the Way (Sabbath) - John Mark Comer The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry - John Mark Comer Spiritual Disciplines Handbook - Adele Ahlberg Calhoun If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

The Bible can be intimidating. Not only is it full of weighty content that’s sometimes hard to understand, but many people wonder “Where do I start?” when reading the Bible for the first time. Even individuals who’ve been Christians for years struggle with this question. Personally, it took quite some time to be comfortable with coming to terms that there is no one right way to read the Bible. There is so much freedom when it comes to how to approach Bible reading. I’ve been a Christian ever since I can remember but it wasn’t until my junior year of college that it all clicked. My college ministry pastor challenged the group to read the Bible for 10 minutes each day. To start at the beginning of Matthew and read through the whole New Testament in one semester. He summed it up really well, “Word after word. Literally, you just start. You read the first word and then you keep going… The way you read the Bible is you start and just keep going.” This is how I want to encourage you today. Pick up your Bible, open it up, and start reading! Whether this is in Genesis (the Beginning) or Matthew (the first book in the New Testament), the important part is to start reading! Below are some different ways to dig deeper into your Bible reading experience that you can apply to any text you read. These frameworks utilize acronym’s to guide you through your time in the scripture. Having a notebook or journal dedicated to your Bible reading is also very helpful! The Daily R.O.A.D. The Daily ROAD model is a great way tool to use if you have an accountability partner or a group of people you are reading the Bible with. It helps provide you with action steps to take what you are learning through your Bible reading and apply it to your daily life! Read Simply pick up God’s word and read it Observe By engaging in observation, you will build your biblical knowledge and give a foundation for the Spirit to use the text in your life Apply The goal of the application step is to take the knowledge you learned about God in the first two steps and use it as fuel for you to follow Him with your life Discuss Spend time with God and others discussing what He has shown you. It is in this step that you can build intimacy with God and community with others The SPECK Model The SPECK model helps us understand more deeply the application of certain passages of scripture. The questions asked within this model are made to help expand our thinking and understanding of who God created us to be along with increasing our understanding of who He is! Sin to Avoid What does the passage say about sin? Is there something I should confess or avoid? Promise to Claim What promises or blessings does God communicate to me? Example to Follow What actions or characteristics does the passage tell me to replicate? Command to Obey What instruction or teaching does God give me to apply to my personal life? Knowledge about God What understanding or wisdom did I learn about God? I hope these approaches are helpful for you. Remember, that no specific approach or methodology is as important as your relationship with the Savior. Spending time in the Word is how we learn more about our Heavenly Father and his plans for us. If you'd like to chat with one of our team members about Bible study, or if you'd like to learn more about Uncommon Sports Group and our ministries, please contact us today. We'd love to hear from you.

Getting into the sport industry is never easy, especially for young professionals interested in working for an organization as well-renowned as the National Football League (NFL). While it may seem that a 'secret sauce' is involved in reaching the pros, more often than not, front office executives choose a path that is much more subtle. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, the Vice President of Football Operations with the Carolina Panthers, Jeff Brown, talks about his humble beginnings as a ball boy with the Indianapolis Colts and how his work ethic in the equipment room offered him an opportunity in the front office. You can listen to Jeff's story on this week's episode! A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

In our last Habits of Grace blog, we discussed the purpose of fasting in the life of the Christian. The blog highlighted that fasting plays a pivotal role in the life of a Christian. In a world filled with temporary forms of pleasure such as food, there is no better way to honor God by faith than to turn away from those pleasures for a time to seek deeper satisfaction in Him. But, the question that remains is how should the Christian fast. In this blog, we’ll answer that question and discuss ways you can apply fasting to your walk with Christ. How Not to Fast In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus directly teaches how not to fast. “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” It is the temptation of every human to be celebrated or honored by other humans. It is easy when we are doing things for God to actually do them for ourselves. This is the point Jesus is making. When the Pharisees, or the hypocrites as he calls them, fast, they blatantly make it known so that they may receive respect and admiration from their counterparts. It is interesting that in his warning, Jesus states that the hypocrites have received their reward. So, what was that reward? It was admiration and honor from humans. The cost of that reward, however, was that they did not receive the reward that God offers. In short, it is important not to make the goal of your fasting to have the appearance of holiness towards your brothers and sisters in Christ but to conceal your fasting as best you can to obey the command of our Lord. How to Fast Jesus’ Way In Matthew 6:18, Jesus teaches that we should take measures to hide that we are fasting so that our fasting may be seen by our Father, who will reward us. This is the key to understanding how Jesus wants us to fast. Like many other spiritual disciplines, fasting is a Godward act, and it should be done for the sole purpose of seeking God. Jesus knows our hearts are easily tempted (Hebrews 4:15) to strive for human admiration, so the command to conceal our fasting is an important part of His teaching in Matthew 6. If we are to fast Jesus’ way, it means that we are not to broadcast our fasting to those around us but rather to keep our fasting between ourselves and the Lord. The goal of our fasting, as discussed in our last blog, is to lay aside worldly temptations to derive a deeper satisfaction in Christ. This is the reward that Jesus speaks of, a greater joy and satisfaction in our Lord and Savior. The question that often arises from this teaching is the issue of corporate fasting. Is it acceptable to fast with other believers, given Jesus’ command to conceal our fasting? The answer to this question is yes, of course! In Acts 13:2, we see that the early church was fasting and praying together to seek guidance on who the Lord desired to send out to minister the gospel. Corporate fasting is a wonderful way to seek the Lord with the body of Christ, but we must be careful not to be tempted to use corporate fasting as a way to seek human admiration in our fasting. Practical Fasting Tips During the USG Academy, participants are encouraged to seek the Lord through the habits of sabbath and/or fasting. In an effort to prepare the participants for these exercises, tips are given on how to apply these disciplines to their lives practically. The tips for fasting are beneficial in understanding how exactly to put the habit of grace into practice. One of the first tips discussed is that you can fast from just about anything! When we think about fasting, we often attribute it to fasting from food. While this certainly is the most common form of fasting, it is acceptable to fast from other things as well. Everyone is tempted by different earthly pleasures that can easily provide a pseudo-satisfaction that replaces the satisfaction of knowing Christ. For one person, it could be food in general; for another, it could be coffee; for another, it could be television. Whatever you choose to fast from, make sure that the goal of your fasting is Godward! Another common temptation is to fast for physical benefits, which is not the purpose of fasting in the Christian life. Secondly, it is important to set a reasonable time period for your fast. It is easy to be tempted to fast for a long period of time, but in reality, that goal may not be achievable! Be sure to know your limitations and set goals you can reach during your fasting period. Lastly, it is important to develop consistency in your fasting routine! Our human nature leads us to be forgetful, and without a plan in place, habits such as fasting can easily fall to the back burner. Consider your schedule and find a time of each week, month, quarter, or year in which you can practice fasting regularly! Conclusion In our first blog on fasting, we outlined the greater purpose of fasting as a Christian, which is to derive a deeper satisfaction in our relationship with Christ as we turn away from the pleasures of this world. In this blog, we discussed the application of fasting in our lives. As you begin to implement fasting into your walk with the Lord or continue to practice fasting, remember that the heart behind why we fast is greater than the act itself! As Jesus taught us, if we fast with the intention of seeking His face, we will most certainly be rewarded. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Uncommon Sports Group provided its member Nick Fairley with the opportunity to serve at this year's Athletes in Action (AIA) Captains Academy. The Captains Academy provides college basketball athletes with an immersive leadership experience through past college hoops players who have led locker rooms, dealt with coach's expectations, and dealt with social media pressures and fan noise on what it takes to be an effective team leader. Nick went through the USG Academy experience and attended an Impact Weekend in New York City, NY, in April 2022. This past year, Nick attended the Captain's Academy as an assistant and was involved in the same role this year. Below is a short testimonial from Nick about his experience at the Academy. "This past week, Uncommon Sports group blessed me with the opportunity to attend the Athletes in Action’s Captain’s Academy in a leadership role. The Captain’s Academy attracts basketball athletes from Division 1 schools nationwide. Leadership, life, and Christian principles are taught by coaches from both Athletes in Action and the NBA. I had the privilege to lead a small group where we discussed life’s struggles, challenges, and blessings! I will take all the skills, knowledge, and experience to heart as I progress in my coaching journey. Thanks to USG for giving me this amazing opportunity!"- Nick Fairley, USG member It was encouraging to see how God used Nick and the leaders at the Captain's Academy to impact some of the nation's most talented athletes for the glory of God! If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group and how we can come alongside you as a Christian in the sport industry, click here to get in contact with us, or click here to apply to join our USG Academy!

This past Tuesday, Uncommon Sports Group hosted a live event on LinkedIn for the first time. This event, titled "Networking with Uncommon Leaders," aimed to provide individuals within the college and pro sport industry an easily accessible opportunity to network with a present sport industry professional. The event was hosted by a USG staff member and featured a USG member and Director of Operations with the University of Pittsburgh's baseball team, Austin Thompson. Austin has been in his role at Pittsburgh for three seasons and provided the viewer's insight into his day-to-day, how he balances work and life, advice on getting into the sport industry, and how he has been living out his faith in his role. During the event, the host asked Austin how he got his 'foot in the door' in the sport industry, which is often challenging for young professionals. Austin responded that he made a conscious effort to get as much experience as he could in the realm of sports that he was interested in, even if the position was entry-level or didn't line up exactly with his long-term career goals. Austin said, "It can be humbling to beg for that first experience, but it can be good to show that you aren't too big for any role an organization is willing to give." One highlight of the conversation was Austin's testimony about the Bible study he started with some of the players on the Pitt baseball team. In his first two seasons at Pitt, the team did not have any active team chapel or Bible study, so this past season, Austin took matters into his own hands and began a team Bible study. Austin mentioned that he desired the study to be player-led simply because the players would trust one another more than a staff member. Some of the fruit that Austin saw with the team Bible study was guys growing in their faith, being more open and vulnerable with their struggles, and having the desire to know and love God more. It was truly a blessing to spend some time learning from Austin and how he has strived to be an uncommon leader within his role at Pitt. If you missed the live event and would like to watch the conversation, click here to view it on LinkedIn! Stay tuned for more live events on LinkedIn, such as this one! If you are a young professional in the college or professional sport industry aspiring to be a Christ-centered leader, apply for our Academy and receive a development experience that will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged both spiritually and professionally! If you simply want to get in touch with our staff, contact us here!

Fasting is not particular to the Christian faith. Almost every world religion, and even non-religious people, practice fasting. So, what role does fasting play in the life of the Christian, and does it have any role at all? On the surface, it can seem that fasting has no place in the Christian life. It was simply an Old Covenant practice that became obsolete upon Jesus’ ascension from the dead, which marked the beginning of a New Covenant. But Jesus himself says in Matthew 9:15, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.” In his response to John’s disciples' question regarding Jesus’ disciples not fasting, Jesus tells them that they will not fast while He is with them, but when he is taken away from them, they will fast. In this blog, we’ll unpack this teaching from Jesus and what it means for how Christians should approach fasting. Fasting in the Old Testament Before we discuss the purpose of fasting in the Christian context, it is important to understand the purpose of fasting for God’s people in the Old Covenant. We see throughout the Old Testament Scriptures that fasting was directly related to mourning over sin, a yearning for deliverance, and a longing for God. Often, this fasting displayed a desire for God to deliver His promise of sending the Messiah to Israel. This is evidenced in Nehemiah 1:4 when the prophet Nehemiah fasted after learning that the Israelites who survived the exile were in great trouble. For the Israelites, fasting expressed brokenheartedness and desperation, usually over sin, danger, or some desired blessing. This fasting was not a response to God’s deliverance but a desire for it to come. Fasting (or lack thereof) for the Disciples The most intriguing part of Jesus’ response to the questions of John’s disciples in Matthew 9 is His statement that His disciples cannot mourn while the ‘bridegroom’ is with them. First, we see Jesus also recognized that fasting was often a sign of mourning, which we discussed in the previous paragraph. But we also see that He calls Himself the bridegroom. This claim to be the ‘bridegroom’ is a direct claim of being the Divine Son of God. In the Old Testament, God described Himself as the husband of His people Israel. Isaiah 62:5 says, “As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” In making this claim, Jesus clearly outlines that His disciples will not fast while the Messiah is with them because His coming is worth celebrating. This is why Jesus and His disciples did not fast but rather feasted, which Jesus was condemned for by the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 11:19). Fasting for the Christian In the latter part of Matthew 9:15, Jesus says that His disciples will fast once He is taken from them. This statement makes it clear that fasting is not obsolete for followers of Jesus but will have its purpose once He has ascended to heaven. In his commentary of the Gospel of Matthew, Robert Gundry states, “The entirety of the church age constitutes ‘the days’ that ‘will come when the bridegroom is taken away.’” So, for the 21st-century Christian, Jesus is directly stating that this is the time when His disciples will fast. But, the purpose of why we fast is still not completely understood. If we read on in Matthew 9 verses 16-17, we see that Jesus says, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” John Piper explains this text well in his book A Hunger for God, “The new wine of Christ’s presence demands not no fasting but new fasting.” The fasting of the Old Covenant would no longer make sense because the ‘bridegroom’ had come. God had delivered the promised Messiah to Israel and the Gentiles. This new fasting that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 9 is a fasting that rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ. We do not fast out of emptiness but out of fullness, which comes from our faith in what Jesus has provided us in forgiving our sins and the eternal hope of everlasting life in His presence. For the Christian, fasting is saying to God that true satisfaction does not come from worldly pleasures such as food, but rather from the relationship, we are given with God through Christ. That is the true purpose of fasting that Jesus calls for us to live out. Conclusion It is evident that fasting plays a pivotal role in the life of a Christian. In a world filled with temporary forms of pleasure such as food, there is no better way to honor God by faith than to turn away from those pleasures for a time to seek deeper satisfaction in Him. This is the ultimate aim of fasting for the Christian. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, its programs, or its ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out the Uncommon Podcast. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

The majority of people are acquainted with the Orlando Magic Power Forward, Jonathan Isaac, but very few know the impact that his former athletic trainer at Florida State University, Amanda Robinson, had on Jonathan's faith journey. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Jonathan and Amanda talk about Amanda's lasting impact on Jonathan during his time at Florida State University and the power of using your platform in sports for a cause greater than wins and losses. You can hear Jonathan speak at this summer's Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference in Minneapolis, MN, on June 23-24. Don't miss your chance to sign-up! The registration window closes on Memorial Day, May 29th! A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this week's episode, and be sure to follow our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group and what our ministry has to offer? Contact us to learn more here! Do you want to join the largest community of future Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

When seeking a new career opportunity, joining a Christ-centered non-profit organization focused on supporting individuals in the sport industry was not top of mind. However, I have truly been grateful and blessed by my experience at Uncommon Sports Group (USG). Right away, I noticed how genuine and welcoming everyone in the organization was. Most importantly, within my first 90 days, I observed what it meant to have humility. Embodying Humility - Inspired by Philippians 2:3-4 As I started working at USG and getting accustomed to the culture, the Apostle Paul’s letter in Philippians 2:3-4 resonated with me: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (NIV) A Remarkable Act of Selflessness - Going Above and Beyond Within a few weeks of joining, Zac Colburn, Director of Operations at USG, successfully pulled together the entire staff team to secretly provide assistance in covering the expenses for a staff member’s vehicle repair. This particular staff member had been saving money to further his education. Thanks to Colburn’s selfless act and initiative, the entire cost of the vehicle repair was taken care of. The whole staff demonstrated their humility by putting the needs of others above their own. Living Out USG’s Core Values - Serving with Consideration USG’s warehouse features a powerful statement: “We serve in the little things, are considerate of how our attitude and actions impact those around us, and put others above ourselves.” I’ve seen each team member exemplify these values by seeking to understand one another’s unique personalities and gifts. Their thoughtful actions and attitudes truly made a difference in how they work with one another. My first 90 days at USG have been a blessing and a sincere lesson in humility. From the moment I joined, I was embraced by the team and witnessed the needs of others being put above their own. I’m excited to see what God will do in the organization; and how I can contribute my digital marketing and graphic design skills to support the organization’s mission, inspired by a team that truly shows humility, teamwork, and a passion for serving others. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group, their programs, or their ministry, get connected through the form on our home page or check out our Uncommon Podcast, hosted by staff member Noah Weiss. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

In the month of April, Locker Room Direct was honored to assist in sponsoring the annual Arise With The Guys event, held in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, each year. Locker Room Direct is a division of Uncommon Sports Group. We share the core values of our mission, which acknowledges the profound impact and reach of the sports industry and its platform. Both Uncommon Sports Group and Arise with the Guys seek to see the sports industry use its significant resources for the glory of God. Arise With The Guys had approximately four thousand attendees, and featured an exceptional lineup of speakers, all of whom have achieved incredible success in the world of college and professional sports. These esteemed individuals shared their faith, stories, wisdom, and insights, capturing the audience's attention by demonstrating how God has moved in their lives. Among the speakers at Arise With The Guys was Tony Dungy, a legendary NFL coach and current commentator for NFL on CBS. His remarkable career and his induction into the Hall of Fame made him a highly anticipated speaker. In the past, Dungy was asked by Sports Commentator, Jim Nantz, “How’s it feel to be the first African-American Coach of a super-bowl winning team?” Dungy responded, “I’m proud to represent African-Americans, but I’m more proud to show that you can win at the highest level and do it the Lord’s way.” Dungy’s words resonated deeply with the audience as he shared his coaching philosophies, leadership principles, and the importance of “doing it the Lord’s way” in the face of challenges. Following this, Coach Dungy asked Kevin Warren, the CEO and President of the Chicago Bears and the former Big Ten Conference Commissioner, a similar question: Is being recognized for his color important to him? Warren responded, “If the Lord was with me from the time I wake up, to the time that I go to bed, that He would say ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ … I don’t pay attention to the accolade or the color... I just want to live a life that’s pleasing to God,” said Warren. Warren offered valuable insights into the business side of professional sports and the importance of keeping God at the center of one’s life. His journey from his role as the COO of the Minnesota Vikings to his current leadership position with the Chicago Bears served as an inspiration to many aspiring professionals in the audience, especially through his faith in the Lord. Matt Eberflus, the head coach of the Chicago Bears, also spoke at the event. As a respected figure in the Chicago sports community, Eberflus was thankful for the Lord’s work in his life and career. Although his first year as Chicago Bears’ head coach was difficult, it taught him what it means to have “modeling behavior.” Warren states that “Jesus has a modeling behavior,” meaning “if you want respect, you model respect; if you want hard work, you model hard work … you model that behavior, and it will bounce right back.” This shows Eberflus’ integrity and dedication to living out what we preach. Arise With The Guys was a remarkable event that profoundly impacted all who attended. Through the stories of faith and wisdom, the audience was inspired to embrace the values of determination, teamwork, personal growth, and resilience, all for God’s glory. The speakers highlighted in this article are just a few who participated in the event. This event served as a reminder of the power of sports through faith and community. Further, it strengthened our commitment to supporting initiatives that empower and inspire others through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We were grateful for the opportunity to sponsor Arise With The Guys this year and look forward to partnering again next year. To learn more about Arise With The Guys, click here. If you’re unfamiliar with Uncommon Sports Group or the work we do, get connected through the form on our home page, or check out our Uncommon Podcast, hosted by Noah Weiss. If you would like to support our ministry, we would be grateful if you’d shop with us at lockerroomdirect.com. You’ll find thousands of authentic and team-issued items donated by members of the collegiate and professional sport industry. 100% of the proceeds support the ministry and programming provided by Uncommon Sports Group. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Uncommon Sports Group’s Academy experience is made up of two parts. The first is an eight-week virtual course that challenges participants to spend daily time in God’s Word through USG’s curriculum titled The Playbook, as well as reading the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and being pushed to grow as young professionals in the sport industry through assignments and coaching. The latter part of the Academy experience is an in-person Impact Weekend. In this blog, we will discuss what an Impact Weekend is and its purpose. Put simply, Impact Weekends are a fully-funded trip to a city within the United States that brings together Academy participants for an in-person event upon completion of the eight-week virtual course. In the past, USG has done Impact Weekends in Phoenix, AZ, New York City, NY, Tampa, FL, Minneapolis, MN, and Indianapolis, IN, among others. Because of USG’s Clean Out For A Cause program, each participant is able to attend the weekend absolutely free! This includes travel expenses, lodging, food, and other activities. The purpose of this weekend experience is to bring together future leaders of the sport industry for a time of fellowship and to challenge each other to put what they have learned during the eight-week virtual course into action. USG’s core values are living called to the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20), being committed to becoming more like Christ (Romans 12:1-2) and getting connected to Christian community, and accountability within the sport industry (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Over the course of the Impact Weekend, each participant is prompted to live out these core values through the various activities provided in hopes that they would continue to live out these values in their careers within the college and pro sport industry. During the Impact Weekend, participants are provided with a variety of unique opportunities for growth and development. USG emphasizes the importance of the core value of getting connected through fellowship time, strengths activities, facility tours, and guest speakers. On Friday night, USG offers a fellowship time at a local venue such as Top Golf, which provides set aside time for participants to get to know each other better and develop deeper relationships with the group. USG also does strengths activities using each participant's Gallup CliftonStrengths results as the center of each activity. During the eight-week virtual course, Academy participants are required to take the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment. USG utilizes the results of each participant on the Impact Weekend to help the group connect and get to know each other's gifts better. Another important part of getting connected is through networking with present leaders within the college and pro sport industry. During the weekend, participants are able to hear from guest speakers from local college and professional sports teams. Participants are able to learn from the experiences of the guest speakers, as well as ask the speaker questions. Guest speakers will often provide the group with a tour of their team's practice facility, stadium, and/or arena to provide a better understanding of the day-to-day operations of the organization. The core value of living called is emphasized in a variety of ways, as well. The most obvious and challenging is through local community outreach. USG provides each weekend participant with an opportunity to engage in local outreach through sharing their faith with people in the surrounding community. Each participant is given an overview of the outreach process and instructions on how to go about having a gospel conversation. After the training is completed, participants split up into small groups and are sent out into the city to interact with people through prayer and/or sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondarily, in an effort to encourage participants to live called in their own organizations and communities, USG sets aside time during the weekend to train participants on how to start and lead a Discovery Bible Study (DBS). The DBS process is easy to replicate and has no costs attached, which makes it a great way to engage coworkers and friends with Scripture. Finally, USG emphasizes the core value of being committed to becoming more like Christ during the weekend through group Bible study and prayer training. The entire group spends time together studying Acts 2:42-47 and learning what attributes the early church had that can be applicable to their careers within the college and pro sport industry. This study follows the DBS format mentioned above in an effort to display its effectiveness and simplicity. USG also provides guidance and training on participants' prayer lives and the importance of prayer in the Christian walk. Impact Weekends are a fundamental part of Uncommon Sports Group’s development of Christ-centered leaders within the college and professional sport industry. Each participant is left feeling encouraged to live called, be committed, and get connected. Once participants complete the eight-week virtual course and the Impact Weekend, they are granted membership status within Uncommon Sports Group. Members of USG have access to further development opportunities such as fully-funded international mission trips, domestic conferences and events, our private app, and more! Learn more about membership here. If you are a young professional in the college or professional sport industry aspiring to be a Christ-centered leader, apply for our Academy and receive a development experience that will leave you feeling equipped and encouraged both spiritually and professionally! If you are interested in learning more about our Impact Weekends, click here to read a blog directly from some of our participants!