What Will Your Athlete Remember Being Praised For?

A case for ministry leaders learning with people beyond their own organization.

Before a young athlete quits, learn to ask better questions. Coaches, parents and churches can make room for honest conversation, belonging and healthier sports.

Scot Small shares how Battlefield FCA is developing leaders through listening, clear responsibility, regular coaching, and ongoing spiritual formation.

Youth sports needs more than willing volunteers. Explore how churches and communities can prepare and support coaches who protect joy, belonging and athlete dignity.

Scot Small reflects on the example adults set in youth sports and how parents, coaches, churches and leagues can build healthier team cultures.

What started as a weekend away with other college athletes became one of the most impactful experiences of my college career. I left with a stronger faith, meaningful friendships, and a renewed understanding of what it means to fully follow Christ. When I signed up for Mid-Atlantic College Camp, I expected a fun weekend with other athletes. What I did not expect was how much God would use those few days to challenge me, encourage me, and reveal areas of my life where I still needed to grow. My trip to camp did not exactly start smoothly. What should have been about a four-hour drive turned into a seven-hour drive because of traffic. I arrived tired, stressed, and ready for the day to be over. Thankfully, that feeling did not last long. As soon as I arrived, I met people in my huddle and quickly started making friends. My huddle leader would end up having a huge impact on me throughout the weekend, even though I did not know it at the time. One of the first things that challenged me was something called Prayer Tacos. Every morning, we woke up at 6:00 a.m. and spent an hour in prayer. At first, I honestly thought there was no way I could stay focused for an entire hour. Instead, it became one of my favorite parts of camp. The experience taught me how often I focus on asking God for things instead of simply thanking Him for what He has already done. By the second morning, I found myself looking forward to that time with Him. Since returning home, I have continued using my own version of Prayer Tacos during walks. Instead of spending the entire walk listening to music, I spend part of it intentionally praying. It has helped me become more consistent in my prayer life and more aware of God's presence throughout my day. Another highlight of camp was worship. There was something powerful about being surrounded by hundreds of college athletes who were unashamed of their faith. Seeing people openly worship reminded me that I am not alone in my desire to follow Christ and encouraged me to live out my faith more boldly. One of the breakout sessions impacted me more than any other. The session focused on our thought life and how many of our negative thoughts do not come from God. This message hit close to home because comparison was something I struggled with during my spring field hockey season. I often found myself believing lies. Those thoughts took up a lot more space in my mind than they should have. During the session, we wrote down negative beliefs we had about ourselves and then found Scripture that spoke truth into those lies. One verse that stood out to me was Psalm 139:14 , which reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The exercise reminded me that my identity is not found in performance, playing time, or what other people think of me. My identity is found in Christ. Another breakout challenged us to think about the influence we have on our teammates. It forced me to ask myself whether my actions are helping people move closer to Christ or simply blending in with the world around me. One thing I loved about camp was how genuine everything was. We were not just hearing messages; we were being challenged to apply them immediately. During one prayer session, we were asked to write down something we needed to surrender to God and place it on a wall. The activity reminded me that surrender is more than saying the right words; it requires trust and a willingness to place those burdens in God's hands every day. Not everything went according to plan. I ended up having to miss part of camp. While I was disappointed, I was overwhelmed by the kindness of those who cared for me and reminded me that God is present even when things do not go according to our plans. Some of the most impactful moments of the weekend came from hearing testimonies. Listening to people share both their struggles and the ways God had worked in their lives reminded me that faith is not always a dramatic transformation story. More often, it is a journey of growth, healing, forgiveness, and learning to trust God through difficult seasons. Their stories challenged me to grow in areas of my own life and reminded me that God is still working, even in the middle of the struggle. As the weekend came to a close, one truth stood out above everything else: you cannot live with one foot in the world and one foot with God. Following Jesus requires surrender, commitment, and a willingness to trust Him fully. I realized there were areas of my life where I was trying to keep one foot in the world and one foot with God. I was making excuses and settling for less than what God wanted for me. God was not calling me to be comfortable. He was calling me to be fully His. MACC was so much more than a weekend camp. It was a weekend where God challenged my thinking, strengthened my faith, and showed me areas where I still need to grow. I arrived at camp tired from a long drive, expecting little more than a weekend with other athletes. I left with a deeper faith, a clearer understanding of my identity in Christ, and a renewed desire to fully surrender every area of my life to Him.  If there is one thing I learned from Mid-Atlantic College Camp, it is that God can do a lot in just one weekend when we are willing to let Him work.

There is a big difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus. A person can know facts about Him. They can know Bible stories, Christian language, church routines, and even the right answers. They can know that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave, and is coming again. But knowing true things about Jesus is not the same as living in relationship with Him. In John 15, Jesus does not say, “Learn more religious information and try harder.” He says, “Abide in me.” That word carries the idea of remaining, staying, dwelling, continuing. Jesus is calling His disciples into a life of ongoing dependence on Him. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” That picture matters. A branch does not produce fruit by effort alone. It produces fruit because it is connected to the vine. The life of the vine flows into the branch. Apart from the vine, the branch may still look attached for a while, but it cannot bear lasting fruit. That is one of the quiet dangers in Christian life. We can keep the appearance of connection while slowly drifting from dependence. We can stay busy in ministry, sports, leadership, family, and service, but inwardly we are running on fumes. Jesus does not call that fruitfulness. He calls us back to Himself. Jesus says, “The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” That is not meant to insult us. It is meant to free us. We are not the source. We were never meant to be. For athletes and coaches, this is easy to miss because sports trains us to push harder, compete longer, and produce results. There is a place for discipline, effort, and training. But spiritual fruit is different. You cannot manufacture love, joy, peace, endurance, holiness, humility, courage, or obedience by sheer willpower. Those things grow from union with Christ. This is where obedience has to be understood rightly. Jesus says, “If you keep my commands you will remain in my love.” He is not describing cold religion or fear-based performance. He is describing the natural response of someone who loves Him and trusts Him. Obedience is not how we earn His love. Obedience is one of the ways we remain close to the One who already loves us. That matters because many people either separate love and obedience or confuse them. Some want the comfort of Jesus without surrender. Others try to obey Jesus without resting in His love. Both miss the heart of discipleship. Jesus holds them together. “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.” John 15:9 That is staggering. Jesus is not offering a thin, fragile, emotional kind of love. He says the love He has for His disciples is rooted in the love between the Father and the Son. That means Christian obedience begins in being loved by Christ before it ever becomes action for Christ. Then Jesus says something that should reshape how we think about discipleship: “I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11 Jesus is not trying to shrink our lives. He is not calling us into obedience so we can become miserable religious people. He calls us to abide, obey, love, and bear fruit because He knows where life is found. His commands are not chains. They are the path of life under His rule and care. And the fruit Jesus emphasizes here is love. “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15;12 That means abiding in Jesus cannot remain private. Real connection to Christ becomes visible in how we love people. Not just people who are easy to love. Not just people who help our goals. Not just teammates, leaders, donors, or friends who make life simpler. Jesus says His love becomes the pattern for our love. He loved sacrificially. He moved toward sinners. He served the weak. He corrected the proud. He washed feet. He laid down His life. So the question is not simply, “Do I believe in Jesus?” A deeper question is, “Am I remaining in Him?” Am I depending on Him? Am I receiving His words? Am I obeying His commands? Am I loving people in a way that looks like Him? This is where readiness for Christ’s return begins. Not with speculation. Not with panic. Not with trying to decode every headline. Readiness begins with abiding. A disciple who is abiding in Christ is not passive. They are watchful, prayerful, obedient, humble, and available. They are not perfect, but they are connected to the source of life. They are being pruned by the Father, shaped by the Word, and led into fruitfulness by the Spirit. The Christian life is not about looking attached. It is about remaining in Jesus. And today, before we ask what we need to do for Him, maybe we need to ask whether we are staying close to Him. Are you wondering how you can make difference? Maybe Sports Ministry could be a path for you. Volunteer with Battlefield FCA – Help us disciple the next generation. Become a Monthly Supporter – Fuel the mission that’s changing lives. Pray with us – Identity in Christ is spiritual warfare. We need covering.

Some of the most dangerous decisions leaders make are not loud or rebellious. Fear slips in quietly and starts to sound wise, responsible, even reasonable.

Reflections from a year of learning while leading, growing, and trusting God