If you can believe it, we have already reached the halfway point of 2024! While this year is flying by, it is important for us as a ministry to reflect on the work that the Lord has accomplished through the various programs and opportunities that have gone on up to this point in the year. In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive recap of the ministry activity that has happened so far this calendar year, to encourage you about the work that the Lord is accomplishing through USG! Academy Teams One of the constants for our ministry each year is our USG Academy program. The Academy is an eight-week virtual program that allows participants to grow in their relationships with Christ and as aspiring sport industry professionals through one-on-one discipleship, daily sport industry-specific devotionals through our curriculum, and practical hands-on assignments. You can learn more details about the USG Academy here .  So far this year, we have had two Academy teams go through the full eight-week program, and two more are coming up in the year's second half . In total, 39 young professionals have completed the eight-week Academy this year. Below is a list of the individuals who have graduated from the USG Academy: Team 38: Anthony Wedel (Liberty University), Andriejus Simkus-Sukauskas (Canada Games), Christian Light (Liberty University), Jakob Mayhall (Northern Texas PGA), Parker Lovett (LaGrange College), Aaron Magnuson (Pacers Sports & Entertainment), Arnold Haynes (Kutztown University), Carter Stanton (SMU Football), Cole Cameron (Taylor University), Conner Evora (Seminole Boosters), Gage Holder (Taylor University Football), Roland Pilizota (Grand Canyon University), Gabby Webster (University of Northwestern St. Paul), Maria Maroun (Concordia University St. Paul), Anna Hunsinger (Asbury University), Christina Shelby, Grace Normand (Taylor University), Kelsey Luther (Coastal Carolina University). Team 39: Elijah Bell (University of Minnesota), Marcal Johnson (Wichita State University), Matthew Hecmanczuk (Liberty University), Ben Edwards (Georgia Southern men’s basketball), Derek Bast (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports writer), Nick Peterson (Sporting Kansas City), Richard Martin (NCCAA), Ryan Paddock (University of Virginia), Shane Sinon (Texas A&M men’s basketball), Tyde Coffey (Covenant College men’s basketball), Zach Mayfield (Middle Tennessee State University), Cedrick Joseph (Barry University men’s basketball), Dawson Dean (Oral Roberts University men’s basketball), Grayson Rulon (University of Kentucky), Matthew Faulks (Taylor University), Titus Skistad (Grand Canyon University), Kenzi Brewington (Crown College), Madison Lowery (Valdosta State University women’s basketball), Autumn McGowan, Liz Wood (Covenant College women’s basketball), Ruth Brueckner (Crown College). Impact Weekends Upon completing the eight-week virtual USG Academy program, participants are allowed to attend an in-person event called an Impact Weekend . These weekend events are fully funded by USG and provide the participants with hands-on experience both to help them grow in their walks with Christ and as sport industry professionals. Throughout the year, USG hosts a few Impact Weekends at different locations in the United States. Below are short recaps of each Impact Weekend in 2024. Dallas Impact Weekend- February 16-18: This Impact Weekend brought together ten USG Academy graduates to Dallas, Texas, for an exciting and fruitful weekend. The group was able to fellowship with one another through a social event at a bowling alley, receive a tour of the University of Texas at Dallas’ athletic facilities and hear from their Director of Athletics, partner with a local Christian non-profit for a service project, and tour the home of the Dallas Cowboys, AT&T stadium, and hear from a USG member that is working in guest services at the stadium. You can read a more detailed recap of the Dallas Impact Weekend here . Minneapolis Impact Weekend- June 21-23: This Impact Weekend brought together nearly 40 USG Academy graduates to USG’s home base in Minneapolis, MN. This particular Impact Weekend was unique because it happened directly alongside the second annual Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference. Over the course of the weekend, the participants were able to hear from the speakers at the conference, fellowship with one another through small group discussions, tour the Minnesota Vikings practice facility, and participate in an outreach activity in downtown Minneapolis. You can read a more detailed recap of the Minneapolis Impact Weekend here . 2nd Annual Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference The Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference is hosted by Uncommon Sports Group each year in Minneapolis, MN. The conference aims to provide an opportunity for Christians working in college and pro sports to gather together to get connected with one another, get encouragement in their faith, and get equipped for ministry in their roles. This year, USG hosted the second annual CWS Conference on June 20-21. The conference brought together nearly 150 Christians working across the college and pro sport industry, and featured a lineup of experienced and gifted speakers. You can read more about this year’s conference here . USG Member Opportunities Thus far in 2024, USG has funded seven spiritual and/or professional development opportunities for its members to participate in. Once participants complete the USG Academy and Impact Weekend, they become members of Uncommon Sports Group. Membership provides opportunities for individuals to receive funding to attend a variety of events including international mission trips, conferences, and conventions. Below is an overview of each member opportunity that has occurred in 2024. In early January, USG was able to send one of its members, Nathan Doremus, to the 2024 Passion Conference in Atlanta, GA. Nathan currently works at Liberty University as the Assistant Director of Ticket Operations. Read a short testimony from Nathan’s experience at Passion 2024 here . Later on in the year, USG was able to attend both the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Conventions alongside the men’s and women’s Final Fours, respectively. USG funded a group of ten members to attend the NABC Convention in Phoenix, AZ, alongside the men’s Final Four weekend. You can read a detailed recap of the convention here . USG funded a group of two members to attend the WBCA Convention in Cleveland, OH, alongside the women's Final Four weekend. Read a detailed recap of the convention here . Earlier this summer, USG funded a group of nine members to take part in an international mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya. The mission trip team spent nine days in Nairobi serving alongside two local partners through sports-focused ministry initiatives. Read a detailed recap of the mission trip to Kenya here . USG has funded members to a variety of other events throughout the year, including to the Daniel Summit, NACDA Convention, AEMA Convention, and AD’s 4 Christ. Conclusion It has been amazing to see the ways in which the Lord has used these opportunities to help young professionals working in college or pro sports to be strengthened in their faith and to assist their professional development. The funding for these events and opportunities is made possible by USG’s funding operation, Clean Out For A Cause (COFAC). Through the generous donations of sports apparel from countless college and professional sports teams, the COFAC operation can monetize these donations to provide funds for USG’s ministry initiatives. You can learn more about COFAC here . We are thankful for what the Lord has done through our ministry so far this year, and are excited to see what will be accomplished in the second half of 2024! If you would like to learn more about Uncommon Sports Group, or get involved with our ministries, tap the link here !

Often, the most impactful prayers can be found in a room where you can hear a pin drop. Why? When we sit before the Lord there is a reverential awe and wonder, a Holy fear of the Lord that comes when His presence is upon us. Even heaven will be silent before Jesus. “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Revelation 8:1 When coming before the Lord in prayer it’s wonderful to be still. I heard once, “You’re praying when you forget you’re praying.” In the stillness, I’ll often ask the Holy Spirit to take over my mind, and my imagination. My goal is to see Jesus. I don’t just want head knowledge of Jesus, I want my heart to know all of Him. While we hold our tongue outwardly, inwardly there is a meditation of the heart that beautifully ushers in His presence. This satisfaction, this fellowship is not for a select few. It’s the children’s bread. It’s the way of life for those who believe in Jesus. He fills the hungry. If you want a deeper hunger for God, simply ask for it. Dependency and neediness before the Lord is the posture of a Christian. We are not independent. We’re fully and radically dependent on Jesus. He has everything you need. Allow Him to show you the easy and light burden of prayer. Time in His presence doesn’t negate the cares of life, it overcomes them. One of my favorite songs says… “O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There's light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace His word shall not fail you he promised Believe him and all will be well Then go to a world that is dying His perfect salvation to tell” Are you weary? Are you tired? Come to the Lamb. He will lead you beside still waters, He will quiet your soul.

Have you ever wondered how executives in professional sports reach the positions they are in? In this episode of the Uncommon Podcast, former Pittsburgh Pirates Assistant General Manager and Vice President, Kyle Stark, discusses his journey through the majors and provides practical advice for young professionals that are just getting started on their career journey. A new episode of the Uncommon Podcast is released every two weeks. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, right here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out this episode, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast to get alerts when new episodes are released! Do you want to join the largest community of Christian leaders of the college and pro sport industry? Learn how you can get involved with USG here .

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. A large part of how USG develops future leaders of sport is by funding its members to attend international mission trips that help develop them in their walks with Christ. In June of 2024, USG traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, with a group of nine of its members and two staff for an eleven-day short-term trip. While in Kenya, USG served alongside local ministry partners in a variety of ways, as well as experiencing the local culture and scenery in Kenya. If you want to learn more about the trip to Kenya, you can read a detailed summary here . Justin Wrenn was one of the attendees on this summer's trip to Kenya. Justin is a USG member and currently works as a Data Scientist with Overtime Elite Basketball. Justin formerly served as a student manager, graduate assistant, and video coordinator with Georgia Tech men's basketball. Below is a testimony from Justin reflecting on his experience in Kenya: "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.   For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? ” (Matthew 16:24-26) For the past year this verse has been central to the conviction I’ve felt in my life, which is centered around one of Jesus’s most simple commands; “follow me”. I know that I have experienced spiritual growth within the last year although at times it feels very small. I have been on a journey of asking myself “if I believe what the Bible says is true, why do I live like a regular resident of this world instead of a devoted disciple of Jesus being transformed by the Holy Spirit?” Looking for ways to be more obedient I knew one way would be to make myself uncomfortable and go on my first mission trip, so I applied for the USG Kenya trip. It was an amazing trip and very challenging, providing more questions than answers to ask myself now that I’m back home. Serving the children at the Huduma school was such a beautiful experience as our team of virtually strangers got to come together and serve and share in something we all share a love for which is teaching Christlike behavior through sports, teamwork, and competition. The children we got to serve were so smart, kind, and joyful in the midst of a life where they return home and don’t have clean water, sanitation, or adequate food supplies. It leaves me asking, “Would I be this joyful in life if I wasn’t living a rich, comfortable, American dream life?” We also spent an afternoon going out and doing evangelism with local members of Huduma Church in the nearby neighborhood of the school. This was very far out of my comfort zone and a stretch but the Holy Spirit provides what we need. The people of Kenya were so kind and welcoming to us. Most of the team agreed after we were done that it felt easier to go door-to-door in Kenya than it would in America. But this begs the question, why aren’t we going door to door in America to try to make sure our neighbors know the gospel? Similar to America, one of the pastors at Huduma reminded us during evangelism that many people know of God and Christ, but they do not know if they have true salvation. I saw that many people in Kenya were indifferent to the gospel, similar to America, which has led to me think more about if people who know the gospel still struggle to find salvation, how much more should we be desperately looking for ways to get the gospel to people who have never heard it at all? This trip was also special because we got to worship with two local churches and meet people that I would never have met otherwise. Worshiping in another country was so rewarding as a reminder that our God “YHWH” is not an American God but the God of the whole world. These brothers and sisters in Kenya had so much joy in their worship that it was challenging to me and left me asking, “Why am I not more excited to have a relationship with the sovereign God of the universe?” I saw Psalm 51:12 in action from believers in Kenya which says, “ Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit” and am praying that this type of attitude would come to describe my life as well. I am thankful for the opportunity to go on a trip like this, and the prayer for myself and the whole team is that these questions we were all faced with while in Kenya would drive us to take action back home and live our lives for God’s eternal kingdom more than the temporary earthly one." Seeing the impact that the Lord brought about from this trip, both on Justin's life and on the individuals we served in Kenya, has been such an encouragement! We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the Lord in Kenya with this group of future Christ-centered leaders of the sport industry. If you would like to learn more about the trip to Kenya, click here  to read a detailed summary. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a part of USG's growing community of Christian sport industry professionals, click here !

Uncommon Sports Group seeks to develop Christ-centered future leaders of the college and pro sport industry. A large part of how USG develops future leaders of sport is by funding its members to attend international mission trips that help develop them in their walks with Christ. In June of 2024, USG traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, with a group of nine of its members and two staff for an eleven-day short-term trip. While in Kenya, USG served alongside local ministry partners in a variety of ways, as well as experiencing the local culture and scenery in Kenya. If you want to learn more about the trip to Kenya, you can read a detailed summary here . Natalie Osborne was one of the attendees on this summer's trip to Kenya. Natalie is a USG member and a recent graduate from Grand Canyon University. Natalie aspires to work in sports psychology and is currently working to earn her doctorate in clinical psychology from George Fox University. Below is a testimony from Natalie reflecting on her experience in Kenya: "I went on this mission trip to Kenya without many expectations, as it was my first mission trip ever. I was expectant for how the Lord would work through our team, partners, and the people we served. However, I never could have imagined the impact this trip would have on my spiritual life. When I witnessed people without many of their basic needs being met still worshiping the same God I serve, it changed my perspective. I can no longer sit in comfort daily without feeling called to be bold and share my faith with those around me. I pray that the kids we served were blessed by the time we spent loving on them and that the coaches took away something valuable from the clinic we hosted. However, I am also so grateful for the Bible studies and conversations with our team that challenged me to take action in my faith upon coming back to our country and communities. My biggest takeaway from this trip was that we have a responsibility as followers of Christ to serve the less fortunate and pray for the lost. One memory I will have for the rest of my life was during our outreach in the community around Huduma Church. I was incredibly nervous, as many others on our team expressed, and didn't know how I was going to verbalize the Gospel for people who speak a different language and experience a completely different culture. In every conversation, the Holy Spirit took over and provided me with the words so that it was not by my strength but by His that these people got to hear about our God. I remember the last woman my group got to talk to before we left to meet up with the large group again. Our pastor asked her some difficult questions about salvation and life after death, and I saw a look of fear on her face. She genuinely knew nothing about Jesus, and after we got to share of the hope we have in Him, her entire expression changed to reflect hope and a hunger for more of the Gospel. I learned that even a small conversation can change someone's life, and if we are obedient to what the Lord is asking us to do, He will carry out those moments for His glory. We don't have to go to another country to speak to strangers, pray for the lost, and serve others well. While I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity (and would recommend it to anyone) I am also grateful to have a community in USG that is encouraging me beyond our trip to be a light in the spaces I am now." Seeing the impact that the Lord brought about from this trip, both on Natalie's life and on the individuals we served in Kenya, has been such an encouragement! We are grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the Lord in Kenya with this group of future Christ-centered leaders of the sport industry. If you would like to learn more about the trip to Kenya, click here to read a detailed summary. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a part of USG's growing community of Christian sport industry professionals, click here !

This past month, Uncommon Sports Group hosted the 2nd Annual Christians Working in Sports (CWS) Conference in Minneapolis, MN. The conference brought together approximately 150 followers of Christ from across the sport industry for two days of connection, encouragement, and growth. This year's conference provided attendees with fifteen Christ-centered speakers from across the sport industry. The list of speakers included Wayne Simien, Dayton Moore, Beth Wilmeth, Molly McManimie, Ryan Saunders, Chris Klein, Mike Linch, Toks Arowojolu, Jay Jacobs, Moses Ehambe, Kelli Masters, Johnny Shelton, Angela Marin, Paul Allen, and Hans Malebranche. These experienced speakers from the sport industry discussed various relevant topics including the importance of community as a Christian in sports, the legacy of encouragement, navigating trials and temptations in sports, and lessons in Christian leadership, amongst others! Along with hearing powerful messages from the speakers, attendees were given the opportunity to engage with one another through small group discussions. In between sessions, attendees were able to discuss the message from the session with one another providing opportunities for mutual edification and relationships to form. On the first night of the conference, USG hosted a social at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis for attendees. The social included a meal and a time for relationship building, a panel session hosted by Paul Allen on the topic of the importance of community, and a tour of the Target Field facility. On Sunday of the weekend of the conference, select attendees who signed up to participate were given the opportunity to serve the Minneapolis community through a gospel outreach activity. Attendees were split up into twelve groups and sent out to different parts of the city to minister the gospel to people in the area. The 2nd annual CWS Conference was impactful in many ways, and we thank the Lord for the work that He accomplished in the lives of those in attendance to help them be powerful witnesses to Him while serving in the sport industry. Registration for the 2025 CWS Conference is now open! The dates for next year's conference are June 20-21, 2025. Visit cws.uncommonsg.org  to learn more or register. Tap the link here to view the full catalog of photos from the 2024 CWS Conference!

My mom, Donna, just recently started attending a women’s Bible study group at her church. At first, she was hesitant to pray out loud. But, as she began to saturate herself in the Word, coming before the Lord daily to seek His face, her boldness to proclaim His excellencies outwardly grew. She’s asked the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) to be her comfort, especially in situations that stretch her. I’ve often talked with my mom about how performance pressures can be prevalent even in Christian circles. We tend to form hierarchies on the “holier than thou list.” Jesus confronted this in the church. In Matthew 6 Jesus says,  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.” What’s our motive behind prayer? Is it to impress others or to meet with God? Freedom, joy, and great delight come with the latter. Jesus, also in referencing the religious leaders said, “they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” Pause & Pray: “Holy Spirit purify my heart. Help me to crucify the desire to people please and deliver me from the fear of man, in Jesus' name, amen.” In Exodus, Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Paul wrote this to the church of Corinth: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the ]testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Two men, with tremendous impact, who put their trust in the power of God, not the ability to speak with eloquence. Nowadays anyone can stand up on a stage, platform, or social media page and “woo” people with words. But, the Word needs no wooing. The Word is life itself. The blood of Jesus is still speaking on our behalf. (Hebrews 12:24) Because of His sacrifice, the Lamb who was slain, we can boldly enter into the Holy of Holies as a royal priesthood ministering to the Great High Priest.

This past week, Uncommon Sports Group traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, for a short-term mission trip with nine USG members and two staff. During the ten days in Kenya, USG was able to serve alongside two ministry partners in different capacities and grow together in Christ as a group of Christians working in college and pro sports. In this blog, we’ll share a detailed recap of the mission trip to Kenya! On Friday, June 7, the team of eleven took off from the United States to head to Kenya. After nearly 24 hours of travel, the team arrived in Nairobi. The trip began on Sunday, June 9th, with a church service at a local partner's church, called Huduma Church, located in the Kawangware slum. It was such a blessing to be able to worship the Lord alongside other believers from a different country and culture! The mission trip team began the week with the first service opportunity of the trip alongside our partners at Huduma Church. In the Kawangware slum, poverty is at an extreme, and education for children is limited. Huduma Church began a primary and junior secondary school called Huduma School to provide affordable education for children living amidst extreme poverty in Kawangware. Our ministry with Huduma School was to provide sports equipment and school supplies for them to use. The USG team brought over soccer balls, basketballs, American footballs, volleyballs, jump ropes, writing pads, and pens. Along with the donations, the USG team spent three days with the students for a series of sports camps. The team led the 300+ students through drills and activities pertaining to soccer, basketball, American football, and volleyball. Through these camps, our group was able to engage with each student, provide them with coaching on the sport, teach Christ-centered principles, and build relationships with the students. After the three days of sports camps with the students at Huduma School, the team was allowed an opportunity to do door-to-door evangelism in the slum of Kawangware alongside members of Huduma Church. The team was split into groups of three and was led by members of the church who could engage with people in the slum and help translate from English to Swahili. Each group had opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with multiple people, hear their stories, pray for their needs, and answer any questions that they had. The Lord worked powerfully and thirty-one people accepted Christ as Savior during our time in the streets, and many of these people attended church for the first time the following Sunday! On Friday, June 14, the mission trip team headed to the southern border of Kenya near the famous Mount Kilimanjaro to visit Amboseli National Park for a Safari. The weather was beautiful and the team was able to see elephants, zebras, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and countless other rare forms of wildlife! It was a great opportunity to see the wonders of Africa, and grow closer as a team. The following day, the USG team hosted a sports ministry clinic for 65 sports coaches across Kenya and neighboring countries. The clinic provided these coaches with an opportunity to connect with one another on their commonalities of sports and faith in Christ. Along with the connections developed, the coaches in attendance were able to learn from our USG team. The lessons that were taught covered the traits of a successful Christian coach, evangelism and discipleship strategies in coaching, and dealing with competition as a Christian coach. This was a great opportunity for our group to see first hand how the Lord is using sports to advance the gospel in Kenya, as well as to pour into these coaches to help them continue in their ministry. Our final day in Kenya was on Sunday, June 16th. The group was able to attend a partner’s church, KAG Kariobangi, located in the slum of Kariobangi. The church has a radio station titled “KOCH 99.9 FM” which is broadcasted to thousands of individuals living in the slum. One of the USG staff members leading the trip, Noah Weiss, was able to be a guest speaker on the radio station. Noah shared on the impact of sports ministry, a short word of encouragement to sports ministers listening, and closed with the gospel and an invitation to listeners to accept Christ as their Savior. There were a total of 4,000 people listening who were encouraged to continue in their ministries, and others who heard the gospel message for the first time! Praise God! During the church service at KAG Kariobangi, a few of our attendees had the opportunity to share their testimonies with the congregation. This was a great opportunity for those attendees to step out of their comfort zone and testify to the work that the Lord has done in their lives! Finally, Noah was able to preach a sermon on the traits of a Godly Father, since it was Father’s Day! After church on Sunday, the team headed to a local pool for baptisms! Three USG attendees were baptized, outwardly expressing their inward faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 28:16-20). Along with our three USG attendees, a number of members of the KAG church in Kariobangi were baptized as well! We praise God for His saving work in each of these individuals' lives! The team is back safely in the United States and continues to be amazed at the many ways that God worked through them and in the lives of the people in Kenya we interacted with. A special thank you is in order to our partners in Kenya, who played a pivotal role in helping plan the trip and provide the ministry opportunities that our group engaged in. We also want to thank donors and supporters of Uncommon Sports Group, especially those who donate to our Clean Out For A Cause program. It is only through faithful support, both financially and prayerfully, that opportunities such as these are possible! USG looks forward to future opportunities to serve in Kenya and watch young Christian professionals in the sport industry grow in their love for Christ! If you would like to learn more about Uncommon Sports Group, or get involved with our ministries, tap the link here!

“With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.…” Acts 2:46 “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:19-21 Acts 4:13 says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” The early church gave us the best example of how to live in fellowship, by the power of the Holy Spirit, post-resurrection, and pre-Jesus’ second coming. I LOVE Acts 4 because it confirms this…No level of schooling, talent, or skillset qualifies us to be in a relationship with or used by God. Only the blood! This means we all can enter into fellowship with Jesus with confidence in His work on the cross. When we minister unto the Lord, especially in prayer, the Lord is not impressed with fancy words, long-winded sentences, impressive tone, or high-level speech. He loves what we offer Him and He IS the Word. He is the Author of all things. It ministers to Him to see us take what He’s given (the breath in our lungs, the words on our lips, our voice) and give it back to Him. This is worship.

“Listen, Yahweh, to my passionate prayer! Can’t you hear my groaning? Don’t you hear how I’m crying out to you? My King and my God, consider my every word, for I am calling out to you. At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.” Psalm 5 Let’s be honest. Prayer can be messy. One minute I’m crying, pouring out my heart to my patient and gracious Father…and the next minute I’m thinking, “Should I have ice cream or dark chocolate for dessert today?” When we enter into prayer, especially as sports professionals, we need to relinquish our desire to perform. We’re talking to God, maker of the Heavens and the earth. He made us from dust and knows our form. He doesn’t need our performance. What He wants is all of us. Jesus bled, died, and rose again to give us full access and reconciliation to the Father. Read that again, and again. Sin separated us from God, but Jesus. Now, we still when walking with the Lord should grieve over sin. I ask the Holy Spirit to convict me so quickly of sin because I don’t want to be numb to the thing that put Jesus on the cross. That is why Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Repentance is WONDERFUL. Through repentance, we are cleansed and washed daily; being made more into the image of the Son. One day I asked God, “What do you think of when you look at me?” His answer was, “I see Jesus.” He sees the perfection of His sons and daughters, covered by the blood, when He looks at us. And trust me, He is looking (2 Chronicles 16:9). I encourage you today, in a quiet moment ask God, “What do you think of me?” The answer may shock you.

In just over a week, Uncommon Sports Group will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, with nine members for a ten-day short-term mission trip. Each summer, Uncommon Sports Group offers a fully-funded international trip for its members to experience life, faith, and community outside their normal context. USG members apply for international trips and are selected based on a set of criteria outlined by the USG staff. USG has had the opportunity to serve in Kenya twice before, and we look forward to returning for a third time. This year’s team includes Christian sport industry professionals from various universities and organizations including Overtime Elite, Liberty University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Taylor University, Pro Level Sports Agency, Hofstra University, and George Fox University. In this blog, you will get an inside look into what the group will be doing while in Kenya, as well as learn more about each participant, why they are attending the trip and their prayer requests. What Are We Doing? USG has two main partners in Kenya. The first partner is a Christian church and primary school located in an impoverished community within the city of Nairobi. The school provides a quality and affordable Christian education for students from preschool age until the eighth grade. USG will be serving alongside the school during the first three days of the trip. The USG team will provide various equipment for the school including sports balls (soccer balls, basketballs, footballs, volleyballs), jump ropes, ball pumps, soccer goals, pens, and writing pads. Furthermore, the team will be serving the students through sports camps. The camps allow the students to compete with one another, develop teamwork skills, learn new sports, and practice Christ-centered principles. Following the three days of sports camps, USG will serve alongside the school and the church through a service project and evangelism. The service project will provide a fresh coat of paint on the school and the evangelism will take place in the village surrounding the school and church. The second partner that USG will be serving with is a local pastor and sports minister. Alongside this partner, USG will be hosting a coaches clinic for approximately sixty sports coaches across Kenya and neighboring countries. The clinic will focus on providing practical instruction for the coaches in attendance to help them become Christ-centered leaders for their athletes. During the clinic, the coaches in attendance will hear instructional messages from three USG attendees, including one staff member. The topics that these messages will cover include “The Making of a Successful Christian Coach”, “Effective Evangelism & Discipleship in Sport Ministry”, and “Dealing with Competition in Serving Through Sport.” The final session of the coaches clinic will be focused on team building through an interactive Scripture-based activity. Beyond the important work that the group will be doing alongside USG's partners in Kenya, they will be doing a six-session Bible study together as a team through the book of Galatians. The group must remain grounded in the Word of God while being busy serving during the day! Lastly, the group will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Kenya by going on a safari at Amboseli National Park! Who Is Attending? USG is grateful to have nine members attending the mission trip to Kenya. Below is a short biography written by each attendee to allow you to get to know each of them better. Each of their biographies will have a prayer request that they have leading up to the trip, and we encourage you to lift those requests to the Lord in prayer! William Bale- Graduate Assistant Equipment Manager at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Hello! My name is William Bale and I am an incoming graduate assistant for equipment room athletics at VCU. I decided to join USG on this trip as an opportunity to serve internationally and grow missionally with fellow believers in sports. Please pray for our Kenya team that we walk unified in being the hands and feet of Jesus! Thank you. Nathan Doremus- Assistant Director of Ticket Operations at Liberty University Hi, my name is Nathan Doremus and I am currently one of the Assistant Directors of Ticket Operations at Liberty University. I am attending this trip to get out of my comfort zone in terms of my faith. I have always walked the walk but many times I haven’t had the words to talk the talk. I think this mission trip will help me get out of my comfort zone in that aspect. I ask for prayers for safety while we are there and during the long travel days. I also ask for prayers to give me the words and courage to touch the hearts of the children of Kenya. Shaaliyah Lyons- Director of Basketball Operations at Hofstra University Hello! My name is Shaaliyah Lyons and I am in my third season as the Director of Basketball Operations at Hofstra University. Throughout my career in sports, I’ve always been passionate about collegiate athletics and player development. In 2018, I had the opportunity to serve in Malawi, and upon my return to the States, I made the change to pursue a more fulfilling purpose. In my role as DOBO, I sought to provide career and professional development opportunities through workshops for student-athletes. I plan to use this opportunity to connect deeper with God and allow Him to work through me while being able to serve and plant seeds in others. My experience in Malawi is embedded into my heart and I would like to give back in the same way in Kenya. My prayer requests are travel, protection, and maturity in the faith. Elijah McKim- IHSAA Basketball Official Hello! My name is Elijah McKim. I am currently working as a basketball official for the IHSAA. I believe this is a chance to push myself and my faith in a new environment that I have never experienced before. Also, I believe that God is calling me to use my talents to serve His Kingdom on this trip! Something that I could use prayer for is energy on this trip as I won’t have much time to rest before leaving. Luke McKnight- Facilities Coordinator at Liberty University Hey! I’m Luke McKnight! I currently work at Liberty University in their Campus Recreation department. My reason for attending this trip is to be able to be a witness for the Lord and have those Gospel conversations with any and all the individuals we run across. It can be hard going to a foreign country with a different language. I’d love to be able to take any learning experiences from this trip and be able to translate it to a lost and broken world that we all live in, whether it’s stateside, or across the world. A prayer request I have for this trip is for every individual on this trip to be intentional with their time, words, and actions because we are going to represent Christ. Jacob Neu- Resident Hall Director at Taylor University I just finished up at LeTourneau University as a Graduate Assistant in Athletic Communications and will transition into a Resident Hall director role at Taylor University this summer. I am so excited for the opportunity to serve in a setting that involves sports. I believe that sports are a great way to break down barriers and share the gospel which is the love of Christ. A prayer request for me is that I will see the opportunities to share the gospel. Natalie Osborne- Doctoral Student at George Fox University & Events Coordinator at MindReady My name is Natalie Osborne and I recently graduated from Grand Canyon University with my B.S. in Performance and Sport Psychology. I am now starting my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) at George Fox University. I own an athletic consulting company called Authentic Performance and also work as the Events Coordinator for MindReady, a sports psychology coaching company. I had the opportunity to participate in a Disciple Making Team (DMT) with USG last year and it shifted my heart, giving me a new perspective and desire to pray for the lost and serve the nations. When I found out about USG's trip to Kenya, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to act on the changes the Lord has been making in my heart. I am fully surrendering this trip to the Lord, and know that He will move in the hearts of those we serve and our whole team. One prayer request I have is that we would all be filled and rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit, especially after long days of service, to keep giving our very best to the people of Kenya. I pray that the Lord will guide our conversations by His Spirit and encourage each of us to be bold in sharing our faith. Ezrick Sanders- Pro Football Scout at Pro Level Sports Agency LLC Hello! My name is Ezrick Sanders. I am currently working as a football scout at Pro Level Sports Agency LLC. I have a strong desire to attend this trip to contribute to the fulfillment of the Great Commission and serve alongside a group of like-minded believers! Please pray for my grandparents with their health declining, my mother for strength to care for them, my siblings' mental fortitude, and for God to continue directing my life. Erin Weiss- Uncommon Sports Group Staff Member My name is Erin Weiss. I’m excited to have this unique opportunity to serve the Lord and His people in a different country. I’m looking forward to seeing how God is working and moving in that part of the world. My prayer request is that I would see and love the people of Kenya like Jesus does and to be fully present during our time there. Noah Weiss- Uncommon Sports Group Staff Member My name is Noah Weiss. I’m excited to attend this summer’s trip to Kenya because it will be my second time serving with our partners and leading a group! It is always such a blessing to see how the Lord moves through each participant and uses them to advance the kingdom mission in Kenya. A prayer request from me would be safe travels and physical health throughout our time there! Justin Wrenn- Data Scientist at Overtime Elite Basketball My name is Justin Wrenn, I am a Data Scientist with Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Georgia. I wanted to attend this trip to stretch myself spiritually and have an opportunity to serve in a new place through our common love of sports! Please pray that our team would have a servant's heart toward each other and those we interact with and for the Holy Spirit to move boldly through us. Conclusion USG is grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Lord in Kenya alongside a group of Christ-centered sport industry professionals. A special thank you to every supporter of Uncommon Sports Group, specifically those who have donated to the Clean Out For A Cause funding operation. Without your prayerful and financial support, trips such as there would not be possible! If you are interested in keeping up with USG’s activities in Kenya, be sure to follow our social media pages or subscribe to our newsletter so you can see what we are up to!

“But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” John 16:13 Prayer is actively joining into the already active communion of the Trinity. In prayer, we partake of the connection between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we “enter” into prayer, we fix our eyes on Jesus. The Holy Spirit is at work in us, upon us, and around us REVEALS JESUS CHRIST TO US! (John 16) How wonderful. We simply come before the throne of grace and ask the precious and powerful Holy Spirit to (by the blood of the Lamb) take us into fellowship WITH GOD. It’s almost as if we were created for this… Often, we can enter into prayer with a laundry list of requests…and that’s not bad at all…But, it surely can be burdensome and a little heavy. Scripture says in Matthew 6:8, “for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” What a relief! When we come before the Lord petitioning for our Mom, Dad, Grandma, cousin, cousin’s friend, and cousin’s friend’s friend, the Lord already KNOWS what we’re in desperate need of (emphasis added). We can turn our eyes to Jesus with rest, praise, and worship, and in all humility, ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray. I love to come before the Lord in a quiet place, behind closed doors (Matthew 6:5), with my Bible and my phone on silent, and wait for His presence to fall. I’ll often play worship music and sing (very off-pitch) to the Lord. There is renewed life found in singing or reading the scriptures out loud. There is power in the tongue. But please don’t just take my word for it. When you don’t know what to say, be still. When you still don’t know what to say, pray the scriptures back to God…and listen and learn to love His language back to you.