One of the things I love about Uncommon Sports Group is our desire to unite people that work in the sport industry. We recently had the opportunity to organize a community service event for the NBA equipment managers while they were in Las Vegas, Nevada for their annual Summer League games. The role of an equipment manager is demanding and to want to take what little free time you have to help those in need is special. We had help in making this possible from Renee at 24-Hour Laundromat Twain located a couple of blocks away from the Las Vegas strip. Her facility was located in an area of need and where we were able to make an impact on the local community. With the support and leadership of Peter Warden (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Brandon Mango (Washington Wizards), we were able to make an impact on the local community. In four hours we were able to help with approximately 100 loads of laundry and provide clothing donations as well as food and snacks for many local residents. We were able to fellowship with many families and provide them temporary relief from the financial strain of doing their family's laundry that day. The goal of events like this is not to provide publicity or a story behind what we do at Uncommon Sports Group. In this case, uniting sports professionals was secondary. The opportunity to help so many in need was the center of our attention. We are so grateful for so many equipment managers that support Uncommon Sports Group through the Clean Out For A Cause program. We are looking forward to more events and opportunities like this to give back to so many that have helped us.

Uncommon Sports Group had the pleasure of hosting its first-ever Members Retreat this past July. Over thirty of our USG members attended the event in Nashville, TN, as well as a group of our ambassadors, who are presently rooted in the college or professional sport industry. Hear more about our Members Retreat by clicking here to read our summary blog on the event. We were grateful to be able to partner with another ministry over the weekend, AD’s 4 Christ, which seeks to connect, encourage, and equip current and aspiring athletics directors who love Jesus and are committed to making an impact for Him through college athletics. Each year, AD’s 4 Christ hosts an in-person event at Lipscomb University’s campus, and it was an honor to be able to host our Members Retreat alongside their event. At Uncommon Sports Group, we believe that it is essential for young professionals in the college and pro sport industry to build authentic relationships with present leaders, or ambassadors, within the industry. We were able to have some of our ambassadors join us in Nashville, TN to speak and interact with our group at the retreat. In attendance was Johnny Shelton, the chaplain of the Baltimore Ravens; Carol Voronyak, a former talent producer with ESPN; Jason Romano, presently the Director of Media at Sports Spectrum and formerly at ESPN in various roles for 17 years; Mike Parson, formerly the Director of Equipment with the Houston Texans; Lee De Leon, the Deputy Athletic Director at Middle Tennessee State University; and Hans Malebranche, the Associate AD for Development and Chief Development Officer at Middle Tennessee State University. Each ambassador played a vital role in assisting our members in their professional and spiritual development throughout the weekend. Johnny Shelton, Jason Romano, and Carol Voronyak spoke on our core values of living called, committed, and connected. The focus of these core values is to live a life that is called to the great commission and the glory of God, committed to becoming more Christ-like, and connected to Christian community and accountability. Having these tremendous Christ-centered leaders speak to our group on these core values was powerful and the Lord used it to spark some amazing conversations within our breakout sessions at the end of each talk. Lee De Leon and Hans Malebranche from Middle Tennessee State spoke about their career journeys and how the Lord has moved in their lives as they navigated the sport industry. For any young professional, it is essential to learn from present leaders in the industry who have chosen the “road less traveled” in desiring to serve Christ above all else, including their careers. Lee and Hans did a great job at sharing how our members can serve Christ as they pursue careers in college or professional athletics. We were also honored to have Mike Parson, the former Director of Equipment Operations with the Houston Texans, join our group to participate in breakout groups and be an active participant alongside our members. We want to especially thank the AD’s 4 Christ leadership team for allowing us to partner alongside them over the course of the weekend. Our group was able to enjoy breakfast Saturday morning alongside the AD’s group and we were able to join them for a time of worship after breakfast. Our Founder, Drew Boe, had the opportunity to share more about USG and our ministry efforts at breakfast as well. It is encouraging for our ministry and our members to be able to see present leaders in the industry putting Christ first in their lives, and it was evident throughout the weekend as our staff and members listened to and engaged with the many ambassadors that the Lord is using to bring glory to His name across the industry. We are already looking forward to next year’s Members Retreat and our continued partnership with AD’s 4 Christ, as well as our many faithful ambassadors.

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, popular Instagram Christian influencer and the author of The Right Fight: How To Live a Loving Life, John Kennedy Vaughan, joins the show to talk about his book and what it means to live out our highest calling, which is to love God and love others. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 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? Contact us here! Do you want to get involved with Uncommon Sports Group and become a member of the largest collection of Christian sport leaders in the country? Apply to join the network here!

Mikey Carpenter is a Senior Engagement Associate on staff with Uncommon Sports Group. This is his fourth year on staff with USG. Mikey was in attendance for USG's first ever Members Retreat this past July in Nashville, TN. In this blog, Mikey shares a short reflection of what God did through the various speakers and events at the retreat: "Over the years, our staff has prayed about what it would look like to host an annual USG network retreat, where everyone involved with USG could gather together for a time of fellowship, and true life together after a busy year in the college and pro athletics realm! This past weekend those dreams and prayers became a reality, as we hosted our first ever USG Members Retreat at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. We had 40+ individuals within our USG family come together for a rejuvenating weekend alongside another nonprofit, ADs 4 Christ, which had about 80 intercollegiate Athletic Directors on campus as well, for their annual conference. Throughout the retreat, we heard from established sport industry professionals, including Jason Romano (Sports Spectrum), Carol Voronyak (former ESPN staff), Johnny Shelton (Baltimore Ravens Chaplain), Lee De Leon (MTSU Athletics), Hans Malebranche (MTSU Athletics), and Bryan Engle (Lipscomb Athletics). As a whole, I was encouraged by how the Lord worked in unifying our network together in Him, and seeing our members walk away recharged, and ignited to go be lights for Christ, where they are presently planted! Please continue to keep our USG members in your prayers, post-retreat! My biggest takeaway from the USG Retreat personally was from Jason Romano, and that was to "bloom where I am planted", but the only way to "bloom where I am planted", is to be "rooted where I am planted", in Christ." If you are interested in our USG Members Retreat and joining the largest network of Christian sport industry leaders in the country, apply to join here! Do you have questions about membership or our ministry? Contact us here!

As a busy professional, it’s easy to get caught up in a culture of never-ending work. If you aren’t careful, it can become all-consuming. This can lead to burnout and stress. A study by Bain & Company found that 61% of Millennial and Gen-Z workers are stressed, overwhelmed, and in danger of burnout at work. Man was created for work (Gen 2:15). For Christians, work can give our lives meaning, but work must never become the meaning of one’s life. Today, our culture views work as an end in itself. It supplies our identity and gives a sense of direction to our lives. This idea of work as our purpose cripples our chances of finding fulfillment. Our work is never done, and the constant drive to prove ourselves destroys our ability to find rest. It can impact our relationship with those around us and ourselves. It can also lead to idolatry as we seek fulfillment in ourselves rather than in our Savior. While it’s important to take your job seriously, it’s also important to rest. The word 'Sabbath' comes from the Hebrew term, 'Shabbat', meaning to stop or rest. The Sabbath is a time to unplug from our work: “Six days you will labor, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” - Ex 20:8-10) Yet, the purpose of the Sabbath isn’t only to rest from work. The reason for the Sabbath is to dedicate a day of the week to focus on God. It is a sacred day to spend in worship and reverence. Not only will this strengthen your relationship with the Lord, but it will also prevent us from feeling stressed and exhausted, keeping our eyes on what is the most important. History of the Sabbath Since ancient times, people have held the tradition of a sacred seventh day. Before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Sabbath commemorated God’s day of rest after He finished His Creation. At the end of the creation story, we read: "So on the seventh day, he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creation that he had done." -Gen 2:2 After His Resurrection, Sunday was held sacred in remembrance of Christ’s Resurrection. How to create a Sabbath The Sabbath is a lasting covenant between God and His people: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his” - Hebrews 4:9-10 Choose a day and commit to it First, choose one day in your week to be your Sabbath. Set aside the entire day to slow down, rest, and reset your eyes on the Lord. While many practice the Sabbath on Sundays, pick a day that works best with your schedule and commit to it. Sundays are a great option since, traditionally, church services are included in the Sabbath. Second, be flexible. Your Sabbath day might vary from week to week or season to season, depending on your schedule. That’s okay. The important thing is to plan it out ahead of time. Luke 23 describes a Day of Preparation preceding the Sabbath. This is an important part of having a fulfilling Sabbath day each week. Make a list of things you need to take care of before your Sabbath day so you can step away and rest. This may include responding to emails, doing laundry, grocery shopping, or paying bills. Keep the Sabbath day Holy Sabbath keeping has to be intentional. Don't use your Sabbath day as a "day off". Keep the Sabbath day holy by spending your time in scripture, prayer, and worship. This isn't a day to catch up on activities, work, or errands. Make an intentional effort to have an awareness of God's constant presence. God wanted to teach us that work is not an end in and of itself. Observing the Sabbath will change the way we view our work. Do what you can to slow down and restore your mind and body. Do things that help you relax and connect with the Father; reading, being outdoors or spending time with loved ones. Be consistent In Exodus 34:21, we read: "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest, you must rest.” In modern terms, that means even amid crazy, busy seasons. The Sabbath isn’t intended only for when you feel like it. Rather, develop a Sabbath mindset and take time to rest, connect with God, and grow. Plan something restful for the day, whatever that might be for you. Cooking, gardening, reading, journaling, biking, or visiting with a friend. Try to leave your phone out of sight or commit to not checking your email for the day. What you choose to do on your Sabbath is up to you. Remember, it’s not about what you can and can’t do; it’s about reconnecting with God and renewing that relationship. Find your rest in Him. If you'd like to talk to someone about your relationship with the Savior or would simply like to know more about Uncommon Sports Group, please contact us. If you are pursuing a career in the sport industry, and would like to connect to a vibrant community of like-minded professionals, we'd encourage you to join USG today. Thank you for your time today; God bless!

For much of my life, I have found it easy to view God as an angry God whose love for me was based upon my performance or failures. Surely, He was just sitting up in heaven waiting for me to screw up. Even after reading that God is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6), it can be easy to view God the same way we so often mistakenly view each other - based upon what you have done for me lately. It has become common in collegiate and professional athletics for coaches to be fired if they go more than 2 or 3 years without contending for a championship. Even if a coach just won a championship with his or her team a few years ago, it can often be assumed that the coach no longer knows what they’re doing or has what it takes to do it again. Forget what you have done in the past; we need to see it now. Again. And again. And again. When I worked for Auburn University football in 2013, our head coach Gus Malzahn had essentially become a god to Auburn Football fans. In Coach Malzahn’s very first season as head coach, we not only defeated rival Alabama in the Iron Bowl, and won an SEC Championship, we made it all the way to the National Championship game. You’d have sworn there would soon be a statue erected of Coach Malzahn in front of the stadium. Even before that first season had ended, Auburn quickly raised Coach Malzahn’s salary and extended his contract to 6 years in hopes they could keep him around for the long haul. By 2018, his contract was once again nearly doubled in value and extended through 2024. However, within a couple of years of that extension, Auburn had lost all faith in their once invincible coach. Despite winning records, Auburn had lost so much confidence in Coach Malzahn that they opted to pay his $21.5 million buyout instead of having him continue as coach. We live not just in a performance culture. But a “what is your performance TODAY” culture. The expectation to perform can be crushing. It can become dangerous when we mistakenly believe that God also holds us to the “performance today” standard. I often convince myself that God’s love for me is based not only on what I have done for him but on what I will do for him as well. The Word of God clarifies that we couldn’t be more wrong in our view of God. I have found this truth to be most evident through the endless list of imperfect people God chose and used throughout scripture. Consider the following individuals. Noah: He was given his name, which means “provide relief,” when he was born. I am not sure what he did in the womb to “earn” this name. Later we read that Noah “found favor”, and God declared to him, “I will establish my covenant with you.” This had nothing to do with Noah’s performance but everything to do with who God is and His promises. Abram/Abraham: When I was reading about Abraham’s life, it’s made clear he obeyed after he was called. His calling was not based upon previous performances. Also prior to Abraham’s obedience, God invited Abraham to “receive” an inheritance, declaring “I will show”, “I will bless”, “I will make”. The “I” refers to God, not Abraham. Sarai/Sarah: Even after she “received power” and an incredible promise from God, she abused her servant and her servants' child so badly that they had to flee. Still, “the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.” Moses: The only reason he even lived was because he was hidden as a baby for three months. A baby. No matter how good of a baby Moses might have been, it was not Moses’ performance as a baby that kept him from being killed. Later in his life, Moses’ anger got the best of him to the point that he committed murder. The Israelites led by Moses: Great fear, grumbling, and complaining was their “performance” prior to God performing a miracle that allowed them to cross the Red Sea while the Egyptians, who were chasing them, drowned. Samson: He was given his name, which means “he would save Israel”. He married a forbidden woman, doubted God, and complained of thirst to God moments after God gave him the power to defeat 1,000 men. Shortly after God graciously provided Samson with a miracle of water, Samson goes to sleep with a prostitute. David: Described as a man after God’s heart, but was also a man who, instead of going to war with his soldiers, stayed back and had an affair with the wife of one of his soldiers, Uriah. His response when that woman became pregnant, and he ran out of options on how to cover it up, was to murder Uriah. Clearly, God was not choosing based upon human performance. Yet, what do all of these individuals have in common? Each one of them is listed as a “hero of the faith” in Hebrews 11. Yes, they all demonstrated faith at times throughout their life, but let’s not forget they were first and foremost “chosen” by God, not based upon performance. It can be easy to assume that every character in the Bible is some spiritual giant we must strive to become. When the reality is that this couldn’t be further from the truth. The Bible is incredibly transparent about the lack of performance in nearly every character highlighted. Let’s just say none of these are men or women you’d agree to let babysit your children, nor are they individuals who would be highly regarded for very long in our performance culture. So what do all of these characters help teach us? The goodness of God. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.- Romans 5:8 It has never been about performance. It has always been, and always will be about God’s love. What did Noah, Moses, or David do to earn this love? Nothing. In fact, they were even disobedient at times. Yet God chose them out of His loving kindness. Unlike Auburn with Gus Malzahn, God never pursues a buyout agreement. In fact, He even declares through Paul just a few chapters later in Romans 8:38-39 “.. nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing means nothing. Nada. Nothing. Lay down your “earning”, and rejoice in being CHOSEN.

In this episode, the host of the Uncommon Podcast, Noah Weiss, is joined by Pastor David Kaywood out of Eastside Community Church in Jacksonville, FL, as they talk about the four things he believes are essential when looking for your future spouse. David is an avid and gifted blogger. Read some of his articles on his blog page, titled Gospel Relevance. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and on our website. Listen to this episode below and follow our podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Curious about Uncommon Sports Group? Contact us here! Do you want to get involved with Uncommon Sports Group and become a member of the largest collection of Christian sport leaders in the country? Apply to join the network here!

Uncommon Sports Group hosted its first ever Members Retreat in Nashville, Tennessee on July 22-24. USG was fortunate enough to have over thirty members in attendance, along with some of our ambassadors. The goal of our Members Retreat was to provide a space for our members to rest and grow in their walks with Christ prior to the fall sports season. We strived to achieve this goal by providing our members with experienced and prolific guest speakers, reflection time in breakout groups, opportunities to break bread with one another, and time to fellowship at Top Golf. We were excited to be able to introduce our most recent ministry staff hire, Adam Maronde, at the retreat. Adam will be serving as the Director of Ministry Advancement. Prior to joining staff with USG, Adam was a Performance Manager at Exos, a strength training and performance organization for athletes around the globe. If you haven’t already, connect with Adam via our USG Connect App! Our staff and group of members arrived in Nashville on Friday, July 23rd. We began the weekend with introductions and the opportunity to hear from two tremendous guest speakers, Lee De Leon and Hans Malebranche. Lee is the Deputy Athletic Director at Middle Tennessee State and Hans is the Associate AD for Development and Chief Development Officer at Middle Tennessee State. They both shed light on their career journeys through college athletics, as well as how their faith in Jesus Christ played a vital role in that journey. We capped off the day with a group outing at a local Top Golf. Our members were fortunate enough to hear from some incredible guest speakers on Saturday. Each of our guest speakers shared a message based on each of our core values- called, committed, and connected. Jason Romano, currently the Director of Media at Sports Spectrum and formerly was at ESPN in various roles for 17 years, spoke on living connected. Our members were able to reflect on Jason’s message in a breakout session. Carol Voronyak, a former colleague of Jason Romano’s at ESPN, spoke on the topic of living called. Her message was impactful and our group was able to discuss her message in breakout groups, as well. We held our retreat on Lipscomb University's campus and we were able to receive a tour of their athletic facilities from Bryan Engle, who is Lipscomb's Associate Athletic Director for Operations and Facilities. Bryan also spoke to our group and shared on his career and faith journey. Our third and final speaker was the chaplain of the Baltimore Ravens, Johnny Shelton. Johnny spoke to our group on what it means to live connected and our members were able to walk through a worksheet that Johnny provided that challenged each of them to reflect on where they are at in their personal walks with the Lord. We capped off Saturday with a group dinner at a local barbeque restaurant and fellowship! Our first ever Members Retreat rounded out with a worship service led by Deputy Athletic Director at MTSU Lee De Leon and a powerful sermon from Raven's chaplain Johnny Shelton. Our prayer is that our members were able to leave the weekend feeling refreshed and empowered to make an impact for the kingdom as they jump back onto their everyday lives. We are incredibly grateful for each of our guest speakers who took the time to share with our group. We are also grateful for our relationship with another sports ministry, AD’s 4 Christ, who we partnered with throughout the weekend. AD’s 4 Christ has been a tremendous blessing for our ministry and for our members who were able to interact and connect with Christian Athletic Directors from around the country. If you weren’t able to attend this year’s Members Retreat, we hope to see you there next summer for our second annual USG Members Retreat! Do you want to get involved with Uncommon Sports Group and become a member of the largest collection of Christian sport leaders in the country? Apply to join the network here! Do you have questions about our ministry? Contact us here!

I am incredibly humbled to even be writing on a topic as important as marriage with regards to careers in sports. I will preface everything below with the disclaimer that I am aspiring to be many of the things that are on my heart to share, while at the same time in a battle of priorities to “walk the walk”. I am a long time member of the PGC (Point Guard College) basketball family and have met some of the most transformational people in my life through PGC. One of the most impactful parts of my experience with PGC was my introduction to what they call their “commitment based-culture”. Sparing the details, essentially every person who works with PGC will write a commitment statement or a commitment of being. PGC as a collective then postures itself around relating to people based on their commitments and not their behavior, calling people back to the people they have committed to showing up as. Why am I telling you this, and how does it relate to marriage you ask? Many of the aspects of a commitment state are what are called “stretch goals”. Things we aren't, but that we are committed to striving, and growing towards but aren’t quite there yet. The Author Stephen Covey captures this in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People where he pens, “begin with the end in mind.” Most of what follows this line consists of stretch goals from my own life and marriage. I was turned on to a video by Brett McKay of the Art of Manliness where he lays out a system of planning your week that parallels an illustration where they take a glass jar, large rocks, gravel, sand, and lastly water and fill the jar. In this illustration, if you don’t place the large rocks first, then gravel, dirt, and so forth the rest of the material will not all fit. As I have progressed in my coaching journey I have tried to always prioritize my wife as a “big rock” on my calendar (more on this later). I have also tried my best to cast a vision for myself as a husband, and for our family around that defined “end” which is, Christ, to be glorified in our lives. Nonetheless, the Lord has been faithful to work in mine and Nikki’s marriage and it’s our honor to turn our marriage outwards and share what the Lord has taught us over the last six years. I am going to share five thoughts with you and end each thought with a call to action, because as my good friend Tyler Coston says, “talk doesn’t cook rice.” Towards God, Together, Forever In our marriage, my wife and I have a symbol that we will use to sign cards, texts, and post-it notes that serve as a guidepost to us: the triangle. In premarital counseling, we learned about the importance of maintaining a personal relationship with Jesus privately from our spouse. This represents one of the bottom corners of the triangle, the other is Nikki. As we pursue the Lord individually we are ultimately growing towards each other while we are growing closer to the Lord. This reminder has been huge in my life. Much like with my team, I am no good to our program, our staff, or our players if I am disconnected from the source. I have realized that the times in my life when the devil is causing the most havoc in my life and my marriage is when I am “too busy” to prioritize Him in the midst of the day-to-day. Last year I read a men’s study where they used the acronym H.A.L.T to describe when we are most susceptible to the devil’s schemes. It stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. I get to that place when I am disconnected from the Lord. If I am not pursuing the Lord then I am more likely to be short with my wife, work unhealthy hours, or react poorly to our players. Gary Thomas places Matthew 6:33 as one of the paramount verses for any marriage: “seek FIRST the kingdom of heaven…”. What a great redirect! It isn’t a verse from the love chapter or Song of Solomon, it’s a verse to reorient our lives around the central source of all good. Tim Keller says in his book, The Meaning of Marriage that the “killer of marriage is sinful self-centeredness.” The easiest way to get baited into that lifestyle is to be unplugged from the Lord. Calendar & Bank Account Leadership guru Peter Drucker says, “Tell me what you value and I might believe you, but show me your calendar and your bank statement, and I’ll show you what you really value.” I hear many people speak on the idea of work-life balance and in my humble opinion, I think this misses the point. In any worthy endeavor or pursuit of excellence, there will be a level of imbalance. The goal and the example of Jesus is to be as we say in our house, “fully present where your feet are”. One of the most impactful books I have read in my life is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. One great line he has says, “the solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.” I (stretch goal coming) strive to pencil in a date night with my wife every single week. Uninterrupted, undistracted, fully present, checking in on all the levels of her heart and connecting us both back to that great “end” that we have cast as a vision for our family. This doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, it simply needs to be intentional. I read a blog once that talks about “glove box dates”. This particular couple didn't have kids so they would lock their phones in the glove box of their car and go about their date. Find what works for you but be intentional about architecting your environment (shoutout to James Clear, Atomic Habits) to be a conduit for deeply connecting with your spouse. Involve your Spouse! I know this one hinges solely on the discretion of the staff you work for but if your program allows spouses and kids around then by all means join in! There are so many ways to get involved as a spouse of a coach. You can volunteer to help with meals, or baked goods, open your home up to players, invite them to church, interact and love on them on social media, the list could go on! When Nikki and I were engaged and were picking out furniture I specifically chose the dining table we have because I had a heart and desire to have our athletes in our home (vision) and to break bread with them. Many players over my years of coaching have sat around that table and my wife and I have gotten to know them in ways that the basketball court doesn’t often provide the space to do so. I am lucky that my wife herself was a basketball player so she understood (to a degree) the demands of the job but we had many conversations prior to marriage about us both being open to voice where we were at and this is a practice we have carried all the way through our marriage. Oftentimes I have made the mistake of assuming that because my wife is involved with, or around the team that this counts as spending quality time with her. Going back to calendar and bank account, when genuinely seeking to connect with your spouse it’s important to carve out one on one time where distractions are minimized and your focus is intently on your significant other. Plug into Gospel-Centered Community Our marriage was saved by community. No exaggeration. The devil had used a season of consistent H.A.L.T in my life to convince me that I was done with my marriage. It wasn’t fun, wasn’t what I hoped it would be, didn’t make me happy so on and so forth. I confided in a member of our community group at my house one evening and just told him I didn't think I wanted to do it anymore. Thirty minutes later our doorbell rings and there stand 12 members of our young marrieds group. The women ministered to and loved on my wife, and the men took me out of the house and got my mind off things for a little while to help clear my head. When they brought me back to our house that evening I remember walking in the door and two of our friends had their baby sleeping on the table on their blanket while the wives were sitting around my wife praying, crying with her, and comforting her. That image of a Gospel-Centered community is forever seared into my brain. I can honestly say without those couples who loved us enough to not mind their own business, Nikki and I wouldn’t be where we are today. The devil had me twisted into knots and had run rampant through my thinking to the point where one member of our group said he couldn't even see me when he was looking into my eyes. Those couples fought for us, and those men almost fought with me to prevent me from leaving my marriage. Community. People on mission for Christ who seek to radically love those within their reach. Nikki and I can’t thank God enough for those couples that he placed in our lives for that season. We are the biggest advocates for not going through marriage alone. Vulnerability and connection to other people outside of your home are so vital for support and stability when the storms hit and as I am assuming most of you reading this know, the storms will hit and often when it is least opportune. If you can’t find a community like this in your church, town, or area, then create it, be it for those in your life! As scary as it is, step out and connect with others on the same walk and be intentional with the relationships that God blesses you with. Begin with the End in Mind If we are beginning with vision then we must bookend the other with vision as well. It is of the utmost importance to our family that we stay connected to our why. Jerry Bridges in his book, The Practice of Godliness defines Godliness as, a “devotion to God that results in a life that is pleasing to Him”. This is our family’s aim. We want to live lives of Godliness by way of pursuing Him, loving others, and stewarding the time, talents, and resources He blesses us with. Just as important as casting vision is checking in to make sure you are on course. Think of someone traveling by map (physical map, not GPS) and plotting their course initially but never checking their progress against the map. Nikki and I make it a point to check in with each other yes, but also check in with how we are progressing towards the markers we have set for ourselves and for our family. We even have started the process of writing a family covenant that we can frame and hang in our home. We want to lock-in on the things that the Lord has pressed on our hearts to do with our lives and the world, especially the world of sports is a distracting place. Both Nikki’s career as a nurse and mine as a coach is always subservient to this “why”. We fight the culture lie that would have us believe that if we just grind now then things will slow down or get easier in the next season of life. I think John Mark Comer is on to something, that with the level of busyness and rush that we embrace as normal the devil is alleviated from much of his work against the believers of the world. The adage says “aim small, miss small” so I will close by saying our aim is to pursue Christ, love each other like Christ, and lead lives that are honoring to Him. I hope this serves as an encouragement to you and your marriage. Nikki and I would love to connect with any other couples in the sports and coaching space that are fighting for their marriages against the assault of culture.

Job searching is never easy. Oftentimes we can find ourselves discouraged and drained from the strenuous searching, resume and cover letter building, and the interviewing process. We feel great about a potential job opportunity, only to end up not being offered it because of an internal hire or a more experienced candidate. However, we can end up on the other side of the road, finding ourselves with multiple job offers on the table. When that happens, it becomes even harder to discern which opportunity to accept and what next steps need to be taken. If this is the case for you, I want to encourage you right away that you don’t always need to accept the job that pays the best. Trust me, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. In some cases, yes, take the job. But there is much more to evaluate and process than the job description and salary offered. So, as a Christian navigating the sport industry and trying to discern where the Lord is leading next, what are the things I should consider? 1. Church & Community Before accepting a job, you should (without a doubt) research local churches and campus ministries. The worst thing you can do is accept a job, move to a new town, and not get plugged into a theologically sound Christian community. Do your research during the job search! Find a church or ministry to commit to and do life with. Create some accountability with other believers in the area (maybe even on your campus or within your organization). Commit to joining a bible study or serving locally. Whatever job you take, Christian community is a MUST! Even if it’s the best job in the world but has zero bible-teaching churches in the city, I’d highly consider turning down the offer. As you put down roots in a new area, make sure you plant near a healthy stream of water (Christian community) like Jeremiah writes in chapter 17. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). 2. Hobbies & Interests Before accepting a job, make sure the campus and community offer things that feed your hobbies and interests. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, don’t take a job in a town that has few outdoor activities. Again, do your research and see what the area offers! One of the biggest causes of burnout in the sport industry is not creating any work-life balance and so it’s vitally important to pick up activities in the area that you can partake in outside of your work hours. Relax on the beach, eat local cuisine with new friends, join a music club or recreational sports league. Whatever your hobbies and interests are, make sure this new potential job allows for some personal recreation time! 3. Geographical Location Although third on my list, this is just as important as the first two! Where you live is just as vital as what you do. Our organization is based in Minnesota and trust me if you don’t like cold weather, no dream job will be worth moving to a city that’s cold (really cold…) fifty percent of the year. Maybe you’re the opposite and hate hot weather and a job in Miami or Phoenix may not be a fit for you. You also need to consider where the job falls geographically in relation to your family and other important people in your life. If family or a significant other is a huge priority in your life, having to fly across the country to visit them multiple times a year will not make for a fun career choice. Consider the location and what it offers! How’s the weather? What other places are nearby to visit? Is there a good airport for easy travel? How frequently would I have to travel to visit family and friends? All of these questions are helpful when processing job opportunities! 4. Career & Character Last but not least, accept a job that is going to help you grow, and I’m not talking about just climbing the ladder in job status. I’m talking about making a job decision based on the opportunities it gives you to expand your knowledge and experience in your career, and also to develop your character as a human being. Believe it or not, there are a lot of jobs out there that will force you to jeopardize your values and integrity and will pinhole you into responsibilities and decisions that don’t benefit your career. During the interview process, ask questions that will help provide clarity on how you’ll be able to grow in your career and character throughout the experience. Most importantly during your job search, remember that there’s not a “perfect” job out there for you. There will be some opportunities that feel like a perfect fit, but God will lead you to where He wants you at just the right time. He cares deeply about your transformation into His likeness and no matter what opportunity you take, God will use it to grow you as a Christ-follower and to bring himself the utmost glory. So, as you navigate your career and discern job offers, don’t just look for a good salary and job description to throw on the resume. Prayerfully seek out the Lord’s will and opportunities to build a Christ-centered lifestyle around the job. And then wait on the Lord!

It has been an exciting year for our ministry, as we highlighted in our previous Mid-Year Member Recap blog. The Lord has impacted each of our Academy participants, staff, and members in unique ways, and it is exciting to see how their experiences with USG have impacted their careers and walks with Christ. One of our members, Antonio Borjas, has an exciting testimony from our New York City Impact Weekend this past April! Antonio has been a member of Uncommon Sports Group since the spring of 2021. At the time, Antonio was working with the Fresno Grizzlies, a single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, in a ticket sales role. This past April, we had an Impact Weekend in New York City, NY, and Antonio was an attendee with our group. During our Friday night social at Bowlero in Times Square, Antonio connected with one of our USG members in New York, Nina Petersen, who works for Madison Square Garden in sales. Antonio had a desire to work on the east coast and his connection with Nina opened an opportunity for Antonio to interview with Madison Square Garden for an Inside Sales position. After leaving our New York City Impact Weekend, Antonio went through the interview process with Madison Square Garden and was offered the position. He later accepted the position and is currently living in New York City and working for MSG! For our ministry, this is an exciting testament to the Lord’s faithfulness and that He is working through the various opportunities that we offer! Antonio’s attendance on the New York City Impact Weekend was the first domino to fall in the process of getting hired to work at Madison Square Garden. We are grateful to our faithful network, like Nina, who have taken the time to go to bat for our members who are job hunting. We are also thankful to members like Antonio who are faithful in participating in our fully funded opportunities, which our faithful God uses to open doors for spiritual and career growth. Are you interested in our network of Christians in sports? Apply to join our network here! Have questions about our ministry? Contact our staff here!

If we are guaranteed anything in life, it is that we will experience some form of suffering. I’m willing to bet that most of you reading this have already experienced a variety of sufferings in your life. The question that we must ask ourselves as followers of Jesus is not how do we avoid suffering, but rather how do we find purpose amidst the sufferings that we are sure to experience. In the Scriptures, we constantly see God’s people, and God Himself through the person of Jesus Christ, finding purpose through their sufferings. As followers of Christ ourselves, it is important to reflect on these people and how they used suffering to bring glory to God and advance His kingdom. In this blog, we will walk through Acts 16 and understand how Paul and his companions found a deeper purpose amidst their suffering. From Prayer to Prison Have you ever been wrongfully accused of something? It can be difficult to stay calm when someone is making accusations about you that simply aren’t true. I’ve been there, and it is infuriating, to say the least. In Acts 16:16-24, Paul and Silas find themselves in a situation where they are being wrongfully accused: “Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. As she followed Paul and us she cried out, ‘These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.’ She did this for many days. Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!’ And it came out right away. When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, ‘these men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.’ The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in stocks.” Imagine being Paul and Silas. Not only are you wrongfully accused by a group of profit-hungry slave owners, but you are severely beaten and thrown into prison. It would be hard not to harbor feelings of anger and frustration towards the situation, the Romans, and God. Oftentimes amidst our own suffering, we harbor similar feelings. As we dive further into this section of Acts, it is important to note the response that Paul and Silas have towards the abhorrent situation they have found themselves in. The Response I’ve heard it said many times that life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond. This isn’t a Bible verse, but it’s likely that Paul and Silas would approve of the statement, as we see how they respond to their own sufferings in Acts 16:25: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Hold up. You’re telling me that Paul and Silas were singing worship songs from their jail cells? They sure were. Suffering is something that is completely out of our control. Paul and Silas didn’t set out to be flogged and thrown into prison, yet they were. In the same way, almost all of our sufferings are involuntary. What we can control, however, is our response. Paul and Silas responded with praises to God. They kept their hearts and minds fixed on Christ, not on their suffering. As we experience sufferings in our lives, we have a choice to make: we can either fix our minds on our sufferings, or we can shift our attention to Jesus Christ, who gives us peace, joy, and self-control through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The Purpose The response almost always determines our purpose. If our response is poor and negative, we will fail to find any purpose amidst our suffering. If our response is positive and fixated on Christ, we will always find purpose amidst our suffering, regardless of the severity of our circumstances. We see evidence of this in the continuation of Paul and Silas’ suffering in Acts 16:26-34: “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” God used the suffering of Paul and Silas to bring the jailer, and his entire household, to salvation. It is evident throughout the Bible that God uses suffering for a greater purpose. Jesus endured immense suffering for the greatest purpose. The response of Paul and Silas set the stage for God to use their circumstances for His glory, and in that jail cell, Paul and Silas found purpose. When our purpose is rooted in the purposes of Christ, no amount of suffering can remove that purpose from our lives. Paul and Silas remained steadfast in the purposes of Christ, their hearts and minds were fixed on Him as they sat in that jail cell, and in the end, their suffering produced fruit that is eternal- the salvation of the jailer and his household. Conclusion We may never find ourselves in a jail cell like Paul and Silas were. But imagine for a moment if they had never been jailed. Would the jailer and his household be on the right side of eternity? There isn’t a definite answer to that question, but what we do know for certain is that the jailer and his household are on the right side of eternity because of the response and rooted purpose that Paul and Silas had amidst their suffering. Regardless of your current circumstances, I want to challenge you to model the early apostles. Respond to sufferings with rejoicing and praise to God, root your purpose in the purposes of Christ and His kingdom, and watch how God will use your sufferings to bring glory to His name, change the eternal destinations of lost souls, and advance His kingdom in this dark world.