I coach because it is the passion, love, and mission that God has blessed me with. The game of basketball is my vehicle to minister to others. Basketball is the place where I get to see others become all that God has created them to be. From an early age, I have had a love for the game of basketball. I grew up in western Kansas and am a strong Jayhawk fan. I can remember vividly going to games with my grandma and keeping stats. It has always been my passion and love. In high school, I was a strong long-distance runner and thought that was what I would do in college. But God had other plans. After three straight tibia fractures, I was left with a choice to take a chance on myself or attend the University of Kansas. I can remember praying about this decision, and the second day receiving an email saying I had received the Pell Grant for the University of Kansas. This made my decision a little easier. It was during my years in college that my faith and understanding of Jesus really took off due to a campus ministry. I was beginning to realize that there is no sacred or secular divide and that Jesus truly wants a connected relationship with each of us. I came into college unsure of what I wanted to do and who I really was. I left rooted and fired up. I first discovered my love for coaching in 2018 and 2019. It was my first year being a student manager for the women’s basketball team at the University of Kansas. I was also very blessed to travel to the NABC men’s Final Four convention, an Athletes in Action trip to Israel as an assistant coach, and coach in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). It was during these moments around strong Christian men, incredible athletes, and special organizations that I found what I wanted to do. I have never seen coaching as a job. The opportunity to serve and shape future leaders, husbands, and wives is very special. Every day in basketball, I’m given the opportunity to prepare them to be champions in every area of life. I don’t ever want to take that lightly. God calls us to use every sphere of life to influence it in his name. I am so grateful and humbled that basketball is the one for me. The relationships and special memories are what keep you going and stay with you, not the championships and rings. I think it is very interesting that when Dr. James Naismith originally created the game of basketball at the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), it was so others could meet their master. I hope that throughout my career that I am not remembered as a basketball coach but as a disciple sharing the love and hope that has forever changed my life. It is crazy looking back now on my journey only at 24 years of age. I can clearly see how God was in the midst of all these moments throughout my life to lead me back to my calling and first love. Are you seeking to use the vehicle of sport as a platform to share your faith, as Zach has? The USG Academy is an opportunity for you to learn how to have a successful career in sports while walking out your calling as a follower of Christ. Get connected to USG, or apply to the Academy with the link here.

Growing up in the state of Indiana, you are exposed to the game of basketball at a young age. Scenes like the ones found in the movie Hoosiers can still be found throughout rural Indiana. However, that wasn’t quite my experience. I grew up in a suburb of Indianapolis and went to the largest high school in the state. My Indiana high school basketball experience was exactly the opposite of the Cinderella story of Milan High School. Being a school of over 4500 students, we regularly experienced success. Anything short of achieving a State Championship was seen as a wasted season. It was during my four years of high school that I knew that I wanted to coach. But it wasn’t until later that I would realize the reason why. During my last two years of high school, I came to know Christ. Having grown up in a Mormon home I didn’t know who Jesus really was and the importance of His work on the cross. As I grew in my relationship with Him my love for the game of basketball also grew. I had good people in my life that took an interest in me and helped to answer my questions about faith. I also had a number of coaches that would pour into me, which deepened my desire to learn more about the game. Eventually, I would graduate and end up at Taylor University, a small Christian university 75 miles Northeast of Indianapolis. It was my four years at TU that would shape the trajectory of my coaching career. At Taylor, I served as a Student Assistant for Coach Josh Andrews and the Men’s Basketball program. Coach Andrews took a vested interest in me and helped to disciple me and teach me over my four years. He helped me to connect my love for basketball and my faith. He challenged me to look through the lens of Christ when thinking about pursuing basketball as a career. My time at Taylor was the most formative period of my life. I built my disciplines, invested deeply in community, and worked relentlessly in pursuit of becoming the best I could be. Toward the end of my time, I started to really look at why I wanted to coach. As I reflected on my past, the people that came to my mind were the people who helped to push me not only in my pursuit of basketball but also in my faith. I was able to see that those people were the ones to stand by me, encourage me, challenge me, and celebrate me. Today I am an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Northwestern in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and I strive daily to be that person to the girls I get to coach. I feel a strong call from the Lord that I am to use the game of basketball not only to win games but, more importantly, to build young people up to go out into the world and have an impact for the kingdom of God.

What is God's purpose for my life? We've all asked this question at one time or another, especially in how it relates to a career in sports. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, USG's Director of Ministry Advancement, Adam Maronde, helps answer that question and how our purpose in Christ can impact a career in college or pro sports. 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!

As we move further away from the Coronavirus pandemic, in-person events and conferences have come back to life. For nearly two years, attending events for professional, personal, and spiritual growth was virtually impossible. Now being three years removed from the pandemic's start, the doors to conference halls and convention centers are opening again. But, the question for many young professionals is how important these events are for their growth as future leaders of the sport industry. In this blog, we’ll share the value of attending in-person conferences and events and why you should consider attending. What Opportunities Are Available? The first item to note on this subject is that there is a wide variety of in-person event opportunities for sport professionals. Commonly for young professionals, career fairs can be a valuable option. Career fairs offer attendees the opportunity to be face-to-face with multiple teams and organizations at once. This is a great way to network, pass your resume on to potential employers, and learn about organizations' internship opportunities. Other in-person events include conventions and conferences. Predominantly, conventions and conferences are created for a specific discipline within the sport industry. For example, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) convention is specifically for men’s college basketball coaches. There is a conference for almost every discipline within the college and pro sport industry. Various conferences focus on providing Christians within the sport industry with opportunities to grow in their faith. The Daniel Summit, Passion Conference, and the Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference are three examples of conferences with a faith focus. Lastly, there are membership-based organizations exist to bring together people from various sectors within the sport industry as a collective group to learn, develop, and grow. Some examples of these organizations are Rising Coaches, Women in Sports & Events (WISE), Work in Sports, and right here at Uncommon Sports Group. These membership-based organizations are unique in that they offer long-term opportunities for growth, as opposed to a one-time conference or career fair. What is the Benefit? The considerable amount of these in-person events that exist begs the question: what is the value? At Uncommon Sports Group, we can attest that there are few things as valuable as a community within the sport industry. In-person events offer a natural way to connect with other like-minded individuals within your sector of the sport industry. Furthermore, as Christians within the sport industry, building relationships and cultivating community with other Christians in the industry is even more important. This is why events like the Daniel Summit and the Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference are so vital. Secondly, in-person events offer tremendous opportunities to network with potential future employers within the industry. The sport industry is great for building community, but it is also a highly competitive industry. For this reason, it is important to give yourself an ‘edge’ over other candidates. A high-impact way to do that is through forming a strong network of leaders in the sport industry. In-person events offer opportunities to develop and grow your network. Lastly, a benefit of in-person events is the opportunity to learn and improve your craft. Often, in-person events will offer sessions led by experienced professionals in your discipline and will improve your skill set. Conclusion In our post-COVID world, we are once again seeing the value of in-person events and community. As young professionals within the sport industry, there are few better ways to set yourself apart from the pack than by being diligent in attending in-person career fairs, conferences, and conventions. At Uncommon Sports Group, we understand that a common barrier to attending these in-person opportunities is the financial burden that comes with the travel and registration costs. This is why we offer our members fully-funded trips to in-person events for both professional and spiritual growth. Learn more about what events we offer and how you can become a member!

This past month, Uncommon Sports Group hosted seventeen Academy graduates in Indianapolis, IN, for an Impact Weekend. USG offers a fully funded Impact Weekend for every individual who completes the eight-week virtual USG Academy. These weekends provide Academy graduates with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, as well 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 walk with Christ. Two participants on the trip were Preston Flanders and Nina Petersen. Preston is currently the Coordinator of Youth Sports & Development with USA Basketball, and Nina is a Group Sales Account Executive with Madison Square Garden. Below are their testimonies from the trip to Indianapolis: "I recently attended the USG Indianapolis Impact weekend, and a few of my biggest takeaways from the weekend were the fellowship with other Christians in the sport industry, the facility tours, and the huddle groups on professional development and how to continue growing our faith while working in sports. The biggest impact for me from the weekend was getting to fellowship and connect with other Christians in sports and to be encouraged that you can have a relationship with Christ despite the busyness of working in sports. Having only been in my role for a year, it was so encouraging to connect with others in the sports industry who are also just beginning their sports careers. Saturday morning, we did a group bible study on Acts 2:42-47, and the passage really spoke to me about the importance of community within our walk with Christ and also how we can be a light in our work environments. Working in basketball, I thoroughly enjoyed both facility tours as they were related to basketball and hearing Jamie Ingram’s testimony and her story of getting into sports. Touring Hinkle Fieldhouse, the history of that arena, and the great coaches that walked that sideline and facility really resonated with me. Saturday, we toured the Indiana Pacers practice facility, and it was incredible to see and hear about the day-to-day operations and what goes on inside their facility. Saturday afternoon, we went through huddle groups with the USG staff, and I found the professional and personal development part of this to be as important as the fellowship we experienced all weekend. One group consisted of thank you notes, how to write one, ways you can find someone’s address if you do not know it, and the impact a thank you note can have. Another group went more in-depth on leading a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) and how it is not as intimidating as it appears to be. The last group was about prayer, and I learned more about ways I can rest not just physically but also rest in Christ and his presence. These huddle groups are truly what sets USG apart from other development groups because this weekend was just as much about connecting with individuals in sports who love Christ as it was about learning how to grow more spiritually in our walks."- Preston Flanders, USA Basketball "The Indianapolis Impact Weekend was an amazing experience! In fact, I already wish I could go back. The best part was definitely the people. It was great to be able to learn from the experiences of other believers in the industry balancing faith and work in an industry where work-life balance is so hard to come by. I also really enjoyed learning what the industry looks like through different lenses and backgrounds. I don’t have any experience in the college sports landscape, so I enjoyed learning more about it both on our professional development trip to Butler and through conversations with other participants working on that side of the industry. The relationships that were made on this trip, whether at outreach, professional development, or even just Top Golf, will help me to continue to have people to lean on for accountability when it gets difficult to manage everything that is going on around me. I also greatly value the opportunity to do outreach with the group. Being able to go outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to grow, which in turn will encourage me to approach similar situations with more confidence, whether in the workplace or outside of the office. I have even started a weekly post asking people how I can pray for them on my Instagram as a way to practice more intentional prayer. The exercises we did, such as learning to run a Bible study and pray more effectively, were tangible tools that made things that sometimes feel so big feel much more approachable. I look forward to utilizing these tools to connect with others through my faith. I hope to continue to be an active part of this wonderful community and to continue to grow alongside other believers working in this often chaotic industry."- Nina Petersen, Madison Square Garden It has been so encouraging to see the ways that God has used this Impact Weekend to challenge, encourage, and grow the participants in their faith and career. We are grateful to Preston and Nina for their testimonies! 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!

Have you ever considered why you want to work in the sport industry? For each of us, there is a deeper purpose behind our careers that drive us day in and day out. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Minnesota Timberwolves Player Development Assistant and Video Coordinator Jonathan Mesmacque talks about the why behind his desire to be a coach and his path to working in the NBA. 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!

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. A large part of how USG develops future leaders of sport is by providing funding for its members to attend conferences, conventions, and events that develop them spiritually and professionally. Earlier this month, USG attended the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Convention in Dallas, TX, with a group of ten of its members. The WBCA Convention offers aspiring and present women's college basketball coaches the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the game, develop their skills as coaches, and network with coaches from across the country. Two of our attendees from the trip were Mallory Odell, who is presently a graduate assistant with Valdosta State women's basketball, and Ian Keiderling, who is presently a graduate assistant with Grand View University women's basketball. Below are testimonies from Mallory and Ian on their experience at the WBCA Convention: "My time in Dallas at the 2023 WBCA Convention and Final Four was amazing. It was great to have the opportunity to learn, network, and grow in both basketball and faith. I am grateful to Uncommon Sports Group for providing resources that allowed me to attend. I had the privilege of staying with other USG members in Dallas. This was a unique opportunity to get to know them better, share our ideas and experiences about coaching and the sports industry, and enjoy fellowship in the mornings and downtime. One of the highlights of my time there was having an evening of reflection before we all departed from the convention. It was great conversation and allowed each of us to reflect and dive deeper into our purpose and what gives us life within the industry. This time of year can be a time of transition for a lot of people within our profession, so being around the Uncommon community provided comfort and grounding as we could pour truth into one another. Regardless of what stage we are each in professionally, we can all share and reflect on His faithfulness. It was also special to meet other USG members that were attending the convention and make an instant connection. Strong community within the sports industry is so valuable, and what we are all looking for, so I feel grateful and blessed to have found it through USG!"- Mallory Odell, Graduate Assistant at Valdosta State University "Experiencing Dallas and the WBCA with Uncommon Sports Group (USG) was definitely a highlight of April. Getting the opportunity to learn from and meet other coaches in women's basketball is a major opportunity to take what I learned and impact the program I work with. It was great being able to go with other USG members as we could connect in our passion for the game and faith."- Ian Keiderling, Graduate Assistant at Grand View University It is encouraging to see the many ways that God is impacting future leaders of sport through events like the WBCA Convention. We are grateful to Mallory and Ian for their testimonies! If you desire to get involved with our community of Christians within the college and pro sport industry, apply to join or connect with our staff!

This past weekend, Uncommon Sports Group hosted seventeen of its Academy graduates in Indianapolis, IN, for an Impact Weekend. USG offers a fully funded Impact Weekend for every individual who completes the eight-week virtual USG Academy. These weekends provide Academy graduates with the opportunity to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, as well 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 walk with Christ. Our weekend in Indianapolis began on Friday, April 21st, at our group hotel with introductions and Gallup CliftonStrengths activities. Each USG Academy participant is required to take the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment to help them further understand their gifts and abilities and how they can best utilize them in their career and life. These strengths activities encourage our group to get to know one another better before we jump into the weekend activities. After we completed our introductory events, our group trekked to Butler University for a tour of the school’s athletic facilities. Our group was hosted by Butler’s Assistant Athletic Director of Business Development, Jamie Ingram. Jamie provided an exceptional tour of historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, the athletic department, team locker rooms, and Butler’s Sellick Bowl. Our group was able to see the inner workings of a Division I athletic department, as well as learning directly from Jamie and her experience in the role she’s in. We closed our time at Butler with Jamie sharing her faith journey with us, and how she has incorporated her faith into her work at Butler. Our group was encouraged and challenged by Jamie’s message and were able to see that it is possible to live out your faith in a secular work environment. We closed our Friday night with a social event at Top Golf. We were able to spend time at the social with our Indianapolis area USG members, as well! We began Saturday morning with a group Bible study through Acts 2:42-47. Every Impact Weekend, we study this portion of Scripture to give our participants a visual of what the early church was like, and how we as Christians should be living amongst one another today. After Bible study, we walked across the street to the Indiana Pacers practice facility for a tour led by the team’s Manager of G-League and International Scouting, Hansen Wong. Hansen provided us with insight into how an NBA front office operates and the operation within the team facility. We ended the tour by having Hansen share his career story with us and doing a short Q&A with him. After the Pacers tour, we headed out to Greenwood, IN, to link up with a church in the area called Revive the World Ministries. We partnered with Revive the World for a local gospel outreach event at a mall in Greenwood. The staff at Revive the World gave our group a short outreach training prior to heading out to the local mall. Once we made our way out to the mall, we split out into groups of two and prayed over individuals in the mall, shared the gospel, and blessed those we encountered. Certainly, outreach can be an uncomfortable experience, but it was amazing to see how our group was encouraged and equipped to continue reaching out to people as they head back to their communities. When we got back to the hotel, we put our participants through “huddle groups”, which consisted of a prayer session, a Discovery Bible study (DBS) session, and a professional development session. Each of our staff members led a session with small groups of our participants. The prayer group challenged everyone to consider their prayer life and how they can use prayer to grow closer to Christ, the DBS session equipped our individuals to start a Bible study in their own communities and organizations, and the professional development session provided our participants with an opportunity to learn about the importance of handwritten notes. We wrapped up Saturday night with dinner and a short commissioning session over the Parable of the Sower. Our final day in the Circle City closed with church at Traders Point Christian Church and team fellowship over lunch. Each participant is officially a member of Uncommon Sports Group because of their completion of the Impact Weekend, and we’re encouraged by the ways that God grew each individual over the course of the weekend. We’re grateful for our Clean Out For A Cause donors for their generosity and making events like these possible. As we send these new USG members out, we’re confident that they are prepared and equipped to be lights for Christ within the college and pro sport industry.

USG took a group of its members to attend the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Convention in Dallas, TX. The WBCA allows present and future basketball coaches to continue learning and growing their coaching skills. The convention also provides a great time to connect with others in the women’s basketball coaching sphere. A few of our students were able to connect with Angela Marin, the Athletic Director at UT-Dallas, and gain professional and spiritual insight when it comes to working in the sports industry, along with making other meaningful connections throughout the conference that will be impactful in their continued development as women’s basketball coaches. We began and ended the weekend by gathering together and sharing how the Lord speaks to each of us and what brings us the most life. We focused on integrating our life with the Lord in every moment, including throughout the busyness of basketball season and at the convention. We thought about how the Lord has spoken to us in the past and prayed for Him to continue teaching us to hear His voice. At the end of the weekend, we went through some Daily Examen questions. The purpose of the Daily Examen is to reflect on when we are most and least aware of God’s presence in our lives. It helps us integrate the Lord into our daily life through an awareness of what brings us life and death throughout our day. It can help us process emotions, highlight the desires the Lord has given us, and invite Him into daily life. Overall, the weekend was an excellent time to connect with USG members, do life together, and grow spiritually and professionally! If you desire to get involved with our community of Christians within the college and pro sport industry, apply to join or connect with our staff!

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. A large part of how USG goes about developing future leaders of sport is by providing funding for its members to attend conferences, conventions, and events that develop them both spiritually and professionally. Earlier this month, USG attended the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Convention in Houston, TX, with a group of ten of its members. The NABC Convention offers aspiring and present college basketball coaches the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the game, develop their skills as coaches, and network with coaches from across the country. Two of our attendees from the trip were Caleb Muthiah, who is presently the Director of Basketball Operations at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) with the men's basketball team, and Wright Kimbro, who is presently a student assistant with Covenant College men's basketball. Below are testimonies from Caleb and Wright on their experience at the NABC Convention: "Attending the Final Four with USG was a life-giving and incredibly supportive experience. Being able to build relationships with fellow believers in the basketball industry revealed the strong community in a world that can often be perceived as very lonely. USG did a great job connecting us to other Christian coaches, and the entire week opened my eyes even greater to how basketball can be a ministry. I found a lot of joy in seeing the acts of servanthood and willingness to help aspiring coaches learn from current basketball coaches. Similarly, I was struck by the heart of the USG organization, from working with local ministries to praying for members of the local community. Having the opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and grow closer with other believers who share similar values and passions was incredible. USG has heled me recognize a lot about myself as a person and as a Christian, and I am looking forward to more transformational experiences that USG has to offer. They have equipped me in several ways to be strong in my faith and be a successful coach, and I firmly believe that I can now take much of what USG has taught me and instill that in the people I spend time with."- Caleb Muthiah, IWU Director of Men's Basketball Operations "Coming into my week in Houston, I had no idea what to expect. The coaches that I know gave me a run down of what the week will look like and a few suggestions on what to do, but they were all surface level suggestions. I was a bit apprehensive all the way up to getting off the plane and getting into the Uber, but as soon as I was greeted at our Airbnb by the USG guys, I knew I was in good hands. I met a great group of Christian men who struggled with the same anxieties as I do. It was an amazing support group as we all navigated throughout the week and the convention. My experience with the NABC convention was amazing. I was able to meet great people in my profession. Alongside that, the ability to go to the Final Four and the championship game was awesome. Even in the midst of all of the chaos, Mikey and Noah were still able to find some time for our group to give back to the Houston community through service. All-in-all, I had an amazing first experience at the NABC convention in due thanks to USG and their great members!"- Wright Kimbro, Covenant College Student Assistant It is encouraging to see the many ways that God is impacting future leaders of sport through events like the NABC Convention. We are grateful to Caleb and Wright for their testimonies! If you desire to get involved with our community of Christians within the college and pro sport industry, apply to join or connect with our staff!

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Justin Watson joins the show to share his journey from the Ivy League to the NFL and his faith story. Justin began his football career at the University of Pennsylvania and has since been a part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. During his time with the Buccaneers, Justin began following Jesus and has since been living to glorify Christ through his career. Finally, Justin shares in the podcast his experience playing with Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and other NFL superstars. 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!

I will never forget the emotion I felt as a young boy when my neighborhood friend was loaded into an ambulance. He had fallen from the monkey bars in our backyard and had lost feeling in the lower part of his body. The medics responded to our 911 call, carefully immobilized his neck, and placed him on a stretcher before transporting him by ambulance. My friend went on to make a full recovery, but the emotion I felt at that moment is something I will never forget. Even though there really wasn’t any reason to believe that my friend would die, I remember this being the first time that I considered the reality that one day my life would come to an end. Will I take my last breath in the back of an ambulance? Will it be painful to die? When will it happen? These are the questions that rushed through my mind. But the most significant question was what would happen to me after I die? We will all die. This is a fact of life. Some may die peacefully. Others by unimaginable tragedies. Some may live 100+ years. Others may die young. The circumstances may vary, but the reality that awaits each one of us is the same - our time on earth will come to an end. The Bible goes so far as to even point out that our life on earth is really but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow (James 4:14). This can be an incredibly painful thought to consider. All that I am living for here on earth will one day vanish in the blink of an eye, and then it’s over? The far scarier reality is that not only will our life come to an end someday, but what awaits us after we breathe our last is unimaginable torment (Matthew 13:30; 25:41; Luke 12:5; John 3:36; Romans 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:29) because we all fall short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). Even though we somehow manage to suppress this reality from our minds most days, it doesn’t change the fact that death awaits us all. This is where Easter ushers in the most incredible news imaginable. “But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4), became a man, entered into humanity as Jesus, lived the sinless life that we are incapable of living, paid the price for our sins through his death on a cross, and then defeated death by rising from the dead 3 days later in fulfillment of the Scriptures, “so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) These events literally divided time. And are ultimately what provides victory over our greatest fear of death. Paul puts it plainly in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Death is certain, but what awaits us after we breathe our last depends on how we respond to the reality of these events that took place here on earth just over 2,000 years ago. If Jesus did not in fact rise from the dead, then we Christians “are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Cor 15:19). But the reality of what Christians will celebrate this Easter weekend and is the crux of our faith is that the tomb in which Jesus' body had been placed after he breathed his last was in fact empty 3 days later (John 20:1-31). 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?[a]” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:55-57) P.S. If you are seeking to learn more about the evidence surrounding the resurrection, Dave Starrett and Josh McDowell has a great book titled ‘Did the Resurrection Happen… Really?’ that provides a fictional story of individuals seeking the answer to this very question. Are you seeking to use the vehicle of sport as a platform to share or grow your faith? The USG Academy is an opportunity for you to learn how to have a successful career in sports while walking out your calling as a follower of Christ. Get connected to USG, or apply to the Academy with the link here.