The Bible Project is a platform that much of our staff uses to read through the Bible in 1 year! On the website you will find videos, articles, and a 365 day Bible reading plan that provides a manageable schedule to dive into Scripture each day. A good way to follow along and track your progress is through their Read Scripture app. This app will play a video related to the reading, provide the assigned readings, and have you pray through a Psalm at the end. Watch the video below to learn more: Download the app here: https://www.readscripture.org/

As followers of Christ, we believe and acknowledge that the Bible is the Holy Word of God. This means that the Scriptures are inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, in a world that is increasingly critical of the Christian faith, this belief has been met with much criticism and doubt. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Pastor Jon Christenson of Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, provides listeners with key evidence on the Bible being the divine word of God. 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!

The next article in our Throwback Blog Series is here! We are sharing the stories, testimonies, and experiences of members during our time as Managers on a Mission. Although we've rebranded to Uncommon Sports Group, the lessons the Lord has taught us and those that attended our events are still important and impactful. Read below to hear about how the Lord worked during our 2019 Mission Trip to Uganda through the eyes of one of our attendees, Lorenz Ross: As I reflect on my recent trip to Uganda, I stand in awe of God’s goodness and Faithfulness. Though we were only in Uganda for two weeks, it was eye-opening for me to see what can occur when one surrenders to the Lord and makes themselves available to be used by Him. My prayer every day as I walked around the soccer field next to our compound in Jinja, Uganda, was I acknowledge Psalm 118:24, which says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (ESV). By praying to start my day, I focused on the Lord. Then, I would surrender to Him and let Him guide me through the day. These two things were vital for me because, in a distant country and new environment, it would be easy to complain about mental and physical fatigue. I chose every day to withhold nothing from the Lord, and I believe that is why I got so much out of this trip. There were four things that I encountered on this trip, which were the Lord, my purpose, my culture, and new relationships. At first, I expected to do sports camps while interacting with children, which would be our goal. However, though we did do sports activities, I found myself sharing my testimony, evangelizing, and even got to preach at church in Jinja. I witnessed the power of God, which was evident in services through our song and dance with them, and that was impactful. There were no large screens, no strobe lights, and no smoke machines. It was just a piano, a music track, and open hearts that praised Jesus. Despite the language and cultural barrier, God was glorified. Next, I encountered my purpose on this trip, where I felt the Lord reaffirm it. I have known that it is my purpose, through sports and evangelism, to inspire children and young adults with the Gospel, so the ability to do both simultaneously in a different country has moved me to pursue my goals even more. The chance to play soccer, give fist-bumps or make beats with our hands, and share devotionals with them are what I will remember. Though the days seemed long, it was their smiles and laughter which motivated me to give it all I had. Then, there was the aspect of encountering my culture. While growing up, African American, I was taught in school about our history, which is only acknowledged as far back as slavery and the early South as this country formed, and neither was this topic brought to my family. I took this as an opportunity to see what my African roots may be. I am not sure where my exact bloodline traces back to in Africa, but to step foot on the continent, understand the people, hear the rhythms, and embrace their culture added extra value to this trip. Lastly, I will walk away with new friendships made in both the United States and in Uganda. Whether with my MOAM team or with Ugandan teachers and pastors, there were connections made that could be lifelong. I was concerned about staying with the same people for two weeks straight, especially since we had not gotten too much time to know each other, but thank God, we clicked right away when we first met in Minnesota, and things did not change in Uganda. We came as individuals but left as a family. I will not forget the bible studies, bus rides, and evening yoga sessions, which bonded us closer together and sharpened one another. Of course, there were little things like Coach Jo learning today’s colloquialisms like “bet” or “say less.” Then, there was Dan tapping into his hidden talents of relentless dancing. It was an honor to be surrounded by gifted individuals who exercised their gifts and grew in their faith. This trip is what I believe the kingdom of God represents. Individuals of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences teaming up to use their gifts to bring joy and love throughout our communities as we bring glory to God and lead people to Him. Now that this trip has ended and I have adjusted to my daily routine, I remind myself of the words of Dr. Seuss, “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” I thank God and MOAM for the opportunity to take part in this life-changing experience. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, Lorenz! If you'd like to know more about USG or would like to get in touch, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you for your time, and God bless!

My first experience with the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment was while I was a member of USG (MOAM). Over the summer of 2020 when many activities were canceled, USG was able to provide many opportunities for us to stay involved in the organization and provide resources to grow, one of which was the Strengths Assessment. I had taken several “personality tests” previously but all they seemed to do was tell me how I acted in a certain way and kind of ended there. There never seemed to be much depth to them and no one ever took the time to sit and talk through with me what the results meant. When I decided I’d participate in taking the assessment and commit to the coaching sessions it was more out of obligation than out of curiosity or thinking it could be beneficial. I’m glad I was wrong! Working through some tough, introspective questions about my results with Mikey really helped me understand myself better and who God created me to be. I learned about the parts of my personality that help me interact with others, was affirmed in why certain activities bring me joy (and why others don’t), and gave me an understanding of what I do well and why. Sometimes it’s easy to be blinded by the impact that we have on those around us, from little seemingly insignificant interactions to large-scale contexts. The StrengthsFinders was my favorite part of the MOAM 2020 Summer Circuit which made me excited and even more intrigued to learn about the assessments, results, and individual strengths when I joined staff with USG. As I have had the opportunity to work with over 15 students reviewing their strengths results I continue to grow in understanding of myself and really enjoy helping others make connections between their strengths and different aspects of their lives - work, family, hobbies, faith, etc. Many times I’ve been able to affirm our members that they are in the right place or heading in the right direction with their career just from conversations we’ve had about how they use their strengths every day within work and how it energizes them. Along with seeing the impact professionally, I’ve experienced how helpful this assessment has been within my personal life as well. My husband took his strengths assessment during our season of engagement and our pre-marriage counselor was able to talk through the results with both of us. This has given me a deeper level of understanding of my husband's personality, how we complement each other, and how we can support each other daily! Understanding how unique God created me was the first step I needed as a young adult while I stepped into my professional career, continued to foster solid relationships, and really embrace the calling the Lord has for my life! If you are curious about the StrengthFinders Assessment, be sure to check out this article for more information!

Working in the sport industry presents various challenges, but few are as difficult to manage as the busyness that comes with a career in sports. For Christians working in this industry, it can feel like an impossible task to do well in your job and serve the Lord as He calls us to. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, the former Sr. Associate Athletics Director/External Operations at the University of Oklahoma and current Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church- Carnegie, Kenny Mossman, talks about the importance of finding time to serve God amidst the busyness of an athletics schedule. 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!

At the start of the 2022 calendar year, I started New Morning Mercies, a daily devotional, by Paul David Tripp. I have enjoyed spending time with the Lord in this devotional most mornings, and a specific daily devotional really impacted me that I'll elaborate on below! The David & Goliath passage from scripture is often one that is misunderstood or misrepresented. In this story the Israelite army is about to face off with the Philistine army in the Valley of Elah (Valley of Elah Photos Below Are From Our MOAM '19 Mission Trip To Israel), and a giant warrior from the Philistine army, Goliath, called for the Israelite army to send out its best man to battle him. Though the Lord had promised to deliver the Philistines into the hands of the Israelites, the Israelites were filled with fear and retreated to their tents to seek discernment on what to do next. Amidst this situation the Israelites had not only forgotten the Lord's promises, but they had also forgotten their identity in Him, and were filled with anxiousness and timidity. The Israelites doubted the Lord's providence and sovereignty and felt that they had no chance to be victorious in battle. While delivering lunch to his brothers, David, a shepherd boy, who heard of Goliath disrespecting the Israelite army, answered Goliath's challenge. David wasn't the strongest, the smartest, nor was he arrogant, but David knew who he was and where his identity was rooted in, as a child of the living God! David proceeded to win the duel and a victory for the Israelite army. Today, as Christians we can often do what the Israelite army did, and root our identity in things of this world as opposed to rooting our identity in Christ. We can also fall into living in fear, as opposed to living in the courage and hope that comes through faith in Christ, and the gift of salvation. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called, and just like He did with David, don't doubt how He can use you and your gifts for His glory! Lastly, I wanted to encourage you all, wherever the Lord has planted you, to remember your identity as God's child, to remember His promises and to live in the freedom, joy and faith that David emulated in this passage from scripture.

For Liberty's men's basketball Director of Basketball Operations, Chelsea Mangino, it's a unique challenge being a woman working in the male-dominated college basketball industry. On this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Chelsea shares her career journey, how she has navigated that challenge, and the role that her faith plays in her career. 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!

1st Peter 4:10 - “Each of you should use, whatever gift you have received, to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace, in its various forms.” We live in a remedial world that often focuses on weaknesses, boxed structure and on becoming “well-rounded”. After 30 years of research, Gallup Inc. established the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment, a respected educational, business, spiritual instrument that goes against traditional “well-rounded” ideology, in order to help individuals understand how to leverage their unique God-given strengths. Over 400 different talents were found through decades of research and they organized them into 34 unique strengths that fall under the umbrella of the four domains of, Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking. Through this structure, individuals are able to better understand how they have been gifted and how they can use those gifts for the Lord’s glory! The premise of the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment, is that you will make your greatest contributions in life, when you are mainly working in your areas of strength. Gallup Inc. in their research found that individuals that operated in their areas of strength were more engaged with their work, assignments and tasks, had more energy, were more successful in their relationships and spiritual journeys, were less likely to burn-out and were three times more likely to report an “excellent quality of life”. Gallup’s research also found that most individuals work more frequently, effectively and make their greatest contributions in life through leveraging their top 10-12 strengths. Strengths 13-22 are leveraged and used as support strengths. Strengths 23-34 are used in rare situations, you are more energized, engaged, and successful when you do not have to leverage these strengths. When placed in a situation where your lower strengths might be needed, you can use different strengths in your top 10-12 strengths to arrive at a similar outcome. Another way to help alleviate the pressure of being a top performer in every strength would be to partner with individuals who have opposite and complementary domain strengths to yours. The Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment is used worldwide to empower individuals to focus and grow in their strengths. Since 1999, millions of people have taken the assessment and are better equipped in understanding who they were created to be. Presently there is a 1/33,000,000 percent chance of someone having the same Top 5 strengths as you in order, which confirms the uniqueness of gifts from person to person! Over 150+ USG members have completed the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment, as well as three one hour coaching sessions in regards to understanding their God given strengths, personally, relationally and how they can use those strengths for the Lord’s glory!

Slow down. We live in a fast-paced world where people are envied for how much they work, how busy and full they can make their weekends, and where complaining about being tired is like begging for a compliment to the ‘work hard, play hard’ image. For those in sport - at all levels, from athlete to general manager - it has become a status symbol to be in the office before the break of dawn and rolling home after the sun has set. Slow down. The Lord calls us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In Ecclesiastes, Solomon talks about the futility of our time here on earth and how there is a season for everything; “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 It’s clear from this passage that we are called to work diligently, have fun, share life, and feel emotion. This passage also makes it very clear that we are called to rest, heal, and embrace life experiences. For me, this looks a lot like meals around the table with those I love, spending time in nature, and disconnecting from social media. This will look different for everyone, but I encourage everyone to stop, think, and evaluate where you spend your time. Slow down, rest, and set aside some quiet time with the Lord. Be intentional with your time. Greg Laurie says it best, “Sometimes good things can become bad things if they keep us from the best thing.” Don’t let good things keep you from your relationship with the Lord, or they will easily become bad things. As professionals in the sport industry, busy and changing schedules, atypical work hours, strict bosses, and the pressure to perform are always present. Think about how dedicated you have been to hitting the marks and achieving the goals you and your team have set for you professionally. Now think about how much more you should spend your time given in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). How can you refocus some of the time and energy you have poured into your professional career and move that towards your relationship with the Lord. It’s countercultural. It takes commitment and dedication. Isn’t your eternity more important than getting that raise or landing the next big gig? As Christ-followers, being intentional with your time should look like: Spending time with Jesus and developing that relationship Pursuing loving relationships with your spouse, family, and friends Working diligently to perform in the area of work the Lord has called you to So, what does it mean to slow down? What are the tangible steps one might take to ‘slow down’? Here are a few simple and easy steps to help keep your life centered on Jesus while thriving in the sport industry… Determine what time of day works best for you to devote some time to God's word. What is life-giving for you? For some people, it’s an early morning with coffee and the Bible, or taking time over lunch to sit in the park and connect with the Lord through nature; for others it might be part of an evening routine of putting the phone away and reading before bed. Each individual is different and it may take some time to find the routine that works best for you, but try it out. That’s the hardest but most crucial step - to start! There are many great books and daily devotionals to help you stay focused and on track. If you are a new Believer or struggle with knowing how to begin reading the Bible, picking up one of these would be a great way to get started! Daily: New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional Jesus Calling My Utmost for His Highest Uncommon Life Morning and Evening If you need some more advice, guidance, or encouragement in finding quiet time to slow down, reach out to a USG Engagement Associate. Connecting with others will help you realize that you can do it and finding an accountability partner can make it that much easier.

Preparing for an interview can be a daunting task, and without guidance, it can be impossible to feel fully prepared. In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, Noah is joined by two University of Minnesota athletic department staff members, Jennifer Callinan, and Emily Reinert. Jennifer is presently the Director of Career Services and Relations. Emily formerly was the Director of Student-Athlete Development and presently works as an Associate Director with the College of Liberal Arts. They both provide their professional advice as to how young professionals can best prepare for a job interview. 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!

My “Lose Yourself” story: Rapper, hip hop artist, and songwriter Eminem will soon take the stage during the Super Bowl 56 halftime show in Los Angeles on February 13th. I have not remained current on any of Eminem’s music over the last decade, but I will always remember one of his hit singles from my childhood. The song, Lose Yourself, is in many ways an anecdote to Eminem’s own journey from growing up in a trailer park in Detroit, Michigan, to becoming a hip hop superstar. Here’s a snippet of the lyrics: Look If you had One shot Or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted In one moment Would you capture it Or just let it slip? You better lose yourself in the music, the moment You own it, you better never let it go You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow This opportunity comes once in a lifetime I’m the furthest thing from being a “rapper”, but for some reason, those lyrics have always grabbed me. The idea of being able to completely “lose yourself”. Being able to become part of something larger than your current reality. For the artist of this song, it was losing himself and his rough upbringing in stardom as a global performer. As I reflect back on high school, I remember striving ever so hard to “lose myself” in basketball. There was no one who wanted to become a better basketball player than me. I was willing to work harder and longer than anyone else so that I would be known as a great basketball player. When given the opportunity to select a custom engraving for my first ever iPod, I chose the words “Work harder damn’t!!” to serve as a constant reminder to never allow anyone to outwork me. Unfortunately, genetics never quite allowed for that dream to pan out. But then less than a year into college I found myself dreaming about “losing myself” in my pursuit of working in the sports industry. I will never forget an evening I had back home with my dad watching an episode of “Big Ten Basketball: The Journey”. It provided a behind-the-scenes look into the life of the Minnesota Gophers Men’s Basketball program. I had already decided I was transferring to the University of Minnesota that next fall. I told my dad how incredible it would be if I could become a student manager for Gophers Basketball, or maybe even Football if I got really lucky. It was halfway through my freshman year, and I was desperately desiring a reason to be done with the partying and drinking that was consuming several nights of my week. I thought IF I could just “lose myself” in being part of a Division 1 college athletics program, then surely I would have enough reason to quit this life that I knew was wrong. If this happened, I would finally have an excuse to say no when friends asked me to drink because I was certain that my schedule would be too busy to allow for such foolishness. I was also certain that the opportunities that this would open for my career in the sports industry would fill me with such joy and peace that I would no longer have the constant urge to self-medicate my depression and anxiety with alcohol. This opportunity to “lose myself” would surely change everything for me… Fast forward to my first semester at the University of Minnesota that next Fall. I didn’t end up getting hired on with Gophers Men’s Basketball but ended up landing a student manager position with the Gophers Football program the very last week of Fall camp. It was just in time for the first game of the season. I grew up a huge Gophers Football fan, and I was now aspiring for a career in the sports industry. This was an absolute dream come true. I was working with the coaches and athletes I watched on TV only the year prior. And wow did this job have perks! Free tickets for my family to go to every game, more Nike gear than I could ever wear, use of the team training facilities, unlimited energy drinks and Coca-Cola products, and of course, I was now on the sidelines, a part of the action every Saturday. Growing up in a town with a population of 53 people, I never dreamed that one day I may be a part of all of it. I had never seen anything like the police escort that our team busses would receive to or from our chartered flights. At the end of the season, we were able to spend an entire week at a resort wherever our Bowl Game was. It happened to be in Arizona both of my years with Gophers Football, so a getaway from MN in December was no small perk. We even started out my first season with one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history with a record of 7-1. And did I mention I got paid? On top of all of this, I genuinely enjoyed my boss and everyone I was working with. Many of them became my best friends over the next few years. In a nutshell, that job ended up being even better than I could have dreamed. Surely “losing myself” in this opportunity would finally help me find peace and joy. But it didn’t. I will never forget how hard it hit me, a week into that job when I realized I was “living my dream” on the outside, but I was still just as anxious and depressed as I was before. I quickly found myself immersed in the coping mechanisms that got me through my freshman year. Alcohol. Women. Partying. It didn’t matter that this job was actually better than I ever imagined it could be. By all of my own measures externally, I was at the top. Internally, I was more depressed and confused than ever, and even suicidal. I would go on to “lose myself” many more times: - NFL Training Camp Internship with the Arizona Cardinals - NFL Training Camp Internship with the then “San Diego” Chargers - Opportunity to work for Tubby Smith and Gophers Men’s Basketball my Senior year. - A position working for Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech Football Each of these opportunities greatly exceeded my expectations in terms of perks and the “status” that seemed to accompany them, but they did nothing but make me even more confused about why I was so miserable. At least when I was a freshman I had the “hope” that things were going to be better when _____ happened. It was by no means any sort of pinnacle of success but in terms of what I had previously dreamed, my life was exceeding expectations. My point in all of this is that I had finally found what I had always dreamed would satisfy. Maybe you can relate. Have you been certain that a promotion would change everything for your family. Or, that becoming a parent or spouse would finally give you the purpose you longed for. Maybe it was the promising new career pursuing something you felt passionate about. Regardless of the “dream”, can relate that when achieving a goal, it made it harder to remain hopeful that you would find the joy and peace you were desperately desiring? Consider these words from Tom Brady, who I think many would imagine having a life worth losing yourself in. Supermodel wife. Incredible wealth. He retired this past week with arguably the most impressive career of any athlete of all time. Back in 2005, he had these words to share on 60 minutes: BRADY: …there’s times where I’m not the person that I want to be. Why do I have three Super Bowl rings, and still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, “Hey man, this is what is.” I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think: God, it’s gotta be more than this. I mean this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be. I mean I’ve done it. I’m 27. And what else is there for me? Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes: What’s the answer? BRADY: I wish I knew. I wish I knew… Throughout all of my struggles, I was still going to church. I had grown up going to church every Sunday, and I made certain that I continued to do so when I went off on my own. It didn’t matter what I had done the night before or where I had passed out, I made sure that I was at church each Sunday. By God’s grace, nearly 10 years ago, I started to realize that every time I sought to “lose myself”, I was really searching for purpose. I longed to be part of something that would give my life meaning. Being a great athlete. Having a successful career in the sports industry. It wasn’t until I attained one of these items that I realized it failed to fill the hole I was experiencing in my heart. This revelation in my life helped me realize that as a created being, I do not determine my purpose. In fact, it is actually determined by my Creator (God). Isaiah 45:9 states "Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' or 'Your work has no handles? Jesus says in Luke 9:23-24 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Slowly, but surely I discovered that “to lose yourself” is actually exactly what Jesus invites us into. And it’s a beautiful thing! Jesus exemplified what it means to “lose yourself” by first laying down His own life. He invites us to do the same. We have the opportunity to go from living for something that is perishable and that has a 100% chance of coming to an end (death), or, living for something that is imperishable (eternity with God). We can certainly seek to “lose ourselves” in many things here on earth. Jesus makes it clear that all of these things will never truly satisfy us. In John 4:13-14 Jesus shares with the woman at the well that “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” My life has certainly not become ‘perfect’ or ‘easy’ since I’ve decided to “lose myself” in following Jesus. I even have moments where I find myself straying from Jesus throughout the day. But, I couldn’t be more thankful that God continuously reminds me of His love for me, and has given me peace and a purpose that transcends this earthly life. If you’re interested in learning more about what it looks like to “Lose Yourself” in Jesus, I encourage you to prayerfully consider joining any of our upcoming USG Academy groups! If you'd like to talk about your "losing yourself" experiences, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, campus and teaching pastor at Radiant Church in Southwest Michigan, Jon Zondervan, shares how Jesus radically changed his life and called him to be a pastor. Jon talks through his struggles growing up in a legalistic church, battling alcohol and drug use, understanding his identity in Christ, and more! Click the player at the top of this blog to listen now or listen to more episodes of the Uncommon Podcast on your preferred podcast listening platform. See you next week for another episode of the Uncommon Podcast!