Praying through Scripture can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! The same goes for writing out your prayers. Here are a few easy ways to kick your prayer life into gear! Start off by grabbing a new journal, pen, and a cup of coffee (or a smoothie, a cup of water, or whatever is your go-to focus drink)! Pick a day once a week or once a month and set aside some time (30 minutes - 1 hour) to write out all your prayer requests and write out some Bible verses. This will be your prayer “guide” for the upcoming week/month. Step 1: Write out all your prayer requests It’s sometimes easier to categorize your requests. Some suggestions would be… Friends & Family - no detail is needed here, just write down all the names the Lord puts on your heart! Future - dreams, goals, desires. Finances - surrender, wisdom, opportunities to give. Future Relationships - future spouse, in-laws, children, co-workers. Fruit of the Spirit. Thanks - for answered prayer or blessings in your life. Step 2: Write down Bible verses In the back of your Bible, there should be a concordance. This is a great tool to search for Bible verses that align with your requests. Look up words like “prayer,” “peace,” or “faith” and write out some verses corresponding to the words that speak to you! Here are some verses to get you started… “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” ~ Psalm 145:18 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” ~ Psalm 118:24 Step 3: Pray! Finally, the most important step in this process is this last one - Pray! Take time each day to pray through these requests and thanks. Read the verses out loud and use them to affirm your prayers! You might spend 5 minutes in prayer one day and 45 the next day over these same requests but the key is that you are taking time to be with the Lord and asking Him to walk with you through this life on earth. Having your prayer requests written down can help guide prayer when you feel lost and unsure of what to pray. Daily prayer is a healthy habit for all of us. This is a simple way to help build a posture of surrender to the Lord’s will for your life, ask for His wisdom and guidance, and track His faithfulness through answered prayers!

God's Word is very clear in some areas as to how disciples of Jesus are called to live: we shouldn't murder, we shouldn't steal, we shouldn't lie, and so on. However, there are many gray areas that are not as clear in the Bible, including the music we listen to, engaging with secular entertainment, and much more. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Pastor Mark Crull from Northview Church in Indianapolis, IN, joins the show to shed light on some of these less clear and difficult gray areas to help you live a life that honors Christ in all that you do (1 Corinthians 10:30). 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 subscribe to 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!

It is impossible to be successful in the sport industry without proper guidance along the way. Thankfully, a plethora of organizations have stepped in to provide ample opportunities for young professionals in the sport industry to grow in their knowledge and relationships within the industry. In the blog, we will provide you with a list of some of the best organizations to get involved with to help you grow in your sport industry career! Organization #1- Work In Sports It can be difficult to find an open job opportunity in sports that suits your skill sets and goals. Work In Sports (workinsports.com) is an industry-focused career site that seeks to help young professionals in sports get hired faster. The website features nearly 9,000 job opportunities across the sport industry. The Work In Sports staff offers a complete job search toolbox including advice from industry experts on interviewing, networking, resume writing, and more! The site also provides a resume search feature, in which hiring managers can search resumes that have specific information that they are looking for! Getting involved with Work In Sports is easy, just go to their website and register as a job seeker! Organization #2- WISE (Women in Sports and Events) For our ladies within the USG network, getting involved with WISE is an absolute no-brainer! WISE is the leading voice and resource for women within the world of sports. WISE seeks to assist women who are navigating a career in the sport industry, help women in sports understand their value, build connections across the industry, and champion the hiring and advancement of women in sports. You can get involved with WISE by becoming a member. The cost for student membership is $40 and for a professional, it is $100. The benefits of membership include networking opportunities with established women within the sport industry, access to exclusive events discussing industry and career-related topics, discounted rates to WISE events, access to the online WISE community, access to the WISE job board, and more! Learn more about getting involved with WISE here! Organization #3- Steinberg Sports & Entertainment (SSE) If you are seeking guidance in your career, there are few organizations as beneficial as Steinberg Sports & Entertainment. SSE has over 80 years of experience guiding athletes, broadcasters, and coaches through their careers. SSE has a commitment to paying it forward through producing world-class events that help teach the next generation of sport industry professionals. One of SSE’s ways of teaching young people about the industry is through the Leigh Steinberg Sports Business Certificate! They coin the program as “the most cutting edge education program on the business of sports to ever be produced.” You are able to enroll right on SSE’s website and it is all online! SSE consistently offers workshops on their website, as well, so be sure to check to see what they are offering next! Organization #4- Rising Coaches Calling all aspiring basketball coaches in the USG network, this organization is for you! Rising Coaches is a membership-based community for coaches that connects, develops, and facilitates career advancement for its members. They seek to accomplish this by hosting clinics, conferences, and events as well as providing a digital platform for connecting, educating, and sharing ideas. The best way to get involved with Rising Coaches is through membership! The benefits of a Rising Coaches membership includes a community of over 900 coaches across the country, access to message boards within the community, opportunities to network with established coaches in the industry, peer-to-peer networking opportunities, weekly film session webinars, interview workshops, and small group workshops that help develop you as a coach! The Rising Coaches conference is another great way to get involved with the organization. This upcoming summer the conference will be on July 19-20 with the location pending. Learn more about Rising Coaches and how to get involved here! Organization #5- Speakeasy For Sports Are you looking for an easier way to connect with other professionals in sports? Speakeasy For Sports is an exclusive networking platform for sport professionals to connect and share opportunities for collaboration, knowledge, and resources that are unique to the industry. Speakeasy For Sports has a rigorous vetting process for its members to ensure that the network they provide is filled with active and influential sport professionals, like you! The benefits of becoming a member of the Speakeasy network includes instant access to a plethora of sport professionals that can help you build authentic relationships within the industry and grow your knowledge base of the industry as a whole, as well as access to mentorship from top professionals in the industry to help you learn critical skills for success in the industry. Membership with Speakeasy also allows you to have an advantage in the job search process, as the intimate network of sport professionals counters the traditional challenges of “gatekeeping” job opportunities and the lack of organization within the job market. The Speakeasy For Sports platform is invite-only, but you can request an invite on their website! Learning More! If you are interested in learning more about one of the organizations listed above or about our community of Christian future leaders in the college and professional sports industry, contact one of our staff members! Our hope and prayer is that you continue to grow in your career, so that you may use your platform in the industry to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Attending the USG Member’s Retreat was such an impactful and intentional time of rest and refreshment. The retreat itself was beneficial in so many ways, however, its impact on me afterward was even greater. There were two big things regarding the retreat that impacted me greatly during the following weeks and months. The first impact for me personally was the opportunity to hear from Christians who work in my sector of the sports industry. I found out later that it was not intentional, but I had the opportunity to hear from two individuals, Jason Romano and Carol Voronyak, who have both worked or still work in sports broadcasting and media. Having the opportunity to hear from them was such an uplifting and encouraging moment for me. So often in the field that I am in, it can become easy to get discouraged as I have encountered very few Christians in that sector of sports. However, hearing that Christians can not only survive, but thrive in this field was encouraging to say the least. Hearing their stories and the way that God protected them and guided them through their careers was a reminder that the same God that did that for them, is also the same God who will do that for me. It was a chance to realize that I was not alone in my faith in a field that so often neglects faith. This has encouraged me upon returning as a reminder that I’m not alone in my field and that since God has called me to this field, he is going to direct my steps as he leads. The other thing that has impacted me was something that Jason Romano said during his talk. He brought up the idea of “blooming where you are planted”. This mindset has had a drastic impact on how I approach my time at work. Going into the retreat, I was frustrated with my current position due to some things outside of my control. It had left me exhausted and wanting to neglect my duties. However, the mindset set forth by Jason renewed my thought process and attitude. When I returned, I felt challenged to plug in and engage deeper with both my work and my coworkers. Whenever I have been faced with the same mindset that I had before the retreat, I remind myself that the Lord has me there for a reason and that I need to grow during this season. Flowers don’t bloom unless the rain comes. Though there are times when things become difficult, those moments provide opportunities to bloom and grow and display the love of Christ to those around us. By adopting the mindset to bloom where God has planted us, we are able to demonstrate the glory of God where we are at. These were only a few of the ways that the retreat has impacted me. I did not have time to mention the relationships that were built and the physical and spiritual rest that was received. For anyone considering attending, do not miss out on this incredible weekend gathering. I guarantee you will leave inspired and encouraged.

Is it really possible to use social media for God's glory? It sure is, especially within the sport industry! Unlike any other industry, sports has a powerful presence on social media platforms and as young people pursuing a career in sports, it is essential that your social media accounts reflect Christ above all else. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, our host, Noah Weiss, talks through some of the common challenges that Christians face on social media and six tips to help you bring God glory through your social media platforms. 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 Christian future leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Working in the sport industry involves a heavy time commitment, and often limits the ability to have a healthy work-life balance. So, how do you keep God first as a young person seeking to be successful in the industry? In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Noah breaks down five key things young professionals can do to keep God first amidst the busyness of a career in 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 Christian future leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Apply to join here!

Jesus called his disciples to share the good news (Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8) and in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul charges Timothy with the following; “Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” Have you been looking for a way to share your love for the Lord with others? Or have you wondered how you could start a bible study to help others discover who God is? Well, Jesus’ call to the disciples and Paul’s charge to Timothy in this passage is the Lord’s charge to us today. And if we want to pass on our faith to the next generation of leaders in the sports industry, it would be helpful to have a tool to assist us in doing that. The Discovery Bible Study Method may be that tool. The Discovery Bible Study Method is a tool that is being used around the world to help empower both Christians and non-Christians alike to read and understand God’s word for themselves. The focus of the study is on God’s word. Period. The participants read the bible and answer simple questions that are designed to help them to know God’s character, encourage them to obey what they are learning, and share what they are learning with others. The leader in a Discovery Bible Study simply facilitates the discussion as both they and the students seek to know God better together. Because the leader does not need any special training to facilitate the discussion and the focus is on the word of God, it is very easy for anyone to lead a Discovery Bible Study. In fact, one of the goals of this method is to equip the participants to be able to go off and start their own Discovery Bible Studies with their friends, co-workers, and others they may interact with on a daily basis. So, how does it work? First, select the passage. Here is a list of suggested passages that walk through creation to salvation. Then, begin to facilitate the discussion. That’s it, it’s that simple. Here is the main format. Talk (Have each person answer these three questions) What are you thankful for? What is causing you stress? Who needs our help? How can this group help them? Review Talk about the previous week’s passage What did you do differently based on what we read last week? Who did you tell and what was the reaction? Read and Retell Have one person read the passage out loud while the others follow along. Have another person retell the passage from memory if possible and others can fill in what’s missing. Look Read the passage again. Discuss what the passage says about God, Jesus, or His plan. Look Again Read the passage once more. Discuss what the passage says about humans. Inside Me According to this study, what am I doing well? What do I need to change? Write down/share how I am going to obey this scripture. Who Else Who needs to hear this story? How can I tell them? Who can I invite to study the bible? Write down/share who I know that needs to hear what God said in this study. The key to the Discovery Bible Study method is letting spiritually interested people read the bible together, discover what it says, challenge themselves to live out what it says and share with other people. If we are going to pass on our faith to those around us or to the next generation of leaders in the sports industry, we have to equip them with the truth about God from His Word, help them to become surrendered and transformed disciples of Jesus, and teach them an easily reproducible way to share with the people they interact with on a daily basis. The Discovery Bible Study Method is a great way to do that. So, the call to us is to pass on our faith to the next generation. We have a simple, easy-to-follow tool to help us do that. Now, let’s follow the call and use our position, wherever we are, to make an impact for the Glory of God!

There are a lot of gifts from God that we utilize each and every day, but none more than our words. I am using my words right now to write this blog. I use my words to talk to my co-workers. I use my words to talk to God. In fact, according to an article in the Daily Mail, the average person will speak up to 20,000 words per day. That’s 140,000 words per week and 7.3 million words per year. So yes, words matter, and that Bible would agree. Solomon writes in Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” So, how can we use the gift of language, words, and speaking to honor and glorify our God? In this blog, we will answer three important questions that help us understand profanity and using language to glorify the Lord. What Does It Mean to Use Profanity? The sin of profanity is not just the use of cuss words. We tend to believe that just because we don’t say the “bad” words, we don’t sin. This is an incorrect view of how God views profanity. Throughout the Bible, profanity is about irreverence for God, not just the use of cuss words. We are profane when we fail to revere God’s holiness, honor his commands, fear his justice, respect his image in others, or have gratitude for His creation. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and enjoy the truth.” Paul is making it a point that people who teach to abstain from good things (marriage, food, and the like) that God created actually profane things that God has made, and Paul goes even so far as to say that these people are instructed by demons. I once listened to a podcast that talked about a church that claimed eating Lucky Charms was sinful. That is exactly what Paul is talking about, and this type of legalism is actually profaning what God has intended for good. Paul goes on to write in verses 4-5, “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” It isn’t holiness to abstain from eating Lucky Charms, but rather it’s irreverence for what God has called good and intended for pleasure and joy (Acts 14:17). How Should We Treat Image-Bearers? Driving sometimes can cause me to become intensely frustrated with other people. I do my best to love people well, but when someone pulls out in front of me when I’m driving, I lose control of my emotions. However, these short outbursts against another person have caused me to reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:22, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool’, will be in danger of the fire of hell.” The hard truth from the mouth of our Lord is that calling someone stupid is murder and hell-deserving disregard for the dignity of others. Now, that’s convicting. Profanity isn’t just bad because the words themselves are bad, but rather because they demean good things. All human beings are made in the image and likeness of God our Creator and Lord (Genesis 1:26-27). To profane a person is to actually profane God. What needs to happen in our minds is a re-wiring of our understanding of profanity. It’s less about focusing on not using profanity and more about respecting what God has made good. So, whether you are driving to work or walking through the supermarket, it is vitally important in the Christian walk to put off the sin of profanity, and put on reverent respect for human beings made in the image of God. How Do We Use Words for God’s Glory? It can be a lot easier to understand a sin than it is to obey it. I can speak from experience. However, when it comes to profanity, we Christians have the incredible calling of using our tongues for God’s ultimate glory and honor. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Paul doesn’t just say that we should avoid using cuss words at all costs, but rather that our speech should only be helpful for building others up so that it may benefit those who listen. That is an incredible, yet difficult calling. So, how do we live in obedience to this teaching? The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-5 actually saw God with his own eyes. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ‘Woe to me' I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” I find it interesting that Isaiah did not say “I am a man of unclean actions”, but rather said, “I am a man of unclean lips”. Why did Isaiah have a sudden recognition of his profane language? It was because he was in the presence of God and being in His presence brought forth the recognition that the words he had spoken about God, about His image bearers, and about His creation were profane and filthy. The immense holiness, beauty, love, and wonder of God gave Isaiah a sudden awareness of his profanity against God and what God has called good. So, if we are to use our language for God’s glory, it is essential that we live in God’s presence daily. Paul says in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” Christian, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. The presence of God is with you and empowering you. That is the key to using your words unto the glory of God. Conclusion As we walk the road that Jesus has paved for us, let us not forget the power of our words. Solomon writes in Proverbs 12:18, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Whether we are talking about God Himself, the people He created, or the creation He designed let us not profane it, but glorify it. Tim Shorey writes in an article for The Gospel Coalition, “We need to curse the profane—pronouncing harm and ruin over that which deserves to die: our irreverent minds, ungrateful hearts, and demeaning words. We need the sense of God that Isaiah had. We need a sense of his divine majesty and justice—and such a respect for his image in others—that it shapes how we talk to, and about, both him and them. This alone is fitting for those who bear the Sacred Name in a secular and profane world.”

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow”-Isaiah, 1:18 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”-1 John 1:9 I love Hockey. Always have. Mind you I’ve never actually played and I would be greatly exaggerating if I told you I follow every team. But, despite all of that, I love the sport. Argue with me if you will but I stand firm in the fact that no other sporting event is better both live and on TV. One of the things I love about hockey is the playing surface. ICE! In a true testament to the creativity of humans, someone in Minnesota or Canada, or Iceland (sorry hockey historians, I have no clue) decided to drop their ice fishing pole in the middle of January one year and thought that hitting a flat rock with a stick would be fun. And, as it turns out, this individual was absolutely right. Playing on ice truly makes hockey unique among the major team sports. Weather-related logistics and indoor technical issues aside, the playing surface actually changes DURING the game. Is there another sport where the playing environment makes such an impact? Now I know, the pitch gets torn up on rainy days and there is the occasional blizzard bowl up in Foxborough. Baseball deals with mud. Basketball courts have their unspoken home court advantages. But hockey stands alone in this regard. Case in point: The need for, and the existence of, the ZAMBONI! The Zamboni (also known as an Ice Resurfacer) is a vehicle used to clean and smooth the surface of a sheet of ice. Skaters tear up the ice so severely during the game of hockey that a Zamboni is directed to come out between each period to get the surface back to a safe and manageable playing condition. Without it, the ice would be chipped, scratched, dented, bruised, and filthy. Without it, skaters would be falling all over the place, pucks wouldn’t slide straight and the game would turn from a beautiful dance to chaos. But, because of the Zamboni, what was once broken and abused becomes new. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since the last cleaning. It doesn’t matter how severe the damage is. It doesn’t matter how nice the players are. As long as the Zamboni is requested, and only when the Zamboni is requested, does the ice become like new. Sin is with us. It is part of the human experience. Not one of us is without sin. It is like a cancer and can impact every decision and situation in our lives. It is a stain. It is like scarlet. What’s more, sin is exponential. Individual sins will build on each other and come back to haunt us. It will cause us to fall, it will cause good intentions to go off course, and it will turn a beautiful life into chaos. We are all chipped, scratched, dented, bruised, and filthy. Like an old sheet of ice, we are a real mess. But, there is hope. And that hope is Christ. And Christ is faithful. Jesus accepts us as the broken creatures that we are and makes us new. It doesn’t matter how you’ve sinned; it doesn’t matter how long it’s been. If you ask the Lord for forgiveness and repent of your sins, he wipes your slate clean. He makes us white as snow. Christ died so we could live. Christ suffered so that our sins would be forgiven. He did the hard part. All we have to do is take our sins to him and he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And like the skater back on a fresh sheet of ice, without the burden of sin, we can really fly.

Wherever you are in your professional career, there is always room for growth and development. A great place to start is learning from those who have walked the road before you. Taking time to get to know your supervisor, head coach, and others within your department is a great way to start! The next best step would be to attend a conference or two each year that focuses on whatever skill(s) it is you may want to refine. It’s important to take some time to research what conference and/or convention is right for you! There are annual conferences for all sports at the college level with learning sessions for coaches, managers, operations staff, and more. If you work within other departments, there are plenty of opportunities for you as well! There are also many similar events for those working in any realm of professional athletics - marketing, equipment, athletic training, etc.! As a member of USG, you have access to partial or fully- funded trips to these professional development opportunities and more! Check out these events we enjoy attending and send members to year after year: Collegiate Basketball Conventions: These conferences coincide with the Men’s and Women’s Final Four, respectively. They are a great way to increase your knowledge of the game, grow your network, and experience the best college hoops of the year! National Association of Basketball Coaches (NBCA) Convention & Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Convention Member Experience: “I met so many different coaches from many different teams from all over the country from every level of collegiate basketball. I connected with a lot of great individuals and learned from some of the nation’s greatest coaches and former players.” - Cody Taybron, Women’s Basketball Manager at NC A&T State University. NACDA & Affiliates Convention The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) is a professional association for individuals within athletic administration. They hold several events each year with the biggest one being a week-long convention with all their affiliate organizations. These affiliate organizations touch on just about every department within collegiate athletics. These include but are not limited to: Business Management, Event and Facility Management, Division specific Athletic Directors, Coaches, Licensing, Minority opportunities, Academics, and Student-Athlete Development, to name a few! Other College Athletics specific conferences we send members to are, Women Leaders in College Sports and NCAA Emerging Leaders. SEME - Sports Events Marketing Experience The SEME Conference provides networking opportunities with high-level sport industry business leaders and provides a deeper understanding of the media surrounding sports. Member Experience: “I was fortunate enough to network with other young professionals in the sports industry! Learning about the different backgrounds people had and how they got to where they were was inspiring and insightful.” Lucas Marroquin, Account Executive, Ticket Sales at St. Louis City SC These are some additional conferences our members have attended in the past: Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA),American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Are you interested in being able to receive funding to attend conferences like these? Join the largest community of Christian future leaders in the college and professional sports industry by applying on our website! Do you have questions about Uncommon Sports Group? Contact a staff member here!

An essential factor in building your faith is finding a church that makes sense for you. If you’re wondering how to find a church, you’re not alone! Especially in our new, post-pandemic life, it's difficult to know where to begin. And, even with the proper tools - it’s exhausting! Still, finding the right church for you is critical to growing and sustaining your faith. We have put together a series of tips and questions to help you work through the process of how to find a church. How to find a Church that fits you: Finding a Church starts with Research Do your research when finding a church, so you leave no stone unturned. Make it easy on yourself and start close to home, where you feel comfortable. This could be in your neighborhood or asking those around you - family, friends, neighbors, and the like. Before visiting, read up on the church via their website to better understand the beliefs, programming, services, offerings, outreach, etc., and make a list of what you want and need. Then, ask questions of the church, its leaders, and yourself. Here are some examples. When finding a Church, ask the Church body: 1. What types of worship are available? It might be that you love contemporary worship. It might be that you prefer traditional services. You may prefer that a church serve communion every Sunday, as opposed to once a month. 2. What size of the congregation is it? Some people thrive in large congregations with endless people to meet, opportunities to partake in, or even some level of anonymity as you get your feet wet. Others need a smaller environment where they can make meaningful connections. Whatever is right for you, assess this before committing to a church body. 3. What are ways to get involved here? Ask how you can get involved, not only from a church leader but from congregation members. Hearing from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ about how they serve their church will enlighten you to ways you can do the same. This may include small groups, Bible study, packing meals, or a prayer group. When finding a Church, ask a Church leader(s): How did you come to know the Lord? Is there a young adult/professional group here? What are the main values and beliefs of this church? I’ve been struggling with ___ - what is your advice? I’ve always been curious about ___ - what are your thoughts? Understanding who your leaders are as individuals and followers of Christ will give you a clear picture of whether that church is right for you. When finding a Church, ask yourself: 1. What is the Holy Spirit telling me? Discernment and prayer are the cornerstones of any decision, including finding a church. Pray about it. Wrestle with God about it. And listen to where the Spirit is leading you. You may even find it interesting to read What the Bible says about finding a church. 2. What are my beliefs? What are the core tenants of your faith? What are make or break aspects of your faith and church life that you can’t settle on? Determining these will help lead you to the church that best suits your needs. 3. What do other Christians think? While finding a church is a personal decision, seek out the opinions of trusted Christians in your life. This may lead to insights you wouldn’t have considered. 4. Are the sermons based on Scripture? As you attend various sermons, reflect on whether or how often Scripture is used. It’s essential to learn from leaders who lead their flock not solely on their life experience but on the Word of God. Remember, as you’re finding a Church that fits you, there is no such thing as Perfect Just as you are flawed and need grace, so will your church’s members and leaders. No church will be devoid of questions or concerns, so if you’re looking for picture-perfect, you won’t find it! Seek a church with solid biblical teaching, worship that points to Christ, and opportunities to get involved. Practice Patience over Procrastination Finding a church can take time and is an important decision when entering a new season of life. Don’t procrastinate, but do exhibit patience in researching and trying out churches. Take risks, get uncomfortable, and see where the Lord is leading you. Remember the Power of Prayer and Discernment Ultimately, we must seek the Spirit's leading through prayer. As you pray, the Lord will give you the wisdom to know where He wants you to fellowship. Keep prayer at the center of your search! Figuring out how to find a church that fits you takes time, dedication, and patience. Asking questions, remaining committed, and prayerful discernment will help you find a church to call home. Uncommon Sports Group provides faith-based training and resources to future leaders of the sport industry. We believe you shouldn't have to compromise your values to be successful. If you have questions about our Ministry or need direction in finding a church, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you!

USG would like to announce that Seth Ralston will officially be transitioning to a new role outside of the organization in the coming weeks. Seth has been a mainstay of our ministry since first voluntarily leading a mission trip for the organization back in 2016 to Uganda. In January of 2018, Seth moved to Minnesota from Turkey where he was serving as a missionary. In addition to serving as the organization’s first-ever full-time ministry staff member, Seth has been at the forefront of USG’s growth and development. Seth was a key leader in the development of USG’s rebrand from Managers On A Mission, the creation of our USG Academy and Impact Weekend events, the establishment of new international ministry partnerships, and several other discipleship initiatives. Seth shared, “My experience at USG has been nothing short of a blessing. After joining the team back in late 2017, I could never have imagined being a part of more than 40 conferences and events, 10 mission trips around the world and ministering to hundreds of young Christian leaders throughout college and professional sports. The Ralston's will forever be indebted to the USG family and hope to continue building on the relationships and opportunities that this special ministry has brought us.” USG Founder Drew Boe expressed his deep appreciation commenting, “I am incredibly thankful for all that Seth and Andrea have selflessly poured into USG. I could have never imagined when I first received a seemingly random message from Seth seven years ago that it would lead to such a great friendship and blessing of this organization. Seth has been instrumental in continuously identifying ways for USG to better support and engage with our members and individuals throughout college and professional sports. We are excited for Seth to remain part of USG by supporting the execution of our events, and for the Ralston's as they step into this next chapter.”