Sports Spectrum - Summer 2018 - Action Sports by Sports Spectrum

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SPORTS SPECTRUM OUR PLAYLIST CONTAINS CHRISTIAN MUSIC PROVIDED BY THE PROS THEMSELVES Matt Manzari (wakeskating) - No Longer Slaves - Bethel Music Shaun Murray (wakeboarding) - Lighthouse - Rend Collective Trevor Hansen (wakeboarding) - No Name - NF Kelly Clark (snowboarding) - Break Every Chain - Jesus Culture Cameron Sharp (skimboarding) - You Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Miss a Thing - Bethel Music (Amanda Cook) Derek Rabelo (surfing) - Oceans - Hillsong Anak Verhoeven (rock climbing) - Stronger - Mandisa

HIS https://spoti.fi/2JuIeAG

Photos by Daniel Looman

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

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Photo by Daniel Looman

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

SPORTS SPECTRUM

Photos by Daniel Looman

SPORTS SPECTRUM

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CONTENTS 12 - STILL RIDING FOR A REASON

Snowboarder Kelly Clark’s age, experience and lifestyle leave her in prime position to mentor the next generation + Snowboarding 101 & Athlete Testimony

18 - DEATH DEFIER

Wakeskating nearly killed him. Working in ministry nearly killed him. But Matt Manzari lives to share his story — God restores + Wakeboarding 101

28 - CHARGING INTO THE UNSEEN

Derek Rabelo may be blind, but he is undaunted by the massive waves he surfs + Surfing 101 & Kitesurfing 101 & Athlete Testimony

38 - CLIMBING FOR JESUS

Belgium’s Anak Verhoeven is among the world’s best rock climbers — and her foundation has always been Jesus + Rock climbing 101 & Athlete Testimony

44 - SKATING FROM SIN TO SALVATION

+ Skateboarding 101

46 - HOW GOD IS USING PARKOUR TO INSPIRE 48 - COACHING TESTIMONIES

Kirby Leismann - Wakeboarding Joshua Stock - Snowboarding Kevin Foss - Mountain Biking Bryan Jennings - Surfing

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1-866-821-2971 $36.00, 4 ISSUES (PRINT); $45.00 OUTSIDE USA For information on subscriptions, back issues, discount bulk issues, or changing your subscription address: Web site: www.sportsspectrum.com/membership/ Phone: 1-866-821-2971 Mail: 640 Plaza Drive, Suite 110, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 Email: support@sportsspectrum.com General correspondence, Letter to the Editor, or Writer’s Query No unsolicited manuscripts, please E-mail: editor@sportsspectrum.com Permissions, Reprints Contact: Sports Spectrum permissions Phone: 1-866-821-2971 E-mail: support@sportsspectrum.com COVER • PHOTO CREDITS: (Matt Manzari), Giuseppe Demasi (Derek Rabelo), Cameron Spencer/Getty (Kelly Clark)

PUBLISHER Sports Spectrum Media EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jon Ackerman jon@sportsspectrum.com ART DIRECTOR Aaron Dean Sauer aaron@sportsspectrum.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Becky York becky@sportsspectrum.com STAFF WRITERS Justin Adams Jason Romano Aliese Willard

Sports Spectrum Global is a multimedia ministry with the purpose to impact people by connecting faith and sports in a relevant way, ultimately directing people, with resources for discipleship, toward a personal, loving God who demands Christ-centered lives. Printed in USA. Copyright © 2018 by Sports Spectrum Publishing. Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SPORTS SPECTRUM, 640 Plaza Dr., Ste 110, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

57 - DAILY DEVOTIONALS

13 weeks of devotionals from Action Sports athletes, chaplains and leaders

PLUS +

8 - By the Numbers 10 - Intro to Action Sports culture 85 - Gospel Message WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

WWW. sportsspectrum.com SPORTS SPECTRUM 7

7 7

BY THE NUMBERS 3 ACTION SPORTS

added to the 2020 Olympics: surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing. Karate will also make its debut, and baseball/softball will return to the Games.

$8 BILLION

Number of dollars spent worldwide annually in the surfing industry, according to CNBC.

11.5 MILLION Minutes streamed on the X Games YouTube channel during the 2018 Winter X Games.

6.3 MILLION 8

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Facebook likes for Quiksilver, arguably the most popular boardsport-related retailer. The brand has 1.7 million followers on Instagram. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Alex Honnold

1:58:07

Record time it took on June 6 for Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell to climb El Capitan’s 3,000-foot sheer granite wall, the biggest wall in Yosemite National Park. Breaking the twohour mark is being compared with track’s four-minute mile.

Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty (top) AP Photo/Ben Margot (bottom)

Tommy Caldwell

MUST

WATCH

2,768

Miles in the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the world’s longest mountain bike trail. It runs on dirt backroads from Canada to New Mexico along the Continental Divide, and typically takes riders 6-10 weeks to complete the entire route.

$1,400

Cost of the Inboard M1, “the best electric skateboard currently available” according to DigitalTrends.com.

100

Miles inland from the California coast, the location of Surf Ranch, an artificial wave pool built by legendary surfer Kelly Slater in Lemoore, Calif. The 100-ton hydrofoil is pulled along a 700-yard track, creating 6-7-foot waves that last about one minute. More than 50 types of waves can be produced at the push of a button.

“Kelly Slater’s artificial wave machine brings surfing inland” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTIZvksf6XE

Feet in height (24.38 meters) of the world record-breaking wave surfed by Brazil’s Rodrigo Koxa in November. He performed the feat in Nazare, Portugal, and was officially awarded the record in April at the World Surf League’s 2018 Big Wave Awards.

“Brazil’s Rodrigo Koxa sets record for biggest wave ever surfed” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrVyk0gBDK0

VI D EO S 1080

In May, Julia Rick became the first woman to land a 1080 (three rotations) in wakeboarding. The 24-year-old German was the 2016 IWWF World Champion. 9

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“First Woman ever to land a 1080 in Wakeboarding Julia Rick” TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hq9jvCjwTM

TRANSFORMING ACTION SPORTS CULTURE

Action sports is a $17.5 billion industry. The X Games is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world for youth ages 14-24. Skateboarding has the largest influence on U.S. music and fashion besides hip-hop. Skateboarders can be found in streets around the world, even in places like Afghanistan and Ethiopia. There are 1.5 million surfers in Japan alone. More than 20% of the Costa Rica economy is from surf. Action sports culture is everywhere, and this culture is filled with the influencers of our next generation.

Brokenness

Hope

Yet, among all the hype is brokenness. Historically, action sports have been rebellious and fiercely independent. Snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing are not just an activity, but an identity and lifestyle. Riders don’t just say, “I skate,” they say, “I am a skater.” It becomes a part of who they are. So much of the rider’s identity is wrapped up into how they perform and the friends they ride with. It’s like a community of orphans, but the culture is very tight. A rider can fly halfway around the world to a new country and not speak the same language, but show up at the skatepark and feel connected to the skaters there.

There is hope. Organizations immersed in action sports culture are rising up and making a difference. They all have a niche focus within action sports, and they have joined together as ACTS, an action sports ministry coalition that seeks to validate, gather, share, grow with and encourage each other (see www.actionsportsministry.org).

These ministries are creating safe, positive environments within action sports where youth can belong, be introduced to Jesus Christ and be engaged in discipleship. Through small groups and mentoring relationships that are integrated with action sports, God is transforming action However, while the community is tight, it is vastly lacking sports culture. They are authentic riders, intentionally authority. There are not many coaches, mentors or fatherbuilding relationships with riders, sharing the love and truth figure types in action sports. The coaches, trainers, mentors, of Jesus. booster clubs, teams and all the community support found in traditional sports like baseball, football and basketball Action sports is not a platform for sharing the Gospel, it is a are missing from action sports. The lack of encouragement culture that desperately needs the Gospel. These grassroots and mentorship wreaks havoc on the riders. In traditional movements of riders all around the globe are reaching sports, kids have a name on their back and their family and riders and transforming action sports culture, but need the friends are at their games cheering them on. But in action support of the Church. Be praying for the action sports sports, riders often get dropped off at the skatepark or the culture. Be praying for the riders. hill. They may not have anyone pouring into their lives, BY JONNY NELSON, JSAW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR encouraging them or mentoring them. They feel alone, outcast and hurt. And we wonder why action sports culture is riddled with drugs and troublemakers.

Transformation

Many churches across America have seen the hype in action sports and built skateparks with good intentions. Yet after a while, numbers drop and the church skatepark is not so cool anymore. It’s because it isn’t authentic; it didn’t come from within. Many ministries are doing a fantastic job at making disciples in the traditional sports arenas, but they are illequipped when it comes to action sports. Riders are at the skatepark or out chasing waves, they’re not in youth group or Sunday school. In order to transform a culture, you must be in the culture. In John 1:14, we see the incarnation of Jesus. He became man, lived in our world, spoke the language and ate the food. Youth and action sports culture demand authenticity. To change things, it must come from within. 10 10

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THANK YOU

Thank you to the ACTS Network (www.actionsportsministry.org) for making this magazine possible. This global network of action sports ministries — existing to make disciples of Jesus in the world action sport community — tapped its resources to provide stories, photos, contacts and ideas for this issue. Below are the ministries which directly contributed:

JSAW JSAW is an action sports ministry making riders into disciples. We integrate mentoring relationships, service projects and small group Bible studies with action sports activities, camps, trips and contests both locally and worldwide. www.jsaw.org NARROW PATH MEDIA Narrow Path Media is a collective of images, videos, writings and blogs as seen through the lens of Andrew Carruthers. This website is a fundraising vehicle for Carruthers — World Longboard Tour Chaplain. This ministry is completely funded by donations and sales. www.narrowpathmedia.com.au PANICREV PanicREV is Faith, Family and Motocross. We are a movement, empowering and equipping the motocross community to know Jesus and to walk strong and bold in their faith. www.panicrev.org

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SNOWBOARDERS AND SKIERS FOR CHRIST Snowboarders & Skiers for Christ USA exists to bridge the ski/snowboard culture to Jesus, partnering with the local Church. SFC’s vision is to be the light of Jesus in the ski/ snowboard culture. SFC USA leaders believe God’s Word calls them to find their identity in Jesus, to engage those within their culture through genuine, loving relationships and to do selfless acts for others as they share the Gospel message. www.sfcusa.org SOLID ROCK CLIMBERS FOR CHRIST Solid Rock Climbers for Christ is a community of climbers, many of whom are followers of Christ that are interacting with principles of God found in the Bible. What does climbing have to do with one’s religious views? Not much or everything! We love to climb and as we do, we want to honor the God we serve and be a witness of Him. www.srcfc.org TRAILSTOKE MOUNTAIN BIKE MINISTRIES Trailstoke aims to serve and expand the mountain bike community with the desire to see individuals that are healthy, and full of life. www.trailstoke.org WAKEWELL WakeWell’s VISION is to bring the living water of Jesus to the wakeboarding, wakeskating and wakesurfing culture. Our MISSION is to bridge the wake culture to Jesus Christ, partnering with the local Church. www.wakewell.org TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

G N I D I R FOR A

Still

By Jon Ackerman

Reason additional reporting by Becky York and Aliese Willard

o female snowboarder boasts more accolades than Kelly Clark. Olympic gold medal. Numerous X Games gold medals. Multiple U.S. Open medals. Action Sport Athlete of the Year ESPY. Winningest woman in snowboarding history. First to land a 1080 in competition. And on and on and on. Her most cherished is the Olympic gold, won in the halfpipe at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games as an 18-yearold, marking the first gold medal for the host country that year. Her most hard-fought is the Olympic bronze from 2014, when she, as the last rider 12

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of the competition, needed to stomp a stellar run to find the podium — and did just that. But ranking right near the top is a medal the 34-year-old Clark received at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Not something she won, because she actually finished fourth in her fifth and possibly final Olympic appearance. Rather, it was a medal given to her by a teammate, the newly crowned champion, Chloe Kim. The Order of Ikkos medal is something the U.S. Olympic Committee allows every Olympic medalist to give someone who has “influenced them

and helped them in their journey.” It’s intended for coaches, as Ikkos was the first recorded Olympic coach in Ancient Greece. Kim, an 18-year-old primed to be the future of women’s snowboarding, handed hers to Clark. “She’s been nothing but a huge inspiration to me, being a good person in general and being a hardworking athlete,” Kim told the USOC. “It’s nice to have someone like Kelly always giving me advice.” Similar sentiment was expressed from another compatriot, Arielle Gold, the 21-year-old who bested Clark for that PyeongChang bronze. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Photo by Aliese Willard

Kelly Clark’s age (twice that of her opponents), experience (winningest female snowboarder ever) and lifestyle (Christ-follower) leave her in prime position to mentor the next generation

“She’s someone I’ve looked up to ever since I started snowboarding — even more so when I got to spend time with her over the years and have gotten to know the kind of person she is,” Gold told the USOC. “She’s been a huge support system for me emotionally when things get challenging.” Then there’s Maddie Mastro, who at 17 years old rounded out the 2018 U.S. Olympic women’s halfpipe team. She showed enough promise as a youngster to earn a scholarship from the Kelly Clark Foundation, which launched in 2010 to “provide youth with the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their highest potential through snowboarding.” “Kelly Clark has been an amazing inspiration to the whole sport of women’s snowboarding, and it’s incredible how much she has pushed to progress the sport,” Mastro told the USOC. “The longevity of her career is another thing to look up to and be inspired by. We all respect her a lot.” If there’s an ideal way to retire from an Olympic sport, going out with a gold medal is it — at least by the world’s standards. But for Clark, these words spoken by teammates half her age validate an accomplished mission, one she set out on in 2010 after winning bronze at the Vancouver Games. “I looked around and realized I didn’t just want to have good competition results when I looked back at my career someday,” Clark told Sports Spectrum this past spring. “So I’ve really embraced, in this later part of my career, really mentoring and being available to contribute to other people’s success — which as a competitive athlete may not seem like the best idea. “But I think that investing in people is the most sustainable, best investment that you can make. I want to make sure that my influence doesn’t end when I’m done competing. I want to look back and see a sport that’s better because I was a part of it.” Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty

“She’s been nothing but a huge inspiration to me.” — Chloe Kim, reigning Olypmic gold medalist (far right)

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

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lark credits nearly everything in her life to snowboarding. She first tried it at age 7, and later excelled in high school at Mount Snow Academy in Vermont before turning pro. It’s her community. It’s her lifestyle. “Snowboarding has given me such an incredible life experience,” she says. That includes giving her Jesus. The year was 2004, two seasons after winning her Olympic gold medal. She had just advanced to the finals of a competition when she overheard a conversation between two fellow riders, one girl consoling another who had failed to make the finals. “Hey, it’s all right. God still loves you.” The girls didn’t know Clark was in earshot; Clark didn’t exactly know what those words meant. But she couldn’t ignore them. She raced back to her hotel room, assuming a Bible would be sitting in the nightstand drawer. She opened it up, but had no clue what to make of the “God where art thou” text. So Clark tracked down the girl who spoke of God like she knew Him, and asked how she could know Him too. “It’s not about being religious,” the girl told her, debunking the stereotypical rule-following view Clark held on Christianity. “It’s about having a relationship with Jesus.” Those words changed Clark’s life. She immediately began to seek more of Christ. She devoured a daily devotional given to her by a Christ-following coach, and she tore through Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life.” “That book was really foundational in just helping me understand who God was and what a relationship with Jesus could look like,” Clark says. Four months after hearing “God still loves you,” Clark gave her heart to the Lord (see page 64 for more of Clark’s testimony). Liberated after shedding the idea of her identity being tied to performance, Clark’s performances prospered. She was already among the world’s elite halfpipe riders, but finding Jesus helped her escape a depression that had been setting in without her really knowing it. “When everything’s riding on a result of a performance, or especially a snowboarding event, you tend to be kind of conservative in your approach and you don’t want to take those risks because what if you do fall? So [discovering Christ 14

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Photo by Gabe L’Heureux/Getty

has] honestly freed me up to be the forerunner and the progression leader in this sport for so many years. Because I can dream really big and I can fail, and it’s OK. Not a lot of people can say that,” Clark says. The mid-2000s were a time of rapid progression in snowboarding. Both men and women were literally soaring to new heights and attempting tricks at a new level of difficulty. Shaun White largely led the way for men, Clark for the women. She’s long been known for her amplitude (air out of the pipe), which led to her becoming the first woman to land a 1080 (three rotations in the air) in competition. Clark accomplished the feat at the 2011 Winter X Games and went on to dominate women’s halfpipe for much of the next five years. “You get out what you put in. I constantly invest in my career. I’m constantly learning new things, and as the sport changes, I have to do that as well. I love learning new things and getting pushed — I think that’s what’s been inspiring me these last few years,” she says. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

“Discovering Christ has honestly freed me up to be the forerunner and the progression leader in this sport for so many years. Because I can dream really big and I can fail, and it’s OK. Not a lot of people can say that.”

Photo by David Ramos/Getty

yeongChang may have been Clark’s last Olympics, and if so, she leaves as one of only two U.S. women to compete at five Winter Olympics (the other is cross-country skier Kikkan Randall). In those appearances, Clark never finished lower than fourth (gold in ‘02, fourth in ‘06, bronze in ‘10, bronze in ‘14, fourth in ‘18). Outside of the Olympics, she owns the most X Games medals for a woman (14), eight U.S. Open gold medals and three FIS World Cup season titles. Many of those accolades were earned with Jesus on her board — literally. Right at the top edge of her Burton snowboard — accompanying other stickers displaying other sponsors — is “Jesus” in cursive letters. That placement is no accident. When snowboarders pose for photos on podiums, or appear on TV for interviews after competing, they always hold their boards close by. The idea is to get their sponsors in the shot, increasing brand recognition. With Jesus above all other logos, Clark unashamedly shows who’s at the top in her life. “I’ve always been kind of a what-you-see-iswhat-you-get type of person. I’ve always been very transparent about my belief and my faith because I want to be the same person that I am at the top of the pipe that I am at the bottom of the pipe that I am at home with my friends that I want to be at church that I want to be sitting here doing an interview,” Clark says. “I try to be as consistent as I can.” In doing so she’s been a constant witness for Christ in the world of snowboarding, where the Gospel isn’t always welcomed. Clark’s mission, since 2004, has been to impact the world around her instead of the world impacting her. “What I believe about God and how my faith is built is not determined by what goes on around me,” she says. “It’s determined on what the Word says and who God is. It doesn’t change based off what sort of environment I’m in … “My thing as far as being a Christian and what that looks like, it should look like loving people really well. So I should have really great relationships, and set people up to be successful and develop on their own journeys, and hopefully inspire them and love them really well.” No matter when or where those relationships begin — Clark first met Chloe Kim when the youngster tugged on the vet’s sleeve in 2009 at Mammoth Mountain Resort, the home mountain for both Californian snowboarders — Clark realizes the opportunity before her. “A lot of the people that I come into contact with on a daily basis, they may never ever, ever step foot in a church, never have an opportunity to encounter God in any shape or form or fashion,” she says. “You know, maybe if they get to meet me and have the experience of an extension of who God is, that’s awesome. “Whatever kind of journey they’re on, I just trust that God’s using me right where I’m at.” To see Kelly Clark’s video interview with Sports Spectrum, search “Kelly Clark” on SportsSpectrum.com.

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he mountains are a wonderful place to spend the winter. We look up to them and see the majesty and beauty God created. Up on those snow-covered rocks is where skiers and snowboarders find their home. We create an amazing community out of this shared love and experience. There are unique little subcultures as well.

Styles

Freestyle Park Riders — The terrain park is where the riders spin off big jumps, catch air out of the halfpipe and slide rails. “Park rats” are typically younger tricksters. Freeride/Backcountry — Where the real diehards play. They seek fresh snow where no turns have been made. Dangerous and demanding to get there. Groomers — Back inside the ski area, the resort workers groom runs for a familiar ride and easy time. Groomer riding is fun for the family and where most people ride. Skiers — It’s worth mentioning that there has traditionally been a divide between skiers and snowboarders. Skiing can range from downhill slalom to trick-driven twin tips.

snowboarding Gear

Lingo

That was extreme — Skiing or riding down a steep mountain face Shreddin’ the gnar — Going boarding/skiing on any snow surface Afterbang — After a landed trick with authority and style Sup Bro? — Hey friend Wipe out — Unsuccessful trick attempt or unexpected fall going down the hill North America (U.S./Alaska/Canada), South America , Europe, Japan, Stoked — Expressing extreme happiness Asia/Russia, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa Steezy — A trick performed with ease and style Grommet — Young skier/snowboarder White ribbon of death — Small patch of snow on ski hill with hundreds of people First tracks — Unridden fresh snow Jerry — Typically a beginner skier or snowboarder out of Whiteroom — Turning in deep powder flying overhead control and wiping out Whiteout — Low visibility with heavy, large snowflakes Shred bum — Someone who lives for winter to ski or Blower — Deep depths of snow from windy and heavy snowfall snowboard obsessively with limited funds Wildcat — Cartwheel backflip Snow shark/snake — A rock sticking above the surface Tame dog — Cartwheel side front flip hidden from snowfall Switch — Riding in an unnatural stance or skiing backwards Kook — Beginner skier/boarder attempting Cab spin — Switch/unnatural front side spin named from skateboarder Steve Caballero advanced maneuvers Switch spin — Switch/unnatural backside spin Stomp — Perfectly landed trick off jump or halfpipe — Josh Stock, International Director of Bolt — Landing a trick perfectly on feet where bindings and boots lay on the board Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ Double cork — Two off-axis vertical and horizontal spins in air Triple cork — Three off-axis vertical and horizontal spins in air Quad cork — Four off-axis vertical and horizontal spins in air Taco — A fall onto a rail or obstacle onto stomach, and specifically gut Yard sale — Loss of all ski equipment: skis, poles, goggles, beanie and gloves Jibbing — Sliding across an unnatural surface like wood, concrete, plastic, tube or metal

Snowboards — Range from directional, twin tip, flat, camber, rocker, banana, triple rocker, split board and fish. Skis — Range from racing, telemark, cross-country, slalom, downhill, twin tips for park or freestyle riding, backcountry/powder skiing.

Locations

Terminology

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A LIFE REVOLVING AROUND HIM By Tristan Sadler, professional snowboarder

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

I grew up on the East Coast and currently reside in Ogden, Utah. I started snowboarding when I was 7 years old, and I am 29 years old now. I guess that means I’ve been riding for 22 years. I fell in love with snowboarding the moment I stepped on a board. I remember seeing a snowboarder and asking my mom if I could do what they were doing. It was love at first sight. My family, my friend named Mac, the Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ crew, and other close friends have played the biggest role in who I am as a person. They have helped me stay on track, picked me up when I was down, and prayed for and with me through good times and bad. I know God has placed them in my life for a reason. Without them I would be all out of whack. Over the years, I would say my favorite accomplishment as a sponsored snowboarder would be creating a video project with my closest friends called “Ride Local First.” It is a movie about snowboarding in Ogden and a dream come true for all of us, something my

friends and I worked hard to produce. It was such a rad experience. We weren’t sure how well it would do, but the theater we rented sold out right away; it was crazy. The biggest part of my snowboarding would be my faith. Around the age of 15, I had the realization of who Christ really was and remember desiring to have a relationship with Jesus. I wanted my life to completely revolve around Him. After that, I gave it all over to Christ: the snowboarding, the skateboarding, the filming, everything I did. I wanted it all to be for His glory and to reflect His love and grace. I would find myself praying before I would go snowboarding. I would ask God to help whatever happened that day, whether it was video footage, photos or cruising with friends. I prayed that it would all reflect His love and be used for His glory and kingdom. I wouldn’t be where I am today in snowboarding if it wasn’t for who Jesus is and who He made me to be. I’m not perfect by any means, but God’s love keeps me grounded and keeps me focused on what truly matters. SPORTS SPECTRUM

DEATH DEFIER

WAKESKATING NEARLY KILLED HIM. WORKING IN MINISTRY NEARLY KILLED HIM. BUT MATT MANZARI LIVES TO SHARE HIS STORY WITH THE WORLD — GOD RESTORES By Becky York

18 18

oard sports were Matt Manzari’s life-breath. Growing up the son of church planters in upstate New York, he spent every unplanned moment on a board — snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding and eventually, wakeskating. Birthed within the last two decades and gaining fast-growing popularity among action sports athletes, wakeskating — a hybrid of skateboarding and wakeboarding — partners the freedom of self-managed board control with complete reliance on a boat’s power. “My life revolved around these sports,” Manzari says. “I loved the water, but I also loved the freedom of not being attached to a skateboard. When I was introduced to wakeskating, I found the best of both worlds.” It didn’t take long for big-name sponsors S P O R T S S P Esuch C T R U M as Malibu Boats, Nike and

Arnette sunglasses to place confidence in the 14-year-old up-and-comer. These became the names behind this teenage pro boarder, who was traveling the world competing in the sport he loved. But while wakeskating took first priority in his life, his faith in God took a backseat. “It wasn’t ever like I rebelled against God or was too cool for Him, He just didn’t take priority in my life for a bit,” he says. “I claimed to be a Christian, but I was lukewarm.” A few years later at age 17, however, Manzari felt a tug on his heart he couldn’t ignore. Skeptical about how one “hears” the voice or calling of God, he pushed it away, not telling anyone the constant weight he carried with him. “The only way I can describe it,” he says, “is like if you have a test to study for or a chore you know you have to do and you feel this pressure on your shoulders.

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“When I saw people give their lives to Christ for the first time, it was so much more rewarding than anything I’d done in wake. Just to have a small part in that process made me realize this is what life’s about.”

Photos by Garrett Cortese

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Everything inside was saying, ‘Matt, what are you doing with your life? You’re supposed to be working for Me. You’re supposed to be serving Me.’” For weeks Manzari tried to explain away the nagging voice inside him by any means other than the voice of God. But one day as he woke from sleep, the question plagued him in a way he could no longer ignore. “That same voice inside of me was saying, ‘What are you doing with your life? You’re supposed to be serving Me’” Manzari says. “I immediately prayed, ‘God, I know I’m not supposed to test You, but I just need something to know this is You — that I’m supposed to have this life change. Let me know by sundown today and I’ll walk away from my sport. I’ll go to school for ministry. I’ll do whatever it takes!’” With no plans to pursue school after high school, this pro athlete’s prayer was a bold step. One hour later, as he was driving from his home in Clermont, Fla., to Orlando for a photoshoot, he received a call from a

friend in California. “The only way to describe this guy is ‘gnarly,’” Manzari says. “Not the guy you expect God to use.” His friend called him to ask about a recent date he had been on. In response, Manzari laughed and described the girl. “He laughed at me and said, ‘Matt, how are you supposed to be in ministry someday if you don’t have a strong Christian wife behind you?’” Manzari remembers. “I got super defensive, ‘Why would you think I would ever be in ministry? I’m a pro wakeskater; I’m not going into ministry!’” But much to Manzari’s surprise, his friend gently responded, “Matt, from the day I met you, I knew you were going to be in ministry.” Manzari, shocked by the meaning and timing of his friend’s reply, immediately pulled his truck over to the side of the road and started to weep. After gaining composure, he called his mother to let her know there would be a change of plans. Matt Manzari feature cover on Wakeboard Magazine

“Matt, what are you doing with your life? You’re supposed to be working for Me. You’re supposed to be serving Me.”

Photos by Garrett Cortese

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“Hey Mom,” he spoke into her voicemail, “I’m flying to L.A. in the morning for a photoshoot but I think I’m going to college. I think I’m going into ministry … whatever that means. I need to talk to you.” A few months later, Manzari started his freshman year at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn., where he would spend the next four years pursuing a theology degree with a minor in Biblical languages. Assuming his sponsors, observing he was going after a career in something other than wakeskating, would drop him as soon as he left for college, Manzari thought his career in pro sports was over. “I hoped it was a good decision,” he says. As he began interning at churches and seeing the fruits of Gospel transformation take place, he knew he was right where God wanted him to be. “When I saw people give their lives to Christ for the first time, when I saw people become hungry and excited about what Christ was doing in their lives, it was so rewarding,” Manzari says. “It was so much more rewarding than anything I’d done in wake. Just to have a small part in that process made me realize this is what life’s about. “Up to that point my whole career had been about gaining more sponsors, more money and more for me. Where did God and others fit into that? Not all pro athletes are selfish but I was. It was a very humbling process. As soon as I got to the point when I was truly ready to let go, God really blessed me in my sports career. Coming into the summer after my freshman year, I won the Trick of the Year award [for completing a boardslide to 270 backside kickflip] — a really big award in our industry.” As a result of his success, Nike, along with his other sponsors, continued to back him for one more year. The following summer, as Manzari’s success continued and resulted in a feature cover on Wakeboard Magazine, he secured his sponsors not only for one more year, but for the rest of his time in college.

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Three days before his senior year finals, Manzari decided to enter the pro tour for the last time. He had just cut ties with his sponsors and knew his pro career was over. Being one week away from seeking a job in full-time ministry, he looked at his finances and the possibility of entering the pro tour one last time. Knowing the tour was only four stops that year, the first stop being near his hometown in Florida, he decided to compete. “I thought, if I could stand on the podium, make a little extra money, and have fun riding, I might as well,” Manzari says. At the time of the competition, Orlando was experiencing a drought and the water level was very low. There was one area of the course that could not be viewed by the audience on shore — a very narrow passage lined with debris consisting of rocks, bricks and chunks of sidewalk, discarded by local construction companies. In order for the rider to clear this bottleneck, he needed to choke up on his rope and get closer to the boat. “I thought I had one more trick,” Manzari remembers, “but something happened with the wake and it suddenly white-washed and curled over. I called for a speed adjustment to jump the wake but I didn’t realize that had eaten up the space I had between the shore.” Moving at about 30 miles per hour, Manzari’s board landed just before the shoreline. His body plummeted into the debris-laden land. It was lights out. “My next memory is waking up from surgery and being told my skull was crushed, my nasal passage was crushed, my jaw was broken in two places, my hand was broken in five, my hip was dislocated and my tailbone was broken,” he says. Thankful to be alive, Manzari immediately recognized his world had turned upside down in an instant. Unable to graduate due to missing finals, he would have to retake his last semester of college. The three-week South American missions trip to Guyana, for which he had been planning and preparing for over a year, was a no-go. And the little money he and his wife of two years, Bobbye Jean, had was suddenly drained by mountainous medical bills. “Everywhere I looked I was buried,” he admits. “I didn’t know how I could support my wife; I couldn’t walk. I didn’t know what I would do for a living or how I was going to graduate school. But after studying theology for four years, I saw a side of God I had never seen before — a personal side. I had no way out and no power. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul says, ‘He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ “We can read that verse and see it as God having pity on a weak person, but what I saw that day told me that the bigger the gap is between what’s being done and what seems possible in our minds, the more evident it is that this is God’s work and not our own. The more vulnerable I was, the more evident it was that this isn’t me, it’s God working.”

“I woke up from surgery and was told my skull was crushed, my nasal passage was crushed, my jaw was broken in two places, my hand was broken in five, my hip was dislocated and my tailbone was broken.”

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God’s powerful hand of protection didn’t stop at the miracle of Manzari’s life being spared. The young couple saw His provision continue to ripple into every area of their lives. “My parents opened up their home,” he said. “My school called me and said, ‘Matt, we can’t make exceptions for missing finals, we’ll see you next year.’ A week later the dean called me and said, ‘I don’t know what we’re doing. We pulled all your teachers together and prayed about it and we’ve decided that whatever your current grades are will be your final grades. You can graduate.’ My friend called me and asked me for all my notes and schedule for the Guyana trip; he had bought a plane ticket and was going in my place, committing to preaching four nights a week to this South American community. “Everywhere I looked and said, ‘God, but what about?’ He would say, ‘I’m right here.’” Meanwhile, Bobbye Jean immediately took on a full-time job in addition to beginning her junior year at college, spending almost every hour trying to support herself and her husband. “It was a rough chapter for us just because he was in a lot of pain and I didn’t to get to be there for him as much as I wanted to be,” Bobbye Jean recalls. Having barely survived a neardeath encounter, Manzari knew without a doubt he’d never face a challenge as hard as what he’d just experienced. “Even when I can’t see a way through, I’m going to remember who God is and the things He’s done here,” Manzari says. “In this world or the next He will provide a way; He’s working all things — even the things we cannot see — together for the good of those who love Him. “Little did I know it was all preparing me for the storm ahead — the accident that would forever change my life.” 22

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“It was a rough chapter for us just because he was in a lot of pain and I didn’t to get to be there for him as much as I wanted to be.” — Bobbye Jean

fter three months of recovery, Manzari was able to eat solid food again. At seven months, much to the doctors incredulity, he was back on his board, readjusting his recovering body to maneuver the wake. And after only one month back on the water, he entered a competition at the same location of his accident, the Wake Park Project in Bithlo, Fla. “There were 50 of us competing for two wildcard spots,” he recalls. “I ended up being the first guy in wakeskate history to go from unqualified to the six-man super final. It was a moment of realizing, ‘This isn’t me. It’s not a testament of what I’ve done.’ Two months ago I was walking with a cane and barely eating solid food … God restores.” Tying for fourth place, Manzari saw this not as a defeat, but a victory. Going into the competition with the simple desire to qualify and wave to the crowd once again, he admitted it was one of the most special contests he had ever been a part of. But when he visited his doctor for a routine follow-up soon after this event, Manzari was shocked to realize how naive he had been about the severity of his accident. It was during this appointment that the doctor showed him all the different areas his skull was not just broken, but crushed. The doctor explained the multiple reasons why he should not have lived through the incident. “He told me, ‘It should have been over forever. The fact that you crushed everything and there’s not even a traumatic brain injury … we don’t even know how you’re alive,’” Manzari remembers. Two years after his wakeskate accident, Manzari was working in a preschool ministry and asking God what was next. An opportunity with an action sports ministry called “This is My Story” presented itself, and Manzari prayerfully decided to accept the position. But once again, with a dream within a week’s reach, tragedy struck. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

“I was in a high reach [lift], helping trim trees for my church,” he says, “when I experienced between 12,000-20,000 volts of electricity run through my body.” What the church team failed to realize is that professionals use fiberglass-insulated buckets to operate the high reach. Without this knowledge, they rented a bucket made of steel, which should not be brought within 50 feet of high-tension wires. When the power line was 15-20 feet away from the bucket Manzari was standing in, he was electrocuted. The power he received was equivalent to being hooked up to six electric chairs at one time. The fire department had no statistics on survival from such a voltage because there had never been one. But God. Bobbye Jean, who was pregnant with their first child, watched from the ground as her husband’s body flailed in the bucket. While Manzari was going in and out of unconsciousness, his team noticed his rib cage and sternum were exposed. His skin was gone. The EMTs held Bobbye Jean back as long as they could, until her desperation prevailed. “I pushed past the EMT when the youth pastor grabbed me,” Bobbye Jean says. “I looked at him and said, ‘If I need to say goodbye, I need to say goodbye right now.’ When I got to him he was thrashing like crazy. He was screaming and throwing his body from left to right. I just remember screaming over and over again, ‘Matt, I love you! Everything’s going to be OK.’” In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Manzari slipped into a coma. “They were pretty straight-forward with my family,” Manzari says, “They told them if I did wake up from the coma, which I probably wouldn’t, I was a vegetable. There was no brain activity. They were sure my brain was fried.” Manzari woke up for an hour — enough time to say goodbye to his family as they helped him prepare his living will. They prepared for the worst — what the doctor said was most likely inevitable. But God. Manzari remained on life support, as his hospital room walls became lined with cards from family, friends and fans around the world, offering prayer, support and encouragement. Manzari and his family

“Everywhere I looked and said, ‘God, but what about?’ He would say, ‘I’m right here.’”

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clung to all the encouragement they could get. During the first two weeks the doctors told him, very frankly, that his muscles were dying. One dead muscle is toxic enough to a person’s bloodstream that it can shut down their kidneys and heart. Aware of what lied ahead, they did everything they could to keep him as comfortable as possible. “After five days, they woke me up from the coma but then were sedating me daily for dressing changes and treatment,” he explains. “I only have two or three memories that are clear to me from the first month in the hospital, though I can’t place when they happened.” One incident Manzari was not able to remember stuck out to his doctors and family. While he was drifting in and out of consciousness, heavily drugged with pain medications, the doctors brought in an alphabet board to help him communicate. “They would point to each letter and say, ‘Matt, if you can hear us, wiggle your finger when we get to a letter that would help you tell us something,’” Manzari says. “It took about 15-20 minutes to say the

only thing I said that day, which was, ‘God will use it for good.’ “It’s amazing because when they told me that story, the first thing I thought was, that wasn’t me trying to be strong for my family or do the ‘Christian thing.’ I was barely there. It was a testament that this was written on my heart. It was so instilled in me from what I saw Him do for me in my first accident.” Usually when someone is electrocuted, the voltage runs through the person’s body, looking for something to ground. It grounds through the victim’s feet and holds them there until there’s nothing left. But in Manzari’s case, the metal plates in his head — a result of his first accident — as well as the headphones he was wearing, caused the electricity to exit through the top of his head. One theory held by doctors was that the metal plate in Manzari’s head drew the currents upward, leaving it no place to go but out. This could be the only reason he is still alive today. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

“Spoiler alert:” Manzari says, “In the end, we go to a place where there’s no more pain and no more suffering — where He brings full restoration. Whether in this life or the next, God brings restoration. If He’s in me and I’m in Him and He’s overcome the grave, then through Him we’ve overcome the world. There’s nothing that can separate us from what He’s done on the cross to give us life eternally.”

sing an artificial skin material called Integra, the doctors placed a layer over his muscles and bone before laying on skin graphs — a procedure that is both intensive and invasive. The doctors let Manzari and his family know that day 12 of this procedure would be the turning point. That’s when they would know whether the layer takes or he would die. After the first week, Manzari started gaining hope of recovery. “On the 11th night, my numbers started to go out of whack,” he says. “All the doctors came and they were talking in their doctor lingo. They began to leave the room when I said, ‘Hey wait! Am I going to die?’ One of the doctors said, ‘I don’t know … we’ll know in a few hours.’ That was a really hard moment for me. To almost have the hope that I was going to live and I was going to see my child born, then to realize I’m not in the clear yet.” The next day his fever broke and his numbers started going down. Hope returned that he was through the worst of it and might just live. On June 11, 2015, Manzari was electrocuted and rushed to the levelone trauma center, where doctors were convinced he would spend the next year of his life. In September of that same year, he left the hospital to go home, though he spent that first year in and out of the hospital for treatments and follow-up surgeries. Manzari was not only going to live and learn to walk again, he was going to see the birth of his first child (Justice, now 3 years old) and second child (Trigg, 18 months). Manzari and his wife are expecting a third baby, Hardy, in October. Doctors told Manzari that while he would have function of his body and be able to hold his babies, he would not be able to participate in his sport again. But this didn’t discourage the headstrong

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Photos by Ian Reid

boarder. Even though they had to surgically remove all his chest muscles and much of the muscle in his upper arms, Manzari did not lose hope of jumping back behind the boat. “I realized God has created our bodies to do incredible things and just because I don’t have chest muscles doesn’t mean my back and shoulder muscles can’t learn to compensate. It’s amazing how your body learns to fill in,” Manzari says. Though he is restricted in strength and range of motion, Manzari did not have to retire his board. One thousand and 54 days after his second battle for life,

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Photos by Zachary Brown

Manzari took to the water once again. “Everyone said, ‘You’ll never…’ and he said, ‘Challenge accepted,’” says a proud Bobbye Jean. “I was so excited to go out that day,” Manzari recalls. “I thought I would just be smiling from ear to ear; I didn’t think I would be emotional. I walked into my garage and grabbed my wakeskate, shoes and rope and threw them in my truck and just burst into tears. It was a very real moment, knowing I had done this thousands of times, but never thought I’d do it again. It was a reminder of why I started doing this sport — I love it. It’s so freeing to be out on the water. It was also a reminder of what a gift it is to do what we do every day, whatever that is.” Today, Manzari leads a ministry called Beyond the Burn, in which he travels to share his story with churches, businesses and youth groups worldwide. “We all have a story, we all face challenges,” Manzari says. “John 16:33 says, ‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ That’s what my ministry is based on. It doesn’t say we might face trouble, it says we will. Whatever your ‘burn’ is, it’s my hope that we can help you move past that. “I share my story, but it’s my hope that audiences see that my story is just one example that, whether I knew it or not, God was working. He is telling His story through me and He’s doing the same through you. It’s the same story of redemption He tells through all our lives. I wear my scars on my arms for 25

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the whole world to see, but some of the deepest scars are unseen. People struggle with self-worth, depression, abuse, suicidal thoughts, finances, marriage and relationships. We struggle with so many things that are unseen, but God sees them and He’s standing right there, trying to work in them.” Until this year, Beyond the Burn has been a ministry for Manzari to share his story on the stage. This summer, he’s excited to take his passion and experience to a new level by holding events for trauma victims, wounded veterans, paraplegics, amputees and burn victims to spend a day on the water. Realizing how high the depression and suicide rate is for his fellow sufferers, he wants to offer them hope. “I want to do something for felt needs,” he explains. “When you spend a year in a hospital, the last thing on your mind is vacation or anything fun. I know what that’s like. That’s why they get stuck in depression; they give up on their dreams.” Though Manzari is not riding for contests and titles anymore, he is partnering with Centurion Boats, which is currently building him a boat he can use to give these victims a day to remember. Recognizing that when a person goes through something traumatic like a burn, their whole family is burned, Manzari wants to include everyone in this unforgettable day. They will be brought out to tube, wakeboard, go-cart and enjoy dinner out. “A lot of people ask how I got through the hospital without feeling defeated,” he says. “One thing I did was to set small reachable goals. I would have my wife journal my progress in my physical therapy. When I’d have a three-week stretch of basically torture — they would stretch my skin until it broke open and then let it reheal. I would question, ‘Am I making any grounds?’ And she could tell me, ‘Three weeks ago you were six inches from getting your hand to your mouth and now you’re feeding yourself.’”

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“I picture God looking down and saying, ‘Little guy, do you realize we’ve overcome the binky issue? I’ve overcome the grave. What is 50-60 years in this burnt, broken body compared to eternity in a perfect one?’”

Photos by Lisa Lotter

Manzari and his wife have not only embraced the life God’s given them, which is extremely different from what the newlymarried 20-year-olds envisioned for their family, they have done so with joy and excitement for what the future holds. “All I ever wanted was to do as much as I could with what I had for Christ,” Bobbye Jean says. “My biggest goal was to be married to someone who was solid in their faith no matter what. To see what Matt’s been through — things that most people don’t have to endure — it’s unbelievable to see that he’s stronger from it, and able to impact people in a way he never could have if we had a dandy life. I’m very grateful.” The big picture Manzari holds onto from this traumatic time in his life he refers to as the “Binky Analogy,” which he first discovered while observing Justice as a 2-month-old. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a binky or pacifier fall out of a baby’s mouth but it’s pretty life-changing,” Manzari says. “I was in the kitchen one day when our child’s binky fell out and you should have seen the look on his face. If he could talk he would’ve been saying, ‘Why am I here? My lifeline’s gone. The world is over.’ This guy’s little world had crumbled. We as parents look down and say, ‘Little guy, it’s not gone forever. It’s clipped to your shirt; no big deal.’ We’ve overcome the binky issue. “Then we get a little older and our heart is broken for the first time and once again, no one understands, life is unfair and our whole world crumbles. But soon we realize, my world’s not over, maybe I was being a little traumatic. “Then we grow up and, forgetting we’re like that, we’re electrocuted, we’re put in a wheelchair, or we lose a loved one and once again, our whole world crumbles. I picture God looking down and saying, ‘Little guy, do you realize we’ve overcome the binky issue? I’ve overcome the grave. What is 50-60 years in this burnt, broken body compared to eternity in a perfect one?’ “Our binky issue is only that. We are not truly encompassing what He’s done for us. This is such a small portion of what our life is.” Grasping the big picture his Heavenly Father has for his life, Manzari walks, wakeskates and lives with a newfound purpose and confidence he never had before coming face-to-face with death — twice. For more information about Manzari’s story, film and ministry, visit www.beyondtheburn.life.

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ING WAKEBOARD

101

WAKESKATING

n evolution from water skiing, wakeboarding and wakeskating are sports that involve an athlete holding onto a rope and handle, while being pulled across the surface of the water. Riders can be towed by boat, by an overhead cable system (similar to a skatepark on water), or by a high-powered winch across lakes, rivers and ponds. In wakeboarding, much like snowboarding, the rider’s feet are attached to the board with bindings. In wakeskating, the feet rest on the top of a board covered in griptape, much like sandpaper, which provides great traction. This allows riders to perform skateboard-type tricks since their feet are not attached to the board. While being pulled across the water, wakeboarders and wakeskaters use the wake from the boat, constructed ramps or rails, or natural terrain to perform tricks such as flips, spins, grabs and rail slides.

Gear

Board — Made of fiberglass, foam and/or wood, boards range in sizes from 120-160 cm long Bindings — Sized to fit your feet, these attach directly to the board using screws Rope — Connects the rider to the boat, cable or winch Handle — Connects to the end of the rope and allows the rider to hold on Life vest — Ensures that the rider will stay safe and afloat while in the water

Terminology

Regular — When your dominant stance is left-foot forward Goofy — When your dominant stance is right-foot forward Switch — When you ride with your non-dominant foot in front Heelside — Using the heel edge of your board to approach the wake or obstacle Toeside — Using the toe edge of your board to approach the wake or obstacle Boardslide — Jumping onto a obstacle and sliding across it with your board perpendicular to the obstacle Tantrum — Performing a backflip from your heelside edge

Lingo

Butter or glass — When the water is very calm and still Choppy — When the water is rough and filled with waves Stoked — Excited! Sick — Awesome! Taco — When a rider falls forward on an obstacle and bends over the obstacle, making the shape of a “taco shell” with their body

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— Mark Heger, director of WakeWell Ministries

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By Aliese Willard

Derek Rabelo may be blind, but he is undaunted by the massive waves he surfs

28 Photos courtesy of: SPORTS SPECTRUM 28

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t seems Derek Rabelo was destined to surf. His uncle was a professional surfer, and his father was such a big fan of the sport that he named Rabelo after the legendary Derek Ho, a world surfing champion. But while it was no surprise Rabelo wanted to embrace the surfing lifestyle that ran in his blood, what is astonishing is that he’s done it without being able to see the waves he rides. Rabelo was born completely blind due to congenital glaucoma. Undeterred, the Brazilian native joined a surf school at age 17. He learned to gauge the movement of the water by listening to the waves and the shouted directions of his SPORTS SPECTRUM coaches, and feeling the drag as the waves crested.

Word of the world’s only blind surfer spread, and Rabelo was invited to ride some of the sport’s most famous and challenging waves: the Hawaiian Pipeline, Tahiti’s Teahupo’o, and, most recently, Nazare in Portugal, known for having some of the highest and most dangerous waves in the world. Today, the 25-year-old is indeed a professional surfer, and balances his training with motivational speaking. He starred in a 2014 documentary about his surfing journey, “Beyond Sight,” and is in the midst of filming a second. We caught up with Rabelo by phone while he was in San Clemente, Calif., catching the waves and filming. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

“I have a lot of faith in God, and I let Him guide me on the waves. I believe that Jesus can give me the strength and talent to do it.”

Can you tell us about your new film? It’s about big waves — going around the world and chasing some big waves. A lot of that is in Nazare (Portugal), where the biggest waves break, really some of the most amazing, giant waves in the world are there. We’ll be done filming probably next year.

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I understand that in order to ride the waves of Nazare, you were towed by surfing legend Garrett McNamara? Yes, Garrett and I have partnered together for a few years, towing on big waves. It’s such an honor for me to [work with] someone like Garrett. He had the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed, and he’s been my pilot, guiding me on big waves. It’s a blessing to be able to do that with him.

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Some of the waves you’ve surfed are enormous and extremely dangerous. In Nazare, they can rise up to 100 feet tall! Have you ever been afraid surfing them? Well, firstly, I have a lot of faith in God, and I let Him guide me on the waves. I believe that Jesus can give me the strength and talent to do it. I train a lot, and try to be very determined and focused on what I’m doing, and I trust in my crew. Fear can come, especially when you’re riding a 45-foot wave, you know? But I make my faith bigger than my fear so that I can deal with anything that I’m doing. What is your next big goal? Right now I’m just focused on finishing my movie, and also my goal is to inspire people by sharing my faith. I’m a public speaker, and I love inspiring people and charging on big waves. What is your proudest accomplishment in surfing? Probably Nazare! Is your training different from other surfers? I don’t train differently from other surfers; I do basically the same things in different ways. If you want to surf big waves, your training needs to be focused on the same things: technique, breathing — controlling your breath — strengthening your muscles, and cardio training. Have you ever had any doubts when you’re surfing, or worry that you won’t be able to do something? Yeah, that does happen sometimes. Nothing too big, because I know that God is always with me, and if it is His will, He’ll help me to go through it.

How did you become a Christian? I was raised in a Christian home, but when I was 15 I went to a different church because of my own will; I realized that I needed God, and wanted to make my faith my own. And it has changed my life! God started to do great things in my life. Beginning when I was 17 years old, He gave me the opportunity to become a surfer, and that was huge. He has just done great things in my life, like when He allowed me to get married to an amazing woman, and being able to travel around the world and meet new people. I never would have thought [it’s possible]; it’s been amazing. I saw that you recently celebrated your one-year wedding anniversary — congratulations! How did you meet your wife, Madeline? I met her when I was doing a speech at her church. It was in Australia. After my speech, she was doing the praising and worship, and she stepped on my foot by accident, so that’s how we met (laughs). You’ve traveled all over the world for surfing. What has been your favorite place? That’s a hard question — I love so many places! I love Hawaii, Portugal and Indonesia. Those would be my favorites. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? I don’t have a favorite Bible verse, because I think each day God talks to us in different ways, and the whole Bible should be your favorite, you know? But there is a Bible verse that speaks to me, and that’s Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” I understand you participate in other sports too? I do snowboarding and skateboarding as well. I’ve done Mammoth Mountain in California for snowboarding. It’s very different from surfing! But they’re both sports with boards, so the same initial idea. Anything that involves adrenaline I like to do. I like being outdoors.

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

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SURFING 101

Most commonly thought to have originated in the Hawaiian Islands, surfing is a worldwide phenomenon and multi billion-dollar industry. Paddling into a moving energy source in the form of ocean waves, then standing and maneuvering, is extremely difficult. Surfers would say it is not a sport but rather a lifestyle. Styles Short boarding — Involves smaller boards and focuses on maneuvers and performance. It is most popular with younger surfers. Longboarding — Has had a resurgence after being the dominant style in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Boards are typically 9 feet long and there are two disciplines: traditional and progressive. Tow surfing — For extreme waves that are dangerous to paddle into, surfers are towed by a jet ski. The boards are small and narrow, and it feels more like snowboarding. Slab riding — Surfers focus entirely on dangerous, shallow-breaking waves and mostly look to get inside the tube (or barrel) of the wave. Big wave riding — A worldwide contest tour now exists for this. Boards are in the 9-12-foot range and waves up to 50 feet are now being paddled, up to 80 feet towed. Contest surfing — There is a recognized judging criteria that involves technical difficulty, innovation, flow and wave selection. It ranges from local board-riders clubs to a worldwide professional circuit. Free surfing — A general name for those surfers who have no interest in competition. Some surfers have been able to carve out a career because of their traveling, lifestyle or artistic combination. Aerialist — An advanced surfer specializing in maneuvers above the wave. Strongly influenced by skateboarding. Gear Surfboard – Typically handmade with a foam core and covered by fibreglass. Mass-produced composite boards are also now available. Boards range from 5-foot short boards to 12-foot big wave guns. Wetsuit – To keep surfers warm, especially when cold water climates like Iceland, Scandinavia and Canada are being explored. Warmer water suits can be 1mm thick, whereas they are 6mm thick in ultra cold waters. Fins – Removable fins under boards have revolutionized surfing for both traveling and performance. There are a few systems to choose from; they assist in turning. Leg rope or leash – A flexible plastic cord attaching the board to the ankle to prevent having to swim back to the beach to retrieve the board each time one falls. Buoyancy vest – A recent development in big wave surfing, these streamlined vests propel you to the surface earlier. Compressed air canisters can also inflate them in emergency. Top Surf Locations Best shaped waves – Indonesia; Jeffreys Bay, South Africa; Superbank, Gold Coast, Australia. Biggest waves surfed – Hawaii, Chile, South Africa, Northern California, Portugal. Best all-around consistency – Australia, Central America, Peru, South Africa. Best beginners/intermediate – California, Florida, Sri Lanka, Australia, European summer. Longest waves – Severn tidal bore on River Severn in southwestern England; Gold Coast Superbank; Pavones, Costa Rica. Terminology Left-hander – When the wave allows you to surf from right to left facing the beach. Right-hander – When the wave has you surf from left to right facing the beach. Closeout – A wave that shuts down and does not allow any lateral riding. Rails – The outline of the board. Stringer – The centerline of a board, traditionally a strengthening timber piece sandwiched between the foam. Offshore – When the wind is blowing from the shore out to sea (best conditions). Onshore – When the wind is blowing from the sea to the shore (worst conditions). Set and lull – A group of larger waves (set) always followed by a time of smaller waves (lull). Lingo Grommet – Young surfer Barreling or tubing – When the wave lip enables a surfer to hide inside the curl (tube); this definitely makes us stoked (see below) Stoked – Excited! Shredding – Awesome high performance Wipeout – When you fall Kook – Novice surfer Try this: “So stoked to see that grom getting barreled on that left-hander and shredding the other section, except some kook got in the way and he wiped out.” — Brett Davis, founder of Christian Surfers International 32 32

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answering the

g n i f r u kites Dilsiri Welikala left a corporate job to follow his passion for watersports, which led him to open a kitesurfing business in Sri Lanka. We asked him about how he found the sport, how he found Jesus, and how heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to combine those passions into his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calling.

CALL

sport How did you start kiting and how has the developed in Sri Lanka? s since I was involved with adventure sport biking ng, oardi skimb g, surfin were We childhood. told me and diving regularly when my friend Praveen ended there was this new sport called kitesurfing. We to the off ed head and y mone of lot up spending a . Lanka Sri in held ever camp rfing kitesu d secon t I was The speed, jumps and adrenaline mean ht my boug and had I y mone the hooked! I saved all d starte I basis. ar regul a on rfing kitesu was gear, and good a e becam a kitesurfing blog just for fun, which sport as reference point for people interested in the et. intern the on it t abou ation inform there was little a as orship Because of the blog, I got a part-time spons ered wond and e licenc ctor rider, and then I got my instru I took the where this was all heading. A few years later to start a job rate corpo my from resign to step bold ational intern first the kitesurfing company. It was one of area. the in kind its tourism companies of Sri Lanka Fast forward to 2018 and kitesurfing in of the some (Kalpitiya and Mannar) is considered worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best! What does the sport mean to you? kitesurfing I really enjoy a lot of watersports, but boarding wake g, surfin of res featu combines so many tool great a is rfing kitesu ion, addit In g. ardin and sailbo se. purpo and dream that really helped me pursue my es villag poor two d orme transf Through it we have best the one as Lanka Sri cased show r, for the bette lives of destinations in the world, and touched the ally. It ation intern and y locall thousands of people both more even fund to s mean cial finan me has also given cts. proje tal nmen enviro and l socia 34

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T O S U B S C R I B E T O S P O R T S S P E C T R U M : Photos C A L L 8 6 6 - 8courtesy 21-2971

of Dilsiri Welikala

How did you become a Christian? At around age 13, I was invited to attend Youth Fellowship and said yes to Jesus. Prior to that I wasn’t a churchgoer — my family and I only attended Christmas service. It has been a long journey struggling with my passion for sports and the outdoors, and how boring I found church at times, as it was very conforming. How do you integrate your faith in your kiting? For me, the story of kitesurfing has its roots in answering a calling. Having learnt the sport, I got involved and sponsored by a local kite brand, which was called Faith. 35

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Not surprisingly, Faith was a brand that was inspired by Christ and the owners were believers. How cool was that! Even the logo of the kite that I flew was a huge cross with Christ at the centre, so my personal faith was quite public. At the same time, I have wanted to be a man of integrity within the sport and the business venture we started. You run a kiteboarding school and camp. How does your faith influence the culture of this? For me, Isaiah 6:8 is a verse that spoke to me about responding to God’s calling: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go

for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” I never imagined my love of kiting could be a calling. I talk a lot about purpose in life and how you can find fulfilment through it. Our hotel and kite school also attract many people who are searching in life, and at times I talk to them about my faith. We desire our business to be a place of healing. My faith has influenced the way we manage the staff, deal with guests and also how we work with the community, even to the point of paying them wages even in the offseason. We have a beautiful win-win model that has its roots on genuine love for community based on the love of Jesus himself. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

KITESURFING

This a wind-powered surface watersport using a kite and a board to defy gravity and move across the water. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind through a large parachutetype kite, which propels a rider across the water on a small surfboard or kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). Boards are made from composite wood or foam material and range from wakeboard-style trick boards to regular surfboards, some with straps and some without. The kites vary according to the wind strength and skill level, and have an inflatable rim to launch them from the water. Although the name includes surfing, kitesurfing does not need waves; the wind is the only force needed to power you along. Flat water locations are favored by riders looking to perform freestyle, as the water is smooth and easier to take off from and land on. In 2012, the number of kitesurfers was estimated by the International Kiteboarding Association at 1.5 million persons worldwide. The global market for kite gear sales is $250 million U.S. dollars. And the sport is expected to grow, as kitesurfing will be included in the 2024 Olympics. The best locations in the world are wherever there are consistent trade winds. The sport was birthed in Hawaii, but locations such as Sri Lanka; Cape Town, South Africa; Indonesia; and Western Australia are also well known. Styles Big Air (Hangtime) — The kite is used to do massive jumps and remain in the air as long as possible. The current hangtime record is 13 seconds, held by Adam Koch. Waves are often used as ramps to boost big airs from. Freestyle — Focuses on tricks that are further powered by use of kite to generate lift. This includes kite loops and big air. Wakestyle — Seeks to emulate wakeboarding through unhooked, powered tricks with the kite kept low. Wave surfing — A kitesurfing riding style that employs the use of a surfboard to ride waves. Done either with straps or strapless, the goal is to allow the kite to drift to create an authentic surf experience. Kickers (or sliders) — A high-adrenaline new discipline to kitesurfing. Ramps and rails are built and securely placed in the water, used to slide up or along. Course racing — Courses range in length and are usually in relatively flat water in the ocean or on riders or bays. Most kiters go into course racing using the same kite they use for other styles of riding. Speed racing — Speed kiting is all about going the fastest in a straight line, and requires powered-up conditions. The current world record is above 50 knots! Control of both the board and kite under such speed is vital and wipeouts are extremely painful. Speed kiters wear extra padding to reduce impact from the wipeouts. Gear Kite, kite board, wetsuit, board leash, rash guard or “rashie,” harness, spreader bar, kite control bar, kite lines, safety release system, kite pump, straps, floating device, helmet, GPS. Terminology Air time — The amount of time spent in the air while jumping, also referred as “hang time.” Body dragging — Being pulled through the water without a kiteboard. This is an early step in the learning process, and is recommended before trying to use a board. Boost — Steering the kite overhead aggressively, causing the rider to become airborne. Kook — Someone who enters the sport of kiteboarding with too much earnest and confidence, jeopardizing the safety of everyone around them through a lack of kite control and attempting erratic jumps. Power zone — The area in the air where the kite generates the most pull, this is generally an arc between 0 to 60 degrees from the center of the downwind direction. Send it — Generating lift by moving the kite aggressively up through the power zone. Sheeting — Changing the angle of the kiteboarding kite in proportion to the wind. Sideshore — Winds blowing parallel to the shore. Usually the most desirable direction for kitesurfing. — Dilsiri Welikala, kitesurfing instructor

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BY ALIESE WILLARD

BELGIUM’S ANAK VERHOEVEN IS AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST ROCK CLIMBERS — AND HER FOUNDATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN JESUS

CLIMBING

FOR JESUS

Photo by Sébastien Richard

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aised by rock climbers and faithful Christ followers, it’s no surprise that Anak Verhoeven has grown up to fit the same mold. But the 21-year-old Belgian has exceeded any climbing expectations, as she’s ascended to the top of the world’s elite. She excels at competitions and outdoor climbing, and is currently ranked third in the world by the International Federation of Sport Climbing. In 2017, Verhoeven won events at both the World Games and IFSC European Championships, and later became to the first woman to ascent Sweet Neuf at Pierrot Beach in France. That feat made her the first female to complete a 5.15a first ascent, and just the second woman ever to complete a 5.15a ascent. We spoke with Verhoeven about traveling the world for rock climbing, what it’s like to train and travel with her parents, and how she came to know Christ. You’ve traveled all over the world for rock climbing. Which countries have been your favorites? A country I liked a lot was Korea; I’ve been there twice for the World Cup and I was positively surprised by how friendly the Korean people were. For climbing outdoors, I guess it’s Spain, because the climbing is great. Wow, your English is perfect, though I know it’s not your first language. What is? Flemish, which is basically the same language with a different accent. It’s one of the three official languages in Belgium (Flemish, French and German). I had English classes in school when I was 12 years old. At 14 I started homeschooling to have more time for my sport and I continued studying English on my own. I really like learning other languages so that was not an issue.

Photos by Eddie Fowke

What are your favorite crags to climb and where are they? The south of France and Spain are great for outdoor climbing. I love Santa Linya in Catalonia, Spain. It’s a huge cave with lots of hard, overhanging routes to try as a project. So what does your ideal route look like? It would be really long and pumpy (almost no possibilities to shake out on better holds and reduce lactic acid in forearms) with no extremely far moves, and with all different kinds of holds and techniques.

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

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What do you do during a typical day of training? A training day would start with a basic warm-up at home and some core stability exercises. In the afternoon I drive to the climbing gym, which is about 45 minutes away from where I live. There, I first do a thorough warm-up to make sure my body is ready to climb hard. Then I do a lot of hard routes with short rests in between, until I’m done and can’t do anymore. Because I know those routes so well, I try to make them more challenging, for example by climbing them two or three times in a row. A full training session with the warm-up included takes about six hours. For these lead trainings I need a belayer (partner at the other end of the rope), so there’s always my mom or dad with me. I also do climbing-related power and strength training about once every two weeks. What do you do when you are not climbing? When I’m not training, I usually have to make sure I recover and get enough sleep first. Next come all the simple things everyone has to do in order to just “survive.” I always have some stretching, additional exercises or cardio to do too. When I also have an interview with a journalist or a lot of emails to answer, well, the 24 hours are almost filled! But besides all these things that have to do with my sport, there are lots of other things I enjoy. I love chatting with people, being in nature, taking photos, learning other languages, reading books and articles, playing with little children and creating things with my hands. How do you stay mentally tough when you’re ascending a particularly difficult route? As a competitor I have very limited time to go climbing outdoors. That means that I cannot choose the perfect conditions in which I have to try and send a hard route. This pressure has taught me not to give up, to stay focused and to use all the time I have, even though the circumstances might not be perfect. I think of the moment that will come after the climb and I don’t want to be disappointed then because I’ve given up. If I know that I can do all of the moves, I do all I can to climb it. What do you think is the most challenging part of being a professional climber? One of the things I find the most difficult, especially with competition climbing, is that you have to keep training almost every day, every week. You cannot choose when you want to be in your best shape. Training starts in January and the competition season runs from July till November. That makes it pretty hard.

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You’ve done well in competitions, but have also had a lot of success in outdoor rock climbing. Congratulations on that first-ever 5.15a first ascent for a woman — that’s incredible! Do you prefer indoor or outdoor rock climbing? That is a tough question. So far, I’ve spent most of my climbing time indoors. When you want to do a full World Cup season, you have to train in a climbing gym most of the time. But if I had to make a choice between climbing outdoors and competing for the rest of my career, I would definitely choose rock. With outdoor rock climbing, you get to choose where you want to go, what you are training for, and what kind of route you want to do. And you’re in nature. There’s still so much left out there that I haven’t even tried, like multi-pitch climbing. There are endless possibilities outdoors. What do you see as the next step of progression in your climbing? I don’t want to think too far ahead. So for this year I will mostly do competitions I guess. I would love to push my limits on rock too, but I don’t know when I will have time for that. This year has been difficult to decide what to do. I think a lot about making the right choices because I want to make sure I’m in the place God wants me to be in. You got into climbing because your parents are climbers, right? They started climbing before I was born, because God called them to be climbers. Really? That’s an unusual request! (Laughs) Yes! They didn’t know anything about it. My dad saw two climbers climbing together, one belaying the other, and that reminded him of his relationship with the Lord, and at that moment he heard God’s voice saying to him, “I want you to go to the climbers, and tell them about Me.” That’s how they started, not knowing anything. They bought some climbing gear and went right to the gym and onto the rocks. And now they coach you? Yeah, my dad is my trainer, and both he and my mom belay me while I’m training. My mom is my official coach on competitions. It’s not always easy to work together as a family; we sure have our struggles sometimes. But the beautiful thing is that we’ve learned to forgive each other. So we always get through it and our relationship gets stronger when we can pray together or read the Bible together. Can you tell me about your journey with Christ and how you came to know Him? Well, that’s also thanks to my parents, who have always told me about God, and about Jesus.

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Of course it was a choice of my own to follow Jesus, because everyone has to make that choice for themselves. I’ve always believed in God but when I was 11 years old, I really made this official decision that I wanted to follow Jesus for the rest of my life, and I was baptized. It was right before going to a bigger school, and I felt ready to face the trials of the world I was going into. And not that long after this I started doing international competitions. Climbing became more and more serious, but my faith definitely stayed the most important. Have you had opportunities to share your faith through climbing? Yes, even though Belgium is a very secular country, lots of journalists have asked me questions about my faith, so in most interviews for newspapers and television I have been able to talk about it. Sometimes it feels like the chat I’ve had with the interviewer before or after the interview is just as important as the actual interview. I’ve also had good face-to-face conversations with other climbers and with youngsters who wanted to make an assignment about me for school.

“I think of the moment that will come after the climb and I don’t want to be disappointed then because I’ve given up.”

Photo by Sébastien Richard

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

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ROCK CLIMBING 101 Transportation access, improved technical equipment, and new training regimens have allowed climbers to scale seemingly impossible mountains. And in 2020, rock climbing will be an official Olympic sport.

When we look to the Book of Matthew in the Bible, we see how often Jesus went atop mountains to seek the voice of God and connect with the people surrounding Him. Mountains have been a place to experience God, push the human limits, and climb just a little bit closer to Heaven. The act of summiting a mountain predates Jesus, and climbing is so much more than just getting to the top.

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LINGO Beta – Climbing gear and movement advice Beta spewing – Unsolicited advice about a climb Belayer – The person on the other end of the rope, and a “partner in climb” Crux – The most difficult move on a route Dirtbag – Someone who lives simply (and dirty) to support their climbing lifestyle Problem – A bouldering route Rack – A personal collection of protective gear Route – A specific climb or line of ascent GEAR Shoes (made of sticky rubber), chalk bag harness, rope, belay device, helmet, protection (sport/trad rack)

Photos by Emma Nord

THE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLIMBING Bouldering – Climbing difficult moves close to the ground with large pads, rather than a rope Competitive – Bouldering, lead or speed climbing competitions Free-soloing – Climbing at least one pitch without any technical equipment other than shoes and chalk (no rope, harness, etc.) Gym – Climbing or training indoors Ice – Using sharp tools to climb up frozen water Mountaineering – A multi-day combination of highaltitude rock and ice climbing, with the added weight of food and shelter, and the added uncertainty of weather Multi-pitch – Climbing multiple rope-lengths (less than 60 meters) Sport – The climber clips into existing bolts for protection Top-roping – When the climber is tied into a rope anchored above them and there’s little risk of falling Traditional (Trad) – The climber will place their own protective equipment as they climb (usually in cracks)

Photo by Julien Havoc

It’s more about the journey a climber makes to get there and about the people who accompany them along the way. Climbing is a reminder that God is with us always — in the valleys, on summits and everywhere in between.

— Emma Nord, professional climbing guide

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LOOK TO THE ROCK

BERNARD CAPULONG, PROFESSIONAL CLIMBING GUIDE

eing raised with Christ doesn’t mean a superior closeness to Him compared to others. Nor does it strengthen one’s faith. Only through life do we grasp where we stand and how God beholds all of our needs yesterday, today and tomorrow. By surrendering and trusting entirely in Him do we begin to clearly see. “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” — Isaiah 26:4 I was born into poverty in the 43

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Philippines, where everyone aspires to be self-sufficient, searching for opportunities abroad. My parents left for the U.S. before I had turned 1 year old in order to bestow a finer life for me and my three sisters. We felt alone, neglected by the ones they entrusted us to. Hardships without counsel left me questioning why God was subjecting us to suffering. My father returned when I was 9 to care for my sister and me, only to be taken by an accident when I was 11.

Although he was with us for two years, he was elsewhere — often longing to be a complete family with my mother and two other sisters in the U.S. I began turning my back on the Lord as my heart ached in gloom. My mother was forced to retrieve my sister and I after being unsuccessful for 10 years. I was to meet her for the first time. “And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” — Job 1:21 Life in the U.S. was a hurried transition. Naturally, our mother was very protective of us all and kept us sheltered. She remained distant, often engrossed by her need to work. I continued questioning what I thought was God’s failure to provide, leaving me responsible in raising myself to adulthood — often by wrongdoings. Movement has always been a form of expression for me so I pursued professional ballet. With an eagerness to flee from my cage, I left home at 15 anticipating that life would be better. My tendencies of fear, greed, pride and anger clung wherever I went, and were magnified as I got caught in vanity and more loss. My life felt empty, bearing only fruits of anxiety and depression. But nothing was as bitter as the truth that I didn’t know what I needed, so I listened. The Lord brought me outside and gave me, and countless others, rock climbing. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and selfcontrol.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 God has taught me about strength, fear, doubt, commitment and self-love through climbing. To be aware of things that may not be as they appear. He has given me a platform to see what I could not — that He was with me all along, giving me what I needed through times of fear and doubt. That I needed to commit to my faith and know that God loves me — allowing me to love myself. Not until I was 20 did I realize that it was God who raised me. He has placed a need in my life to meet a need in someone else’s, and for that I give Him all of me. “I love you, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” — Psalm 18:1-2 TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

skatfrom ing

salvation

sin

44 44

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By Josh Franco professional skateboarder

was 15 years old when I first heard the Gospel at my local skatepark in Cottage Grove, Minn. I was a teenager filled with so much fear and pain from all the abandonment and abuse I’d endured. At that point, skateboarding was all I had to escape and survive my reality. Home was not safe. Looking back, being raised by a bunch of punk skater kids wasn’t all that safe either. But it was a heck of a lot better than home.

When I heard that Jesus loved me and wanted to save me from my current reality, I was the first one in the prayer circle to give my entire life to Him. Whatever that meant, I knew I’d give it all, even skateboarding. From that point on you could find me at youth group every single Wednesday, and church every single Sunday. Jesus was my only hope and salvation, and I hopped on every opportunity I could to experience His love for me. Many times, when you hear someone’s testimony, it’s just about summed up like the two paragraphs above. Broken past, Jesus intervenes, happily ever after. However, life post-conversion has been far from a blissful road for me. When one gives their life to the only One who can save us from this fallen world, two things happen: 1) Satan does everything in his power to steal our identity as children of God. 2) We begin the process of our flesh being put to death. “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” — Matthew 3:16-17 (NASB) Immediately after the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and His Father’s affirmations as His Son, Satan begins to start a war in Jesus’ mind, trying to get Him to doubt His identity as the Son of God. Satan’s biggest threat is one who knows who they are a child of God. If we give into his lies, he will have effectively prevented us from salvation, reaching others and God’s Kingdom expanding through our lives. Furthermore, Jesus’ road to the cross was not a pleasant walk in the park. After attacks from Satan and ridicule from the very ones He was sent to die for, He began the process of His flesh being violently torn off His body. He was then made to carry the cross on which he would breathe His final breath.

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SKATE-

BOARDING 101 Skateboarding began in the 1950s, when surfers attached metal roller skate wheels to a board and started “sidewalk surfing.” Throughout its rather short history, skateboarding has been counter-cultural and anti-establishment. Today, skateboarding has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Second only to hiphop, skateboarding has the most influence on youth culture in our world.

Gear:

Board — Most commonly made of 7-ply wood with a graphic on the bottom and abrasive grip tape on the top for riders shoes to grip the board. Boards are typically 7.5 to 8.75 inches wide and 31 to 32 inches long. Trucks — Commonly made from aluminum, magnesium or titanium, and sized to fit the board width. Two trucks are mounted to the bottom of the board with four bolts (eight in all) and enable the skateboard to turn and pivot. Bearings and wheels — Two ball bearings are installed into each of the four wheels. The wheels are then mounted onto the axles of the two trucks to enable the board to roll. Wheels come in different shapes and sizes to match the rider’s specific style of riding.

Terminology:

Regular — When a rider’s dominant stance is left foot forward Goofy — When a rider’s dominant stance is right foot forward Switch — When a rider rides with the non-dominant foot in front Backside — Describes a trick when the approach to the obstacle is in back of the rider Frontside — Describes a trick when the approach to the obstacle is in front of the rider Boardslide — Jumping onto a obstacle and sliding across it with the board perpendicular to the obstacle Kickflip — Flipping the board over with your toe and landing on it wheels down Ollie — Popping the tail of the board down and sliding the front foot up and forward to make the board jump into the air Drop In — When a rider starts from the edge of a ramp or pool standing on the tail of the board, and then leans forward and drops in with all four wheels on the ramp surface

Lingo: Photos by Brandon Bowes

Jesus says in Matthew 16:24 (NASB), “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus did not walk that walk so we didn’t need to, He did it to show us the cost of following Him is a tough process of putting our flesh to death. My salvation story is one of God’s mercy being demonstrated by the trials that have been refining and renewing my heart, soul, mind and body. A process of combatting the lies of Satan with daily declarations that I am a son of God. I am a walking, breathing example of one who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and nothing can separate me from His love. Also, a process of my flesh being put to death. I am a recovering sex addict. The process of being set free from this sin I have been a slave to since my youth has been agonizing. However difficult, it’s a process that’s been so liberating, and been one of the biggest ways I’ve intimately experienced the love and power of God in my life. I live a life with abundant comfort and hope, so perfectly summed up by Paul in his letter to the Romans. “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, with Him so that we may also be glorified with S P O R T S Swe P E C T Rsuffer UM 45if indeed Him.” — Romans 8:12-17 (NASB)

Primo — When a rider lands on the edge of the board with their feet (ouch) Send It — When a rider gets amplitude or goes big Bolts or Clean — When a rider lands a trick squarely over the bolts of the board — Josh Franco, professional skateboarder TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

hil Goldney is originally from Wales but now lives in Italy working with Youth With A Mission, and has integrated his love for action sports with a disciple-making ministry. He is married with three kids, and an innovator with parkour and the Inspire Tours. Matt Jang is a videographer, and passionate about his faith and parkour. He is currently working with YWAM and has teamed up with Phil on many projects. We spoke with Phil and Matt about the relatively unknown sport of parkour, their faith, and how God is using parkour to impact others.

What is parkour? Matt: It is a French-originating discipline where one uses their body to overcome obstacles.

of joy, or was He a killjoy? I love to dive off high cliffs into deep blue water and snowboard through forests knee-deep in powder, and this seemed a long way from “church.” However, I did come to Phil: To me, parkour is about playing see Jesus as the true source of life for around in a 3D environment. It remains, myself. for me, a non-competitive activity enjoyed with friends and a wonderful How have you integrated your faith way to stay in shape. and parkour personally? Matt: Parkour originally was written What has your involvement been as parcour and is the French word for in parkour? “way” or “path.” For me, Jesus is our Matt: I started in 2008 when I was Parkour. I like to think of it as worship landlocked in Hong Kong after being a in movement. A huge part of the sport surfer in Hawaii — that’s a big change! is “a discipline of reach and escape,” I reached a pro level and have done and likewise we reach and escape the extensive events and videography. obstacles of sin and death with Jesus. Phil: Parkour is a huge part of my life and even my ministry. Even before I knew of the sport I was practicing it naturally as a child. What does the sport of parkour mean to you? Matt: It’s a unique way to view the world. I now see my manmade environment as an opportunity to play; walls are a playground. I love the community it engages me with. Phil: I like the response from Ryan Ford of APEX Movement (a large parkour group in the U.S.) when people ask him, “When did you start practicing parkour?” He asks the questioner, “When did you stop?” I have been climbing trees and buildings since I was a small child. I still do. It’s a whole of life engagement. How did you come to Christ? Matt: I was born into missionary family and, as expected, was strongly influenced. Whilst I initially engaged my family faith at a young age, I did wander off before returning for myself.

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Phil: As a young person, I struggled with the perception of God as a source

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find creative worship expressions, and these may look very different from a church service. We are translating the expression of Church to a different audience. God has found ways to make me relevant for Him. I’m a filmmaker, I’ve led a parkour club, I’m engaged in an intervarsity fellowship. I have found God using us as a prophetic voice in parkour. We experience challenges and success as we sweat together, and that’s hard to find in a church. I actually experience more community in parkour than church. Phil: I have met a number of people that will say things like “parkour changed my life.” I think the main reason is it’s connected with another value of parkour: seeing obstacles as opportunities. As a person deals with this in the physical practice of parkour, it then spills over into other areas of life. For example, a high wall, after enough training, is finally climbed over. This mindset can be applied to all sorts of life challenges in work, relationships, emotions. However, this can only take someone so far. One very special message I have been able to communicate to many young people through parkour (and other action sports) is God’s fatherly love. Young people’s sense of play is often robbed by peer pressure. Rather than simply “playing” on a skate park, snow park or parkour park, young people are more concerned with looking cool — or at least not looking stupid in front of their mates. I always challenge people to simply play, like a little child. It is harder said than done. I tell them the secret is to know you are unconditionally loved by a Father God, who is over all the universe.

Phil: George Herbert, an inspiration to parkour founders, coined the phrase, “Be strong to be useful,” after coordinating the rescue of hundreds of people from a volcanic eruption on the Island of Martinique in 1902. I like to think that I help to preserve (particularly in an age where money can so easily corrupt) this and other positive values associated with parkour. “We start together, we finish together” is another phrase that places an importance on community. All this is totally integrated in my faith. In 10 years time, how would you like to see the parkour world impacted? How is God using your parkour in the Matt: That people will understand and lives of others? accept it. It can come across as reckless Matt: God calls each individual to and disrespectful as we run across TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Anything else? Matt: I’m struck how the parkour community is like Jesus’ disciples. Going from place to place in community, facing persecution, as they go sharing their Good News. We live very minimally. We enjoy simple things. Free from any equipment. No limits. Not determined by socioeconomic background. Phil: Besides God and sport, I love architecture. Because action sports are often practiced in 3D spaces, for the past 15 years I have had the chance to combine my passions for God, sport and architecture, creating action sports playgrounds and pointing young people to the God who invented play. I trust God to guide my creativity, believing that we are made in God’s image and are therefore innately creative. Skate parks with limitless lines, a field of mud sculpted into dirt jump heaven, kickers carved in the snow — all evidence of our God-given imagination.

Our next venture is to create the world’s craziest action sports holiday centre. It will feature deep water soloing, parkour parks, skateparks and all sorts of crazy ramps/swings/etc. into water and much more. The kids will sleep in tree houses connected by a network of ramps, ropes and bridges. In 2019, we hope to launch a crowdfunding initiative in order to buy a bay on a Croatian Island and build this ultimate playground to further dispel the myth that God SPORTS SPECTRUM is a killjoy.

Photos by Michel Kasper

Phil: I hope that parkour will hold on to the great values I talked about. I hope there will be communities of practitioners playing freely and mutually encouraging one another. I hope the “big” events, backed by commercial interests (which are inevitable given the global appeal of this beautiful and spectacular discipline), will not corrupt these great values, but rather introduce many more people to them. I believe our God is saddened by some of the negative (untrue) labels young people often give Him: boring, old fashioned, killjoy. In response, I believe He is inspiring and empowering thousands of young believers to more truly reflect Him, living pure, expansive and abundant lives. Lives that attract and point others to their source of joy and inspiration — God Himself.

Photo by Peter Spoelmar

public and private spaces, but really we are just overcoming obstacles. Like surfing and skating, I’d love to see parkour become mainstream and more integrated in society and urban spaces. I want people to see a return to our God-given skills to run, jump and climb, and not leave that to a video game! I want the sport and wider society to recognise that parkour gives back to society in caring for the manmade environment — we are always cleaning up rubbish. Also, parkour engages with the urban homeless and neglected, and we play around them, with them. A lot could be done for the urban neglected.

Phil goldney

MATT JANG

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COACHES

TESTIMONIES

From Hard Knocks to His Purpose By Kirby Leismann, wakeboarding coach

he life of a professional athlete appears so glamorous. I remember a time when my sole focus was making it as a professional wakeboarder and walking in all the perks that came with that … sponsorships, travel, cover photos, notoriety, acceptance, the works. In fact, I became so focused on that goal that somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what was truly important. I began wakeboarding at the lake with my family at the age of 7, began competing at age 14, rode junior pro in 2006, and have been riding in the pro division since 2010 — the same year I began my school, Kirby’s

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School of Wake (kirbysschoolofwake.com), in Missouri at Lake of the Ozarks. At the time, it was more of a side gig to enable me to focus on wakeboarding full time. What I didn’t realize was how important that school would become down the road. When I first started out, I was uncoached and fearlessly pursuing new tricks I wasn’t fundamentally prepared for. Stemming from my need to want to impress others, even when I had the opportunity to be coached, I wasn’t all that teachable. Working on the fundamentals was frustrating and a giant hit to my pride when

I felt like I was ready for so much more. I was stubborn and put myself through the school of hard knocks, taking some falls that could have led to me quitting. Looking back, I’m seeing what a mistake that was and how much that mentality actually hindered my potential. As I entered the professional scene, I put so much focus on my image, and my desire to impress the influencers in the sport, that my focus once again shifted from wakeboarding to being all about self. It became such a huge thing in my head that, over time, I developed extreme

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Photo by Aaron Fuhrman

Photo by Chris Stinson

“My sole purpose in this life now is to touch as many lives as I can with the truth of the nearly too-goodto-be-true news of Christ.” Photo by Ben Vens

anxiety when it came to competing. It was too much pressure, and suddenly something I loved became a chore rather than a passion. I gave my life to Christ when I was 18 after finally realizing that I couldn’t be my own savior. I couldn’t, and from that moment on, God has been transforming my life in the best way. It didn’t happen overnight, just like being a professional wakeboarder doesn’t happen overnight. But in spending time with Jesus and dedicating myself to knowing His Word, He has developed and drawn out in me the man He intended and created me to be all along. He has helped me develop a teachable heart, find my acceptance in Him, become God-focused rather than self-focused, and discover my true calling. My perspective has completely changed on competing, and I’m experiencing more freedom and having more fun than ever. I’m able to build more genuine relationships because I truly care about people, rather than what they think of me or what they could do for me. Pride has taken a backseat to maintaining a teachable heart, not just with my riding but also in business. The thing I love most is how much of a redeemer God is. I may have been caught up in myself during my “prime,” but He has truly redeemed the time, allowing me to continue on in wakeboarding and WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

stay relevant in the sport through my wake school when others have moved on to other things. It’s never too late. You’re never a lost cause. My sole purpose in this life now is to touch as many lives as I can with the truth of the nearly too-good-to-be-true news of Christ. I’m humbled that God has equipped me with a calling that enables me to continue to compete, but also to have the platform to create a fun, safe environment for others to encounter Christ each time they come out on the boat with me to learn. I absolutely love what I do. I am so passionate about wakeboarding and bringing families and friends together for the quality time so lacking in our fastpaced world; the ability to help them create lasting memories is priceless. I love the opportunity to share a tip that instantly fixes a student’s longtime struggle and celebrate their victory; the ability to speak positivity and encouragement over my students, teaching them the immense power of their words; finally being free to fully support and lift up the professional athletes around me rather than trying to hoist myself up; and lastly, training and discipling the up-and-coming athletes, helping them achieve success and follow their dreams. Each year with God has just gotten better and better. The freedom and favor

I’ve experienced are unmatched. From expanding the wake school to Florida, to entering into a partnership with the best wake boat manufacturer in the world, Malibu/Axis Boats, God is truly making my dreams come true. With my experience as a professional, and training and learning from the best coaches/athletes in the industry, God has equipped me to create a specialized program for students of all ages and ability levels. We value community, empowerment, ministry and operating with excellence. My coaching style is relaxed, but I’m very attentive to detail and the fundamentals to ensure long-term success and safe progression. I once heard someone say there is a difference between a good idea and a God idea. I am in full pursuit of the God-ideas by maintaining a teachable heart and a listening ear to the Holy Spirit for creative teaching methods and help in personal wakeboarding and in my business. All of the school’s and my success stems from my relationship with Jesus. I may fall short at times, but God never fails me — never fails to support me, cheer me on, give me ideas, encourage me to keep going, love me in my weaknesses, and show up when nobody else does. And the great news is: He will do that for you. He is no respecter of persons, you just have to ask. SPORTS SPECTRUM

BUILDING

BRIDGES

JESUS

BY JOSHUA STOCK, SNOWBOARDING COACH

Photos courtesy of Joshua Stock

COACHES

TESTIMONIES

SPORTS SPECTRUM

I was raised by my coal mining-turned-preaching father, my aerobics-instructing mother, and my three hooligan brothers in the icy Appalachian mountains of Southwestern Pennsylvania. We grew up skateboarding on old run-down basketball courts in the late ‘80s. I still distinctly remember the day in the early ‘90s when I laid eyes on the very first snowboard I had ever seen — my brother borrowed a neon pink 133cm Simms snowboard from some girl at school. “Cool beans,” I told my big brother. “What the heck is that thing?” He quickly replied, “It’s called a snowboard and don’t even think about touching it, butt head.”

As soon as he left the house, I took it out in the backyard, strapped my dirty Vans hi-tops into the bindings and slid straight down the short hill to a stop, jaw wide open with a smirky half-smile: “I NEEEED one of these!” My family couldn’t afford “shred sticks” (read, snowboards) for all four boys, so I mowed lawns and hustled candy and gum to my fellow middle schoolers until I could buy my VERY OWN snowboard from a store with an extremely limited stock of ski-related gear, but a wide array of pool cleaning products (because in business, you’ve got to diversify). Looking back on my early days and the short, icy TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

hills I grew up on, I’m baffled that I fell so madly in love with this sport — and not just “the sport,” but with the culture surrounding it. I had no coaching. I had no knowledge of the ski/snowboard world or that there even was an overarching culture. I had no real motivation other than that feeling it gave me, the experience of it all, AND I OWNED THAT like a badge of honor. Now I’m old. This summer I will turn 37 during a snowboard camp where I am the head coach. I get to teach kids and adults how to snowboard all over the world. It’s funny to sit down on a plane beside a respectable businessman and have him ask me what line of work I’m in. I usually start my answer with a good laugh. I talk about Jesus (as that plays a large role in what I do), and I talk about how I’m still involved in the subculture surrounding a silly kids’ game — a game in which you slide plastic, stand-up sleds over frozen water. It boggles my mind that I’m an adult, but God has penned my life story in the setting of a “toy” subculture. One of my favorite things about coaching snowboarding is that I get to pass on that feeling that “hooked me” as a kid. I have the privilege of seeing that same look in the eyes of grommets (young people of the sport) when they land a trick for the first time. It’s almost like I get to relive the “jaw drop” moment I had after my first time down the hill in my parents’ backyard. I get a glimpse of my younger self in that brief, life-altering moment. It gives me goosebumps just writing this. There’s something about passing on that passion and that ownership that keeps me going.

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Making disciples of Jesus is oddly similar. To pass on the hope that we have in the God-Man that rescued the whole world is infectious. We get to use this kids’ game to connect with a community of people that are caught up in a desperate and often dark pursuit for “that feeling.” There was a guy named John who wrote one of the books in the Bible. John explained that he wrote his book “so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). John lived life with Jesus. They hung out together. He watched Him do gnarly things that no one else had ever done. It was the experience of being with Jesus that made John so determined to share that same passion and ownership with the world. As passionate as I am about watching kids come alive when they have a new experience on a snowboard, I am so much more inspired when I get to introduce our friends to the King of the universe! As disciples of Jesus, we must be acquainted with that kind of ”feeling” or “knowing” of God. That kind of knowing, that kind of thrill, will be our motivation to be disciples ourselves and be discipling others. One of my favorite coaching stories is the story of my friend Nathan. We first met about five years ago at the Next Level snowboard summer camp at Liberty University. Nathan was coming off a road trip with his high school friends, who were all hungry to spend some time on their snowboards. When a chance encounter allowed them to meet our crew of riders and coaches, they became curious and quickly became hungry with questions about the larger questions of life: Why are we doing the things we’re doing? Snowboarding for Jesus? Who is this God, and what does He want with snowboarders and skiers? Coaching at camp allowed us to build relationships of trust and credibility through playing this game together. The snowboarding allowed us the opportunity to connect. It built a bond, a relationship. Over the course of the camp, Nathan progressed in his snowboarding, but he also heard stories of the progression God had done in my life and the lives of the other camp staff. Shortly after camp, Nathan made a decision to follow Jesus. It changed his life, and now he’s passionate about sharing his story with others. He’s currently a youth leader in a ski town in New England and will attend Bible school next year. Now, God has led me from the icy hills and pool supply stores of Pennsylvania to work as the International Director of Snowboarders and Skiers for Christ. This role has given me countless opportunities to build bridges through the ski and snowboard culture all over the world as a way to point my new friends toward my greater passion: Jesus. This guy was like no other human who ever lived. He’s a life-changer! The mission of our organization is to bridge the snow riding culture to Jesus, partnering with the local Church. We believe it’s our calling to be a light on the hill in this dark culture that we live. Now, whether it’s in my capacity as a coach, friend on the hill, a dad, a guy in line at the grocery store, or wherever else I find myself, it’s my absolute pleasure to pass on even a fraction of “that feeling” — whether in snowboarding or in a life pursuing Jesus. SPORTS SPECTRUM

COACHES

TESTIMONIES

HORIZON

OVER THE

I grew up in a great Christian family that loved sports. My grandpa, uncles and cousins all played and coached everything they could. When I was finally old enough, the first sunny spring afternoon of the year found me standing on the baseball field. But during the game I remember watching a few kids ride their bikes, and I clearly remember being envious. That’s what I wanted to be doing. I loved being outside, climbing and riding anything I could find. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, there was a whole world of emerging action sports and I was happy to try anything I had access to. When I was 18, it began to fall apart. After a series of injuries and it was clear that the things disappointments, SPORTS SPECTRUM

I found to be life-giving could be ripped away at any moment. I ended up on a fourday whitewater rafting trip with my church youth group. I was there for the adrenaline rush. And then our Christian guides asked us to consider why God had brought us to the trip. Through that trip I heard God ask if I would let go of my plan for my life, trust Him, and follow Him over the blind horizon. I said yes, and my path led me to youth ministry. In my first official role, I was an intern tasked with finding four to six guys to pursue out of a group of more than 100 kids. Four guys didn’t fit the group, but I was drawn to them — a skater and three BMX riders. We hung out at the new skatepark,

By Kevin Foss, mountain biking coach

did a Bible study and went to the ministry camps. We talked about life, tricks, gear, cool places to ride and sometimes Jesus. I learned a lot, but there was always a tension. Was I a peer, a mentor or something else? Should I be with them while they climb on top of a school to jump their bikes off the roof? Do I have any authority to say, “No, you can’t do that!” within their anti-authority culture? When my internship ended I had a lot of questions. Later, I landed in church youth ministry. I learned a lot there, but it still didn’t feel like the fit I was made for. A lot of my time was spent preparing messages and in meetings with Christians about running programs. How could I kids to live out their faith among teach TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

SOME THINGS I’VE LEARNED 1) Your life teaches, your words explain One of the cool things about mountain biking, and many other action sports, is that as an adult, I can still compete in the sport. Often I’m competing in the same event as the athletes I’m coaching. We pre-ride the course together, we talk strategy together, we encounter the challenges together. I can talk about having a positive attitude all I want, but if I get off and walk whenever it gets hard, my words are simply contradicting what I’m teaching. Thinking about what I want to see in my athletes continually challenges my own attitude, actions and speech. 2) My sport needs learners and servants, not experts I’ve recently been challenged to see the pros and cons of something rather than judging it better or worse. As I do this, I’m finding a lot of things I can learn from in unexpected places. One of those is the world of traditional sports. While I may not connect with baseball, basketball and football at this point, there are coaches and organizations who have spent decades studying how to help youth grow positively through sports. There is a lot that can be learned and adapted from these coaches. 3) Teams have a place Although mountain biking and other action sports are individual sports, there are still teams at every level of competition. You don’t need to be on one, but they offer a place to belong, training partners, and friends to travel to events with. Youth development teams can build a multi-generational community around the kids. They can even have a positive impact on the local cycling community by shaping a supportive, positive culture and being good stewards of the trails they use. I think we need to be careful, however, to be intentional about the model we follow. There are a lot of examples in other sports of healthy development-minded teams contrasted by performance and entertainment models that fit adults better than youth. I think it starts with creating inclusive environments at a local level and creating an appropriate pathway to higher levels of competition. Photo by Daniel Looman

their friends and families with different

beliefs when my life demonstrated separation from that very world? That question burned inside me for several years. At the same time, I had seen research concluding that teens really need a network of adults who will surround them as they seperate from their parents in their search for autonomy. We had tried to create programs to do this, but after the weekly meetings, the kids and their adult leaders would walk away from each other, back into their own vastly different worlds. Along the way my wife got me a mountain bike so I would get some exercise. I soon discovered trails with jumps S P O R T S S P E and C T R U M berms, and even chairlifts so

of mountain biking I do. Those riders you didn’t have to pedal uphill. I also actually like to pedal up hills, and there encountered a community that did an are no jumps in cross country.” amazing job of including all ages in it. A few months later, I was asked to Eventually God asked me again, “Will you let go of your plan for your life and let come to a meeting for the newly-forming Me lead you over that blind horizon?” My team. I decided to go and walked into a wife and I stepped out in faith, wondering bar where 35 adults were crammed into a tiny space, all asking how they could how mountain biking and ministry were supposed to fit together. It seemed crazy, support and be involved with the kids. but God kept supplying what we needed How could I say no to that? At the end of that season, one of the students came to walk forward just in the nick of time, to me and asked me to help him train for beckoning us to follow Him off the next takeoff, over the horizon toward the blind mountain bike nationals. I found myself being invited to walk beside a teenager landing. and give input at a level I’d never had A couple months in, I was asked to access to before. consider helping start a cross country And so began my journey as mountain bike team for teenagers in our coach. a kind the not that’s “Nah, thought, I area. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971 53

RIDING THE WAVES OF COACHING & PARENTING Growing up in La Jolla, California,

Bryan Jennings

accomplished his goal of becoming a pro surfer at age 18. A few years later, he founded the Walking On Water surf camp, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to

sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with this generation’s global surfing community. We asked Jennings about coaching, parenting and the impact of his camps.

Photo by Kevin Caldwell

What is a short summary of your involvement in coaching? Over 20 years ago, God prompted me to start the Walking On Water surf camp in San Diego, Calif. Through that school I have had the opportunity to coach beginner and some advanced competitive surfers, and more importantly lead them to a relationship with Jesus Christ. I absolutely love sharing the sport I love and the truth of God’s powerful love with the young surfers. What has been the impact you have seen on both yourself and participants in coaching? I especially enjoy helping a student who has a fear of the ocean because I can remember having the same fears. Fear is actually very similar to faith. It believes in something that has not yet happened. Unfortunately, fear believes in something bad happening before it happens. Faith is believing that God, who is good and loving, will work out something we can’t see yet that is good and perfect and amazing! The fear of the ocean has kept many people from ever learning to surf, similar to other fears keeping people from what God has called them to. One young 8-year-old girl named Molly had almost drowned a year prior to attending our surf camp, so she was paralyzed by fear. Instead of pressuring her to surf, I encouraged her and built up her confidence by only taking her into 6 inches of water and asking her to stand 54

Photo by Tim McCaig

on the board. I told her I would only take her out farther if she asked me to. I had to be patient. And eventually she asked me to take her out farther and farther, and eventually she rode a wave and had the biggest smile I have ever seen! She had conquered her fears and realized that, yes, she had a tragic near-drowning situation in the past, but that did not mean God couldn’t protect her. He led her back toward her fear so that He could conquer them and give her the courage to surf, to ride the storm instead of being suffocated by it. Can you give us a practical story that illustrates some parent feedback on their child’s response to coaching? The most rewarding part of my job is when parents thank me and our Walking On Water camp staff for loving their child and teaching them to surf. Last summer, we had an amazing situation happen when Derek Rabelo, a blind surfer (see page 28), helped at our surf camp as a surf instructor. Derek has surfed the most dangerous

COACHES

TESTIMONIES

Photo by Kevin Caldwell

waves in the world and has taught all of us what it really means to live by faith and not by sight! Well, this past summer we had a young surf camper who was adopted and had some slight mental challenges. This camper became very frustrated during the beach games time and was in an argument with some of the other campers. Derek gently asked this student to go on a walk with him and they began a leaderto-camper friendship. The wisdom Derek gave him and the love he showed the camper that week made such a huge difference in the camper’s life that his parents came on the last day and could not stop thanking Derek and our staff. They kept saying, “We can’t believe how God brought a blind surfer from Brazil to a surf camp in San Diego to make such a wonderful impact on our son, who was adopted from Europe.” God’s ways and waves are truly amazing! Which principles of coaching are applicable to parents also, especially as they transition from “telling” younger children to “coaching” older ones? I think the most powerful coaching comes when the coach is vulnerable and honest about their 55 own past mistakes, and even S P O Rand T S S P E Cpresent TRUM

goes as far as sharing with the athlete or our I think the best tool for parents is to teach their children how God is coaching us through His kids when they are not in the middle of the love and truth. We all need practical examples. storm or the tantrum. It has worked so well for me to wait until the next day or a different For example, lately I have struggled with time, when my daughter has done nothing feelings of fear as I am making much needed wrong, and then gently remind her of how she changes in my life. Derek the blind surfer gets frustrated when certain things happen. I coached me, reminding me that when that then coach her through what to do next time first thought or feeling of fear arrives, I need this happens and maybe even help her to to recognize it, take that thought captive by avoid it happening next time. telling it to leave and praying for God to give me faith, and trust in Him instead of listening Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly to the voice of fear. I recently told my daughter from difficulties or failures. The word this and asked her to do the same when she consistency comes to mind; confidence comes has feelings of anger and agitation. So she from consistency. When we are not consistent is seeing her dad/coach applying his own in certain areas of our lives, then we don’t have material and even asking for forgiveness when victory. Without practice teams fail. Another I fail. The recognition of not handling a way of saying this would be that without failing situation correctly can be a more powerful a lot, we can’t win. Practice is actually being learning moment than when we do it right. humble enough to fail a few times before getting something right. But without humility I also ask my 6-year-old daughter to coach we can’t fail well. Failing well turns us into and teach her dolls what I teach her. So she champions. Someone who fails well needs is learning, teaching, then applying these resilience to learn from their failures and make weapons of Biblical love. changes and persevere. As you observe kids developing resilience through the surf coaching, what advice can you give parents to develop resilience in their kids outside of surfing?

This is developing resilience. And resilience is the state of mind that rejects attitudes like, “I have arrived!” or “I got this” or “It was their fault T O Snot U B S C R Imine” B E T O S P O R or T S S P“This E C T R U M : Cwill A L L 8 6never 6 - 8 2 1 - 2 9 7 1happen.” 55

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Daily Devotionals Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Like the Psalmist says, it’s important for us as Christians to know God’s Word so that we stave off sin in our lives. But the Bible also has many other vital benefits. As Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 57 WEB

S I T E : SwP wO RwT. Ss pSoPr Et sC sT pR eU cMt r u m . c o m

T O S U B S C R I B E T O S P O R T S S P E C T R U M : CSAPLOL R 8T 6S6 S- 8P 2E 1C-T 2R9U7M1

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Monday>>>

revealed

My home surf break (an obstruction that causes a wave to break) is a small barrier island on the east coast of the Carolinas. Here, the tidal range is about six feet, but the coastline is flat and the water relatively shallow. We have to rely on sandbars to shape our waves, and surfers often spend time talking about what new sandbar they found after a storm or higher tide. Sometimes at low tide, we will explore to find where currents and tides have shaped the bars as we try to find the next great spot to surf. It is common to find surprises like fallen palm trees, tires, broken debris … and my fingers are crossed for finding lost pirate treasure one day. In life, there are many factors that influence how we treat each other and how we see ourselves in relationship with God. I’m pretty sure that if the tide receded in my life, I could see the things that have shaped me. Fear, doubt, insecurities, hurt, broken promises, sin, selfcenteredness and a few more surprises would litter the shoreline of my heart and mind. Are these things obstacles to healthy relationships with God and others? Honestly, yes. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. God knows what is under the surface of our hearts and minds, and His love for us — in spite of these things and maybe because of these things — is unwavering. If, as followers of Jesus Christ, we can learn to embrace our shared brokenness, we could embrace the opportunity to live together with the grace and mercy our Lord offers us but we so rarely offer to ourselves or those around us. In the end, finding the hidden sandbars and enjoying a surf with good friends seems somewhat satisfying, but doesn’t come close in comparison to embracing shared hurt and brokenness, and coming together to dive into the mystery and beauty of God’s amazing love for us. Come and see the Lord is good and dive into that truth together. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” — Hebrews 12:1-2

J.W. Kaiser

Christian surfers president 58 58

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Photo by Noah Hamilton

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>>> Tuesday keeping score

Friday>>>

town called Corinth that they would be the “pleasing aroma of Christ” to God. He used this word “aroma” other times as well. He dead or alive was probably referring to the incense that [OPEN WITH] Romans 3:22-25 Galatians 2:20 the Romans paraded around with when they were victorious in battles. To the I’ve nearly died a few times while surfing. Are you a free surfer or a contest surfer? The basic difference seems to be the desire victors, it must have smelled great because I’d bet many of you surfers reading this have to keep score and judge your surfing against they associated the aroma of the incense too. Surfing is a fairly dangerous platform: with victory. heavy moving water, rocks, reefs, surfboards others. with sharp fins. But Paul was making a point: God doesn’t Even if you are free surfer, there is a Then there are the dangerous creatures tendency to judge yourself and compare see us as shameful sinners unworthy of love. yourself against others in the lineup. It’s not Rather, God sees us as victorious in Christ in the water. I’m not talking about sharks, I’m a stretch to say it is because we are naturally and this “aroma” is filled will thoughts of referring to the tourists and weekend warriors paddling out a stand-up paddleboard on self-centered and concerned about how we love and admiration for us. their knees into an oncoming set. compare with those around us. Internally, all of us have a voice in our head that asks, Did you know that even if you’ve survived “What about me? How do I measure up?” the onslaught of entangled boards bailed influenced straight in front of you, or the thrashing Have you ever been concerned if you Acts 4:13 of a rogue set wave pounding you into a “measure up” in your relationship with God? reef, you and I are dead and don’t know it? First, we have to understand that there is I have a friend, Roy, who is a really good Actually, we are all one of two kinds of dead. no scorecard in Heaven that God applies to your life. He knows your heart better than surfer. He has a style that reminds me of There are many who are dead in their sins. Martin Potter. For those of you who don’t This is a really bad kind of dead because anyone. He knows we are prone to sin. know of “Pottz” surfing, you should check there is nothing we can do about it. Sin is a God doesn’t judge us by our sin, however. out some clips. He was known as a fast and big deal to God because it is not His best for He cast His judgment of our sin onto His Son, powerful surfer. Maybe Roy grew up watching us. When we choose to live life on our own Jesus. When we turn our hearts to God and Pottz surf or actually grew up surfing the terms, it only leads to a death that we can’t ask, “What about me?” His answer to us same waves, but their style is so similar. depart from, both spiritually and physically. is that He loves us deeply and He calls us When I compliment Roy on his surfing, he is However, there is great hope. For to Himself with the most tender mercy and quick to humbly deflect any comparisons to great surfers like Martin Potter. those who have decided to live by faith in grace imaginable. relationship with Jesus, we also die. This kind Whether we are aware of it or not, we of death is the good kind. It means we die to On our best days, God doesn’t love us more, and on our worst days, God doesn’t are all heavily influenced by who we are ourselves. We submit to God’s rescuing love love us less. His love for us is consistent and watching from afar, and most definitely by for us and we die with Christ. those intimately in our company. We are all consistently without measure. natural “copycats.” But we also are raised with Christ. So, God bids us to come and die, and this death Who are those who have influenced your is the only hope for mankind. life? More importantly, who are those who aroma have influenced your faith?

Thursday>>>

Wednesday>>> Ephesians 5:2

Surfing hits you with all kinds of senses — the sound of the ocean’s roar; the sight of the sun dancing off green walls of water; the feel of cool water that hits as you dive under the first set of the morning, or when you’re gliding high in the pocket of a racing wave. This all makes us come alive in waves that only surfing can. What about the sense of smell? When you smell sunscreen, wax or neoprene, or even the smell of fuel as you crank up a boat heading for a surf at a nearby island or reef pass, these smells can bring back a rush of euphoric bliss from past surfing memories. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christfollowers that lived in a coastal beach

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

As Christ-followers, we have committed to be influenced by Jesus. We have committed to go where He went (to be with those in need), do what He did (love and serve people), and act as He acted (in obedience to our Heavenly Father). Do these commitments reflect your faith? We should commit our best efforts to emulating Jesus. If you are reading this and you are not a Christ-follower, I’d humbly ask you to reflect on who is shaping your character. Who is influencing you most? Is it the One who created you, knows you better than you know yourself, and who loves you the most?

Weekend>>>

...continue reading about being influenced for christ:

1 Corinthians 15 & Galatians 5:7-9; Matthew 5:1-20 & 1 Peter 2:12

J.W. Kaiser

President/National Director Christian Surfers

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

my act of worship

I can look back on my journey and say with full assurance that I felt God’s call on my life since infancy. He spoke to my heart as a child and I was never able to get Him out of my head. Even when I tried to walk away, He was always able to pull me back. My older sisters were the ones who wouldn’t let me get away with being average, or to only go to church on the weekends. They wanted me to give school, skiing, and especially God, my everything. But in the middle of high school, when my parents split up and my sisters left for college, all of a sudden I had this massive structure of support missing from my life. That’s when I really walked away and did my own thing. I went through a journey of discovering whether my faith in God really was my own or just something I believed because I was told of it from a young age on. I read the Quran, the Book of Mormon, the Apocrypha, but there’s a reason Christianity has always stood out to me. Jesus’ message is so unique compared to any other message in the world. I’m grateful to God for the time in my life I tried to walk away from Him because now, when people ask me why I have the faith that I have, it’s an easy answer. I know because I took the time to discover why I believe it. As long as skiing is my act of worship to God, which it has always been, I will keep doing it. I don’t treat my sport as something that’s meant to glorify me, I try my best to treat it as something that brings glory to God. He gave me the talent and continues to provide opportunities, so I’m going to go out there and use this as an act of worship. It probably helps that I can’t really sing and I’m a little bit of an awkward dancer. People ask me, “How do you worship?” I tell them I worship with my body, just in a different way than most do. I want to expand people’s view to make something their own and make that their act of worship. That’s what God wants from us. I have plenty of medals to my name. I have plenty of worldly accolades. But if anything, winning all those titles has made me recognize that they’re really not worth that much. The most fulfilling things are all relationshipbased. It’s all about inspiring my kids to be better, inspiring my kids to love others the way that Jesus loves them, inspiring people to pursue their dreams. I take Jesus’ approach to life as much as I can. In Luke 15:4, He says that He’s willing to walk away from the 99 to save the one. If I can accomplish anything in my life, it would be to inspire just one person.

David Wise Olympic gold medal

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freestyle skier

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AP Photo/Sergei Grits

Tuesday>>>

what’s your motivation?

[OPEN WITH]

1 John 4:19

God the Father through Him … Whatever you find our “spot” to keep from getting woozy, do, work at it with all your heart, as working for making us ineffective and unproductive the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:17, 23). in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Zeal for your sport is one of the main reasons you’re in the position you’re in today. Why do you do what you do? Professional athletes — and for that matter, anyone who But what about your zeal for the things of has risen to the top in their chosen profession God? — are highly motivated. But by what? I often wonder what the landscape of More than 20 years ago, I took a personal professional sports would look like if all pro development course from Franklin Covery, athletes who have a relationship with Christ a leading organization in time management were as zealous about Jesus as they were strategic planning. The first question they about their sport. Professional sports provide had us grapple with was, “What matters a powerful and unique platform for influence most to you? What makes you the happiest?” and impact. The purpose of this question was to frame Paul encouraged his readers in Romans our core values — those non-negotiables that would consistently lead us to follow our 12:11 to “never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Do heart’s desire. you want to evaluate your zeal for God? I’m thankful that by the time I went to Genuine zeal for the Lord will show up first this workshop, I was a committed follower and foremost in your worship. of Jesus Christ. My answer was “to love God and please Him.” Ten years prior, my answer would have been “to be financially secure.” That would have made my choices and activities take me in a whole different what’s your focus? direction.

Thursday>>> 2 Peter 1:9

What you let motivate you will greatly Being highly motivated and passionate determine not only your life’s direction, but without focus leads to distraction, more importantly, your usefulness to God. inconsistency and stunted growth. I don’t As the nation of Israel was finally about know of any sport that involves a ball where to enter the Promised Land after wandering one of the primary principles of success is to in the desert for 40 years, Moses reminded not “keep your eye on the ball!” The higher them that the most important thing was to the stakes, the greater the concentration “love the Lord your God with all your heart required. and with all your soul and with all your There are no higher stakes than the souls strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). of men. That’s why it is essential that we keep Our love for God must be our primary our focus on the person of Jesus Christ. motivation in all things. This motivates true The challenge is that there are constant worship, sacrificial service and enthusiastic distractions. In sports, the more we can do obedience to the One who “first loved us.” to distract the opposition, the better our chances are of victory. Satan knows this too. He is the greatest trash-talker of all time. He will offer up any distraction or temptation to what are you zealous about? destroy your focus.

Wednesday>>> Ecclesiastes 9:10

What are you zealous about? Zeal is different from motivation. Motivation is about what you want to do and who you want to become. Zeal is about your enthusiasm, passion, eagerness and intensity.

The last thing our adversary wants you do to is worship, pray and soak in the Word of God. He knows these activities will cause you to connect with Christ through His Holy Spirit, who will fill you with the presence and power of God and lead you to serve Him and accomplish His will.

In today’s verse, Solomon, the wisest man ever to live, said that anything worth doing is worth doing with all your heart. Paul put it this way in the New Testament: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to

Ballet dancers and ice skaters have to find a fixed point to concentrate on as they spin, otherwise they will get dizzy and fall. They call it “spotting.” Likewise in this dizzying world of distractions, we have to

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Friday>>>

genuine worship

Psalm 121:1-2; Psalm 122:1 All Jewish men were commanded to appear before the Lord three times per year: for Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16). Many Biblical scholars believe that Psalms 120 through 134, the “Psalms of Accents,” were the songs the men sang as they hiked up the hills toward Jerusalem to worship. These psalms helped build a sense of worship along the way by focusing their minds on God. Worship is a conscious, intentional and very personal act to honor, praise and revere the Lord God Almighty for who He has revealed Himself to be and what He has done for us. Today, the Lord no longer requires His followers to worship at a specific time or place. Speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, Jesus declared, “Believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem … Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:21,23). Genuine worship is not about an outward show or adhering to a bunch or religious rituals and traditions. Real worship starts in the heart, with an attitude of humility, repentance and gratitude, acknowledging the power and presence of God. With the right attitude and focus, you can worship God anywhere — even while skiing!

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about

keeping your focus on christ:

Psalm 42 & Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3 & Colossians 4:1-6 Jerry Birch Cleveland Cavaliers Chaplain

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

perspective

I had won a few championships and was feeling strong in the final stages of my amateur career, eager to acquire a contract for the pro rank. So I confidently went out for a practice session at the 2015 Freestone Amateur National in Texas full of aggression. But just before the finish line on the final lap, I misjudged the distance between two obstacles, which caused my hand to be pulled from the handlebar and my body to be sent into the air. Upon impact with the ground, I lost consciousness. I laid there, motionless in the dirt, for roughly four and a half minutes. After being rushed to a hospital, I began to slur speech and lose motor skills. Eventually, I lost control of all bodily function, began violently shaking and stopped breathing altogether — what is medically known as a “Tonic Clonic Seizure.” I was connected to a machine that would operate in lieu of my lungs, and rushed via helicopter to a better-equipped facility. Upon arrival, the neurologist decided to place me in a medically-induced coma. I remained that way for more than 36 hours and had no day-to-day recollection for the following three weeks. Ultimately, a chest X-ray showed fluid in my lungs, which indicated walking pneumonia. The combination of the head trauma and severe sickness likely resulted in the seizure, though doctors were never completely certain. Regardless, I had suffered a violent concussion. This led into an emotionally and physically painful recovery process, and forced me to do a great deal of soul searching. And during that journey, I finally learned that I didn’t need to set my benchmark for happiness on accomplishments in sports. I realized I had a foundation that was far more meaningful. I was surrounded by individuals who loved me without condition, despite my temperamental mood swings or my inability to fully grasp the situation. The love I felt in that period remains unparalleled to this very day. Faced with a wealth of questions and abundant free time, I decided to open my Bible for the first time in years. I had always considered myself to be of Christian faith and occasionally attended church, so I reckoned the good book might hold some answers. And over time, I found in those pages the source of the love I had been experiencing. In light of His grace, my issue with the motorcycle began to feel rather small. My faith is now my top priority in life and I find fulfillment in that. I believe God wants us to reach the desires of our heart and glorify Him through our actions. The best way for me to do that is by using the gifts and abilities He has given me to the very best of my ability. Now, my identity is not found in continually trying to improve and reach my goals. Rather, it is found by best serving my God and bringing glory to His mighty name.

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Zac Commans

professional motocross rider TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Tuesday>>>

game, it’s always interesting to see how a team comes together to win the game. After the blessings of your senses the game, you see the bonds that are built together will last a lifetime. Many times, [OPEN WITH] Psalm 34:1-8 teammates become closer than actual blood Growing up as a kid, I used to always relatives. hear my grandmother start her prayers by But this proverb has meaning off the field thanking the Lord for “waking her up with a sound mind.” I never knew exactly why as well. When the storm of life is at your front she would start her prayer with something I door, who do you call? Is it your parents, a family member or a friend? Proverbs 18:24 thought was so insignificant. says, “One who has unreliable friends soon But as I reflect on Zac’s devotional, I comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks realize the importance of her prayer. After closer than a brother.” falling from his motorcycle, he suffered The lesson for us today is two-fold. What a “Tonic Clonic Seizure,” which caused friends can you rely on when you are at his body to shake as he lost control of his bodily functions. By God’s grace, he’s healed your lowest moment? And can your friends today. But it made me wonder: How often depend on you to help when they are at their am I grateful for the little things, like my five lowest moment? Take some time today to senses — the ability to taste, touch, smell, evaluate your friendships. hear and see?

Thursday>>>

In Psalms 34:1-8, David uses several of the senses in his praises to God. In verse 2, getting back on the bike David said, “I will glory in the Lord, let the Joshua 1:6-9 afflicted hear and rejoice.” In verse 5, David says, “Those who look to Him are radiant; We’ve all heard this saying before: ”If you their faces are never covered with shame.” Finally, in verse 8, David says, “Taste and see fall down, get up and try it again.” That’s that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who easy to say but sometimes not as easy to do. We all have been presented with challenges takes refuge in Him.” that seem too difficult to overcome. One of Take some time today to thank God for the strongest barriers that holds us back from the little things He has blessed you with. Like moving forward is fear. the ability to smell the aroma of your first As Joshua was beginning to lead the cup of coffee. The taste of a great meal with your friends and family. Or listening to your Israelites from the desert to the Promised favorite song as you watch the sun peek over Land, Moses, in his old age, told his successor the clouds, making the darkness retreat. All to “be strong and courageous. Do not be these are gifts from God, who reminds us in afraid or terrified because of them, for the Proverbs 20:12, “Ears that hear, eyes that see Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy — the Lord has made them both.” 31:6).

Wednesday>>>

As Joshua started leading, God spoke to him and repeated the words Moses said three rising from adversity times in the opening chapter: “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6-9). God’s words let Proverbs 17:17 him know that he would not have to face any One of the greatest benefits of team challenges alone and that he could walk in sports is everyone’s reliance on others to confidence knowing God will be with him. achieve a common goal. In football, if 10 The same command is for God’s people players do their jobs but one player falters, then the play may not succeed. The same can as well. Whatever the circumstance or be said for sports like basketball, baseball difficulty, we can overcome it through the and volleyball. But one of the best life strength God has given us. Why? As 2 lessons that sports reveals is how adversity Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a can either bring a team closer together or spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and of self-discipline.” break them apart. Put this verse to action and be strong and Take a look at Proverbs 17:17, which says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother courageous today. is born for a time of adversity.” In a close

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Friday>>>

a life dedicated to excellence

Ecclesiastes 9:10

One of the greatest achievements in life is to do your job with excellence. Among the best skateboarders, names like Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Paul Rodriguez and Ryan Sheckler top the list. Those are guys who perfected their craft in skateboarding so well that they are greatly respected by their peers. After recovering from his injuries, Zac got right back on his motorcycle, but now with a different aim. Rather than using his gifts and abilities to serve himself for personal glory, he began focusing on using his gifts to serve God and bring glory to His name. We can all take note of Zac’s efforts and do the same as well. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it all with your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” One of the greatest opportunities you have to glorify God today is to work at being a skillful worksman at your job, with your classwork or even in the sport you play. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Today, go out and work in excellence for Jesus Christ.

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about working with excellence:

Proverbs 22:9 & Titus 2:7-8; 2 Corinthians 8:7 & 1 Corinthians 10:31

Justin Adams Sports Spectrum

SPORTS SPECTRUM

Monday >>> -

daily devotionals

Kelly Clark

professional snowboarder

calculated risk takers

I was an 18-year-old Olympic gold medalist, XGames champ and U.S. Open champ. I had achieved everything I had hoped to, and honestly, I just didn’t find the purpose and fulfillment I thought would come through accomplishments. I didn’t know what I was looking for. I didn’t have a Christian background, and honestly, I had never thought about why we might be on planet Earth, but I knew that something was missing. I was going through the motions with my snowboarding and it was going really well. But in between the years 2002 (after I won the Olympic gold medal) and 2004, I slid into depression without really knowing it. It was my first event of the 2004-05 season and I was standing at the bottom of the pipe, having just made finals. A girl had just come down, having not passed qualifiers, and she was crying. I overheard a conversation between her and her friend, who was just trying to get her to smile. Her friend said, “Hey, it’s all right. You know God still loves you.” They didn’t know I heard that comment but it stirred something in me I couldn’t ignore. I thought, “If God loves her, maybe God loves me.” Then I thought, “There’s got to be Bibles in hotel rooms right?” I rushed back to my room and found a King James Bible, but I didn’t even know where to start. That girl was staying at my hotel so I knocked on her door. Here I am, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, knocking on her door and I said, “Hey, my name’s Kelly and I think you might be a Christian, and I think you need to tell me about God.” I knocked on the right door that day. I thought Christianity was about going to church and saying the right things and following the rules, but she told me it wasn’t about being religious, it was about having a relationship with Jesus. That started me on a journey of finding a sense of significance and purpose outside of performance. As a professional snowboarder, people assume we’re risktakers, but we’re calculated risk-takers. I wasn’t about to jump into something I had just heard about for the first time. So I started trying to wrap my head around who God was. My conditioning coach at the time, who is a believer, gave me a devotional Bible, which proved really helpful for me to start relating my life to the Bible and understanding what it’s all about. At the end of that snowboard season someone asked me if I was “saved” and I didn’t even know what that meant! As they explained it to me, I asked myself two questions: “Could I ever wake up another day and not think about God?” “Could I ever pretend He doesn’t exist?” The answer to both was no. So I said, “All right, Jesus, I’m in! I don’t know what this looks like, but I’m in!” It was really liberating. I had my identity wrapped up in what I do; my sense of purpose and significance was gained through performance. It was a very volatile and insecure place to be. But suddenly, I had my snowboarding back. I didn’t have to do it to prove to myself or other people who I was. Having a sense of purpose, I was free to do what I love and actually enjoy it.

Photo by Camilla Rutherford/Getty Images

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Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Tuesday>>>

obedience to what God has placed on our hearts, we are acting in faith, praying that faith requires risks God will supply us with the answers and direction we will need to move forward. It [OPEN WITH] Luke 17:33 can be a scary step to take, but if we don’t, Accomplishing something great always we may always wonder about the miracles requires that risks be taken. For those who we missed out on. are daring enough to take a leap of faith, Many times we are faced with options to their opportunity for greatness is significantly act on our own wisdom, or seek God for a higher than most. greater strength. We’re not sure where our Kelly shared that her whole life was lives our headed; we’re challenged with a centered around taking risks. On the fork in the road and we’re at a loss for what mountain, this was how she learned to be to do. Maybe the next step is a new job, a the best. Staying comfortable with what was change in ministry, or the decision to start a normal was never an option. Likewise, when relationship with Jesus for the first time. she said yes to Christ, she knew she was Whatever your decision is, seek Jesus and saying no to what her culture considers to be ask Him to provide you with the faith you the norm. But that was a risk she was more need to take a risk. than willing to take. Luke 17:33 says, “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” God doesn’t call us to live a comfortable life. He doesn’t ask us to fit in. In fact, He will often take us outside of our comfort zones and ask us to take a risk for Him. Any risk taken for the Gospel is a risk worth taking. With the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, we have no reason to be nervous or anxious about the unknown. Fear is replaced with excitement and anticipation for the miraculous work God can and will do through those who accept the challenge to say no to the norm and yes to His supernatural and perfect plan.

Wednesday>>> don’t miss your opportunity

Galatians 3:6-9

Thursday>>>

Psalm 121:1-2; Psalm 122:1 Liberation comes when we leave behind everything we were clinging to before we met Jesus in order to take up the new identity we now hold as children of the Most High God. When Kelly fully surrendered her life to Christ, she spoke of the powerful, newfound freedom and security she gained. She no longer had to worry about each competition she participated in because her identity was not wrapped up in her success on the slope. The ministry of Jesus Christ is that of liberating captives. Before we make the choice to follow Christ, each of us is enslaved to sin. By surrendering ourselves to Him, we find the freedom and joy that only He brings.

The word salvation means “the deliverance from harm, ruin or loss.” This measured by truth is what we experience when we come to the foot of the cross. We’re free from our Psalm 33:4-6 mistakes, sin and shame. We’re no longer There’s a difference between taking enslaved to that which once held us captive risks and taking calculated risks. As Kelly when we decide to be all in for Jesus. mentioned, she loves trying new tricks, going In John 8:31-32 we read, “To the Jews faster down the slopes, and inventing new ways to advance the sport of snowboarding, who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you but she never acts without taking proper hold to My teaching, you are really My precautions first. She never takes a risk disciples. Then you will know the truth, and without measuring her actions up against the truth will set you free.’” When the truth what she knows to be true of the sport and of God’s Word takes root and abides in our hearts, we are set free to live lives that take true to her ability to perform. risks, accomplish great things and experience In the same way, we as Christ-followers the fullness of Christ Jesus. are called to take risks for the Gospel — to put our selfish desires aside and have a willingness to advance the Kingdom of God no matter what the cost. But we aren’t called continue reading about to act without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word leading having the faith to take risks us into the battlefield. We may think we have John 8 & 2 Kings 5:13-15; the best idea for sharing the Gospel, but if it’s not God’s way, we need to be willing to John 14 & 2 Timothy 1:7 respond differently.

Kelly’s life was transformed because she overheard someone mention the name of God. God’s unconditional love — one that is not based on performance, identity or status — was something Kelly could not ignore. The first thing we must do when taking Without knowing anything about this God, she pursued Him. She needed to know more. risks for the Kingdom is to lay down our own desires and ambitions, and take up But what if Kelly simply walked away that the sword of truth — the Bible. The written day? What if she didn’t choose to go out on Word of God acts as our instruction book. a limb and risk being seen as ignorant or Through study and reflection of God’s Word, imposing? What if she didn’t knock on the and faithful prayer in response to what God door of her fellow snowboarder? She might places on our hearts, we can clearly seek the plans and purposes of our God, which are still be wondering what she missed. sure to exceed our wildest dreams. A missed opportunity is one that cannot be taken back easily. When we act in

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Friday>>>

liberation in christ

Weekend>>> ...

Becky York The Increase

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Colin Ross

professional mountain bike champion 66 66

SPORTS SPECTRUM

riding is my medicine

My name is Colin Ross, I’m 34 years old, married with three children, and live just outside Belfast in Northern Ireland. I’m a full-time mountain bike racer and coach. I’m also a Christian. When I was 5 years old, two men from a local church knocked on our door and had a short chat with my dad about his spiritual fitness. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit and gave his life to Jesus! Shortly after, my mum gave her life to Jesus too. My dad was always my hero; wherever he went so did I. At the age of 8, I started to understand the presence of God and decided to follow Jesus for myself. My love for bikes started at 3 years old. Eventually, my dad built jumps out of wood and bricks in the driveway. When I turned 12, I started racing. I knew I was talented when I won my first downhill race in the U-14 category. For the next 10 years, my dad and I traveled around, racing in the national series and representing Ireland at the World and European Championships. Once I hit 22 years old, I was done with racing. I was ready to get a proper job, get married and become more involved with the Church … or so I thought. What most people don’t know about me is that when I was 24, I had a nervous breakdown. I was involved in too many things and didn’t listen to the warning signs. It started with panic attacks, constant anxiety and an inability to sleep. Soon, fear was all I felt and I had to leave my job. I ended up on a lot of anxiety and sleep medications, but I still wasn’t coping. I didn’t even want to leave the house. It was a slippery slope; it wasn’t long before I met depression. No one could help me except God. And it was through this time that I really learned what it’s like to depend on Him. Psalm 23 became my go-to verse; it was like medicine flowing through my body. When I worshiped, it was like God was lifting me off the ground. It took me about a year to get through this and start riding my bike again. My wife, Fiona, and I went on a mission trip to Uganda, which I thought was our new calling. At the end of the trip, God clearly spoke to me, saying, ‘’This is not your mission field, yours is at home on your bike.” When I got home I decided to start racing again. I also started coaching. God blessed me with some great results and now I want to use this to let people know about His Son, Jesus. It would be great to tell you I’ve been completely healed from anxiety, but that’s not the case. It’s something I have to deal with most days, but ‘’I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). As for now, riding my bike is my medicine and a way to glorify God! TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Photo by Kevin Foss

Tuesday>>> spiritual fitness [OPEN WITH]

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Physical training is the process of applying stress and then allowing time to recover and grow stronger. Athletes push their bodies and minds in a relentless cycle, aimed at achieving a goal. But it will end. Paul’s letter to Timothy urges us to train our spirit. In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Spiritual training reveals that we don’t know it all and can’t do it ourselves. It breaks down our trust in ourselves and rebuilds it with trust in Christ. It’s the process of learning to live in God’s grace, knowing He’s in control and we don’t have to be. The grace Jesus gives us — the freedom of following the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives — is not something we can gain for ourselves. Where are you at in the process of spiritual training? Are you in a time of stress? If so, what aspect of self-reliance or self-worship is it breaking down? What does it look like to trust and follow Jesus? What spiritual nourishment do you need to turn your exhaustion into trust? Are you feeling recovered or stagnant? What step is God moving you toward to push you out of your comfort zone and into a new level of spiritual fitness?

Wednesday>>> endurance

Job 1

In an endurance race, the last finisher embodies what it means to endure. It’s not about their skill or even fitness. It just comes down to one thing — they refused to give up. Our world celebrates the winners, but maybe we’ve missed the significance of not giving up. Consider the book of Job. It was Job’s enduring belief — that God exists and deserves to be followed — that was tested and put on display. Job’s journey was dark and full of very real tragedy. And yet Job’s faith endured. He refused to stop believing in God or to accuse God of doing wrong.

Friday>>>

closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, heroes for hope the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured Hebrews 11 the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Athletes train with the hope of greater Consider Him who endured from sinners performance. It is only after the workout that such hostility against Himself, so that you they can see the benefit of enduring through may not grow weary or fainthearted.” — the challenge of training. Hebrews 12:1-3 Hebrews 11 defines faith as “confidence As spectators, we only see the in what we hope for and assurance about performance of an athlete, but the real work what we do not see.” It goes on to give happens in the daily grind of training. It’s in us a list of people who’ve had great faith. the seemingly insignificant moments that Whether they finished first or last, God has lead us toward or away from endurance. honored them as those who endured. Each What does it look like to have faith in your one of them has a story full of highs and lows, daily grind? joy and sorrow, messing up and getting it right. But their hope was proven worthwhile in Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

Thursday>>> not alone

Deuteronomy 31:6

In the daily grind of training, an athlete’s greatest challenge is to navigate the dialogue The promise is life now and forever. of their own thoughts. A coach standing by can offer direction, encouragement and “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn feedback. But they still leave you alone with your ear to my words. Do not let them out your thoughts. of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and God, the greatest coach ever, made a health to one’s whole body. Above all else, way for us to not be alone in the battle. After guard your heart, for everything you do flows He rose from the dead, Jesus prepared to from it.” — Proverbs 4:20-23 go back to His Father. He gave His disciples these words: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you … These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” — John 14:15-18, 25-27

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about spiritual fitness:

Galatians 5:13-26 & Psalm 23; 1 Timothy 4 & 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

You are not alone.

What words does the Spirit have to say “Therefore, since we are surrounded by to you today? Are they words of teaching or so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay words of comfort? aside every weight and sin which clings so

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Knowing their story and ours, Jesus made this statement in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Kevin Foss

Trailstoke Mountain Bike Ministries Director

SPORTS SPECTRUM

Monday>>>

daily devotionals

Trevor Hansen

coach and former professional wakeboarder

SPORTS SPECTRUM

christlike on tour

My family has always been on the water. My parents were both water skiers at Sea World and Cypress Gardens while we were growing up, and I was only 6 months old when I first put on skis. While growing up, the only thing more influential for me than water skiing was my family’s faith in God. My parents were excellent examples, leading us in the way of Christ. As a result, my own relationship with Christ was always something I treasured. I first discovered wakeboarding as it entered the world of water sports in the 1990s, and I immediately fell in love with it. It was only a few years later that I started winning world championships. And at age 15, I went pro. Traveling the world with a group of teenagers made for a pretty wily crew. During these years, I got caught up in the chase to win, to be accepted. I joined in with my peers, focusing much more on partying than my faith. I felt like even though I was partying along with them, I was still a better person because I had Jesus as my failsafe. Meanwhile, I wasn’t living the life He was calling me to. It took me a few years, and a personal awakening, to understand this. I finally realized that I was done with the heartache. I was done trying to find acceptance in money, titles and fame without ever being fulfilled. There was a gap in the joy I wanted to feel and the joy I was gaining through accomplishments. From that moment on, my aim was to be more Christlike on tour. This mindset shift didn’t change my results. I didn’t start winning more competitions, but I did have a lot more joy and peace in it all. I could compete and it didn’t matter what the results were. My circumstances used to determine my attitude and, in turn, affect everyone around me, but that wasn’t the case anymore. I now had the peace and joy of Christ because I knew all the glory would go to Him. My favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” I cling to this verse because this is exactly what I need to be reminded of daily. I need to trust in Him regardless of how I feel or what I desire. Though I no longer compete, I’m still on the water every day. I have a different vantage point now as a coach and pro tour driver. I’ve been training many of today’s top wakeboarders for many years now, most of whom have no faith background, and some of whom come from countries where church is not very prevalent. What keeps my faith fresh is sharing the love of God with these young athletes, praying they experience the richness of His grace as I have.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Photo courtesy of Trevor Hansen

Tuesday>>>

The boat is a great example of God.

A wakeboarder has to follow. We go wherever the boat goes. We hope the boat will guide us into the smooth water and away [OPEN WITH] John 10:10 from any dangerous obstacles. That’s why it’s Many people are hooked on the sport of always good to have an experienced boat wakeboarding; they truly cannot get enough driver who knows the waterway. of it. They subscribe to the magazines, study We all need someone to follow, someone the tricks, buy the videos, and routinely check who knows the way. The Bible says that God the websites. is able to be our trustworthy guide and help But I bet they weren’t hooked on it the first us to navigate through the hazards that life time they heard about it. Hearing about the throws at us. God knows the past, present sport might have made them want to try it, and future, and He is aware of the best path but it wasn’t until they strapped on the board for us to walk on. He created the path! and actually tried it that they fell in love with it. Not only did He create the path, He came “The thief comes only to steal and kill and down to earth and walked the path with us. destroy; I have come that they may have life, He did this in the form of Jesus. and have it to the full.” — John 10:10

the hype

Here, Jesus is promising an amazing thing. He’s not just promising a good life, but rather, the BEST life — life to the full! Just like with wakeboarding, you can’t experience this fullness by simply hearing about Jesus. You must strap in and find out what it’s all about.

Thursday>>> no rope, no hope

1 Timothy 2:5

I can sit here and tell you about my experiences following Christ, or you could hear all about it at church or youth group. But you’re just hearing about it. Jumping in and getting in the water is trusting Christ personally and getting to know Him.

Imagine this scenario: You are stoked to ride, you gather up all your gear, drive to the boat dock, launch the boat, idle out to the middle of the lake, fill up the fat sacks, finish your stretch, put on your vest, and strap on your boots ... only to realize you left your rope at home.

Christianity isn’t about following rules, it’s a relationship much like a deep friendship. It’s about being set free from all the worry, pain and sin that dominates us. It’s knowing I am loved so greatly. It’s knowing no one or thing can snatch me out of Jesus’ hands.

It’s quite possibly one of the worst feelings in the world. You have every other piece but no way to wakeboard because you’re missing the piece that brings the whole picture together — what connects you to the boat.

Wednesday>>> the boat

Psalm 32:8 Having access to a boat opens up a new realm of possibilities at the lake. You can go out on the lake not only to look at it, but drive to rope swings, go tubing, waterski, wakeboard or just relax on the water. Without a boat we wouldn’t have ever experienced watersports, or even be able to get off the shoreline! It gives us a way to enjoy the lake in new ways. The boat is responsible for three main things. First, it led to the creation of all watersports and makes them possible. Second, it guides and pulls us through the water. Finally, it’s a safe haven and a place of rest.

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Jesus Christ is the rope that ties us to God. Through Him, we’re able to follow that boat and experience all it has to offer. Jesus gave Himself up to give you an opportunity to follow Him toward a life of more adventure than you could plan. And what are we required to do with the rope? Nothing. We just have to hold on. Jesus doesn’t require a list of things for us to do. No five steps we have to accomplish to get to Heaven. It’s all about trusting and holding on. What happens when we let go? We sink. Until eventually the boat circles back around to get us. After we strap on the board and trust Christ as our Savior, we cannot be separated from Him. No matter how many times we lose faith, or become scared and drop the handle, He’s always there to pick us back up to continue riding alongside Him.

Friday>>>

the board

Hebrews 11:1 Every board rides a little different. Continuous rocker vs. 3-Stage … Stiff vs. Flex … Molded fins and bottom channels vs. removable fins and featureless. All of these elements make a board ride uniquely. Shape, speed, construction and size all play a huge role in how a board performs on the water. And while you might be able to imagine how a specific board might feel on the water, you won’t truly know how it feels until you put it on and ride it. Inevitably, you will feel more and more comfortable on a board the longer you ride it, and you become more certain and comfortable with how it reacts on the water. The more comfortable a rider gets on his/her board, the more tricks he/she can accomplish. This comfortability comes from being certain of all the properties of the board. You have to have faith in your board. But can you ever have full faith in a board if you don’t ride it? No. You have to spend countless hours and expend lots of effort in order to feel fully comfortable. You cannot have full faith without action. Jesus wants us to put our faith fully in Him. This means more than just acquiring knowledge or posting Bible verses on Instagram. It means stepping out in action, believing that Christ is going to show up and support you when you decide to take action. Our faith is put to the test when we allow Jesus to take control.

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about trusting god:

Psalm 37 & Isaiah 58:11; James 2 & Hebrews 10:24-25

Mark Heger Pro Wakeboard Tour Chaplain

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

changed by community

Skimboarding is a unique sport. Unlike surfing, you don’t have to wait for the right day or keep your eye out for the perfect wave. You can head down to the shore at anytime and spend all day on the board. When I was young, my dad bought me and my siblings bodyboards, which we used to run, jump and skim across our pool. Later on when I became a lifeguard, my fellow lifeguards and I would spend the dead hours while on patrol at the beach skimming across the sand on our bodyboards. When I moved from Port Shepstone to Cape Town, I met a few guys who were using really fancy, skinnyshaped boards to do exactly what I had been doing for many years. Though these types of boards weren’t made in South Africa at the time, I didn’t let that discourage me. I got in touch with a board maker in Portugal and I’ve been skimboarding ever since. I’ve learned, not just through skimboarding, that community is a very important part of life. While growing up, my family used to go to a Catholic church — that is, until my mom started bringing us to a different church. That was where I first learned about having a relationship with Jesus. I remember being in Sunday school and every time the teachers would ask who wanted to accept Jesus into their heart, I would raise my hand. I wanted to be sure I was saved. But as I grew up and moved out of my parents’ house, I realized that while my mom was a spiritual rock, my own relationship with God wasn’t as strong as I thought. That’s when I found a new church and got plugged into a strong Christian community. It was there that I felt challenged in my faith; I began growing as a Christ-follower and I started serving alongside my Christian community. And I’ve been growing ever since. On my own I wasn’t able to stay strong in my faith, but surrounded by a body of believers, I’ve experienced significant growth and a sense of belonging. I’ve found that hanging around other Christians is very inspirational. Watching them be on mission for Christ makes me want to do the same. I don’t know if there are a lot of Christian skimboarders. If there are, they seem to be more undercover. Because the skimming community is so small, it would be so cool if it was transformed by the Gospel. Then when new skimmers joined the community, we could be very missional in influencing our culture. I’m not always the most vocal person, but I want others to see my faith through my actions. And when opportunities for conversations about faith come up, I want to take full advantage of those, whether I’m at work, at church or at the beach. Christ and His community changed my life, I want others to experience that too.

Cameron Sharp 70 70

SPORTS SPECTRUM

n skimboarder South Africa TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Tuesday>>>

christ’s calling — to him [OPEN WITH] Matthew 11:28

Have you ever been invited to attend an event only to have friends continually sending you reminders, asking if you’re going? I have. I find myself missing out on the event because I choose not to respond immediately. Throughout the Gospels, we read Christ continually saying “come to Me.” In Matthew 11:28, Christ calls “all” to come to Him, so He can give them rest. How does that rest come about? How is life changed because of this call? Christ is calling to us because of God’s great love for us, in that He sent His Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9,13). Our life should be a living “thank you” for all that Christ has done; we are called to follow in the way Christ lived His life. The call to live for Christ isn’t easy, but when we come to know Christ, we get to stay in His love for all of eternity! We are told to press on toward that upward call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We do that by putting Christ in His proper place compared to everything else in life. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father but through Me.” Will you come to know Jesus, live out His calling in your life, and experience the love of Christ for all eternity? Don’t miss out on the best time of your life.

can turn; we have the ability to pray to Him, to experience Him and to take advantage of spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith to grow close to Him.

’

—

What is our purpose in life? In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus calls us to love God with all we have and to share His love with others. When we do this, God will work in and through us (1 Corinthians 12:6-7). We need to know Christ, and the main source for this is found in God’s Word. But it’s not the only place we

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

christ’s calling — to hope

1 Timothy 1:1

Finally, we have the Holy Spirit as a helper to teach and guide us in life (John 14:26; Galatians 5:25). Just as each athlete has a different gift, we have different gifts given to us by God, through the Holy Spirit, to help us fulfill our purpose in life (Exodus 31:1-5).

I hope this works out ... I hope I have a great game today … This is the way we think when we desire something specific, but have little control. When we think like this, we put our hope in the idea of hope, despite what we can see. When Christ calls us to a relationship with Him, our hope is now in a person: Jesus There is so much for us to have in Christ. Christ. It’s not in wishful thinking. Will you choose to take advantage of it all? When we take hold of Jesus as our hope — the anchor for our lives — He will transform us (Hebrews 6:18-19). One thing we all have in common is adversity in our lives. If we can endure through those tough christ s calling to help times by trusting in the promises of God, it Acts 17:26 brings about hope in us. And God’s hope never disappoints (Romans 5:3-5). It’s so easy I have heard it said, “There is great joy in to get distracted by things around us. Our hearing the Word of God, but greater joy in hope is not to be found in riches or comfort doing it.” We have no greater example than in life, but in God above (1 Timothy 6:17). Jesus, who humbled Himself and thought of others more than Himself. It’s our mission to God has also promised eternal life for have the same type of attitude (Mark 10:45). those who have placed their hope in Christ How can we start looking like Jesus? Jesus (Titus 1:1-2). When we have this eternal perspective, understanding that God is in We can begin by taking care of the body control, our desires will start to change and our of Christ. We wouldn’t neglect our own body worries will fade away. Now we have a different and Scripture tells us that those who are in kind of hope in life and we know all situations Christ make up His body (Romans 12:5). We will work out for our good (Romans 8:28). are called to help those in the body of Christ because a healthy body can meet the needs Without God, there is no hope. With of others better than a hurting one (Galatians God, you will never be disappointed. 6:10).

Thursday >>> — ’

Another way we can help is by sharing the Gospel. The disciples couldn’t stop talking about their experience with Jesus (Acts 4:20); Jesus commands us to do the same (Acts 1:8). There’s something powerful christ s calling to have in seeing the tangible needs of others met. Matthew 22:37-39 We are often called to meet the physical, financial, spiritual or the circumstantial needs The vast majority of athletes I meet tend in the world around us. to want the same thing. They want to find Do you believe God has placed you in purpose in their sport. Often they think that will identify who they are, helping them find a certain place and in a certain time for a out how to become better at their sport. They specific purpose for Him? He has, and there also desire to have someone come alongside is great joy in that. them in their journey. But Christ’s calling for our lives looks a little different.

Wednesday>>>

Friday>>>

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about god’s calling for your life:

Philippians 3 & 1 Peter 2:21; Philippians 2, Ephesians 2:12 & 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Eddie Taubensee

Director of Baseball Ministries at The Increase

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Joshua Van Roodt professional skateboarder in South Africa

SPORTS SPECTRUM

words that strengthen

Though my parents went to a church near our house, I was never really interested in going. Then one day, four years ago, my dad told me there was a concert at church, so I decided to check it out. What I found there was a really cool vibe with people my age in the front row, dancing and rejoicing. I joined in. When I heard the message of the lyrics — the truth of the Gospel — I gave my life to the Lord. One week later, my friend decided he wanted to start skateboarding, so I did too. And I have been ever since. But I was always hesitant to go to a skatepark because of the culture I knew to be there. They are often pretty brutal places, filled with violence, swearing and smoking. There’s also usually an entrance fee. When I was starting out in the sport, I didn’t want to pay the fee only to have people realize I couldn’t really skate. But I heard there was one skatepark that was different from the rest. Hearing the owner was a Christian, I wanted to check it out. Skating with Christians is one of the coolest things ever; I love the family I’ve found at the skatepark. The skating vibe here is much nicer than any other park. It’s great to be in an environment where, if someone isn’t landing a trick, we have Scripture to encourage them, to build each other up. Skating has become such a big part of my life. I now work at that skatepark, I teach others the sport I love, and I’m sponsored by a local skate shop. But most importantly, skateboarding has become a tool for me to share the Gospel with others. I have Scripture written all over my boards. My latest board boasts the message, “Jesus is Lord,” as well as Philippians 4:13. The easiest way for me to share the Gospel with other skaters is by answering their questions when they ask me what these messages mean. This is my trap to talk about Jesus! I remember talking to one guy at a park who was very discouraged. He kept saying, “I can’t do this trick.” To which I pointed to the Philippians 4:13 verse on my board and responded, “Look here at this verse, it says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’ There’s your evidence! You can do it!” Jesus used words to encourage and strengthen others, and we can do the same. Ever since that day, this guy has been skating better and better, with more confidence than before. A lot of people don’t want to enter into the sport of skateboarding because of the culture they associate with it. But if everyone was able to laugh, joke and encourage each other in this sort of family environment, I believe more people would enjoy the sport and progress in it. I believe the culture can be changed through the Gospel. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Tuesday>>>

This reminds me of the four best words I’ve heard from a coach motivating one of his leadership is influence nerve-stricken players before he entered the game: “I believe in you.” Somehow, those [OPEN WITH] Ezra 7:10 words removed the boulder of fear from his Have you ever spoken to someone who heart and helped him play the game with seemed to have all the best ideas in the more confidence. world, but never followed their own advice? In the same way, the Bible equips us with In his book, “The Maxwell Leadership words we can share with other believers Bible,” New York Times bestselling author to motivate us to keep walking firm in our and speaker John Maxwell stated, “No faith. Hebrews 10:23-24 says, “Let us hold matter who you are or what you do, you are unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He a leader, a person of influence. And to be a who promised is faithful. And let us consider truly effective leader, you must first be able to how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds.” lead yourself.” But what does it look like to lead ourselves daily in order to be an effective leader in our households and communities? One example is found in the life of Ezra. At a young age, Ezra studied and became a scholar and priest. A man respected by the political leaders of his day, he would help bring the Israelites back to their land after 70 years of captivity.

Friday>>>

god’s word is our perfect guide

Proverbs 30:5

Have you ever put in an address to a navigation system and were led to the wrong place? You’re not alone, it happens all the time. But when looking at a guide for life, we can rest in the perfect Word of God.

Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Also, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training If someone looked to you for in righteousness, so that the servant of God encouragement today, what would you tell may be thoroughly equipped for every good them? Before you continue on with your work.” day, find three verses that will urge a friend, coworker or family member “toward love and Using Scripture as the foundation of our good deeds.” lives provides us with direction, helps us when we make a mistake, gets us back on the right track, and leaves us fully prepared to complete the work we have been assigned.

Thursday >>> use your gifts for the team

1 Peter 4:10 So what was the secret to Ezra’s effectiveness? Ezra 7:10 gives us the answer: Every team that competes does so with “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to the goal of winning the championship. But a team can’t achieve its goal without each teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” individual using their gift in competition for By following Ezra’s example, we must the benefit of the team. Hall of Fame NFL make the decision to fully devote ourselves coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual to the daily study of God’s Word. Next, we commitment to a group effort — that is what must make a daily practice of applying what makes a team work, a company work, a we have read in front of others. Finally, we society work, a civilization work.” must teach to others what we have read and The same ideas work for Christ-followers practiced. as well. We all have special gifts that need to We must learn it, live it and teach it. Let’s be used for the benefit of the body of Christ. In Joshua’s devotional, he speaks about how import the truth before we export the truth. he uses his skills as a skateboarder to not only teach others how to skate, but to also share the Gospel with others.

For Joshua, the Scriptures help him not only teach others how to skate, but help him become an encourager to others. Let’s focus on reading God’s Word so that we too “may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about trusting god’s word:

Proverbs 6:20-22, Psalm 119:9-16, Psalm 33:4-6 & Jeremiah 17:7-8

Wednesday>>> tell me something good

He is exemplifying 1 Peter 4:10, which says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully In Joshua’s devotional, he talked about administering God’s grace in its various an interaction he had with a frustrated forms.” skateboarder who was about to quit. We should not become jealous of “He kept saying, ‘I can’t do this trick,’” Van Roodt recalled. But Van Roodt had a someone else’s gift, nor should we selfishly word of encouragement for the dejected use ours for our own gain. Our gifts are to skateboarder. Using Philippians 4:13, he be used to serve others. Whether you are a inspired the skateboarder to give the trick speaker, teacher, writer or athlete, all of our another try, and according to Van Roodt, gifts are given to us by God for His glory and “He’s been skating better and better, with to serve others. How will you use your gifts today? more confidence than before.”

Hebrews 10:23-24

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Justin Adams Sports Spectrum

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Levi Siver

professional windsurfer 74

SPORTS SPECTRUM

faced with a contrast

“Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” — John 17:3 I grew up with parents who were absolute ski fanatics. But as soon as the seasons changed, we were on the beach. While my parents were out on the waves windsurfing, my brother and I would be combing the beach, watching our parents. Today, that scene is reversed. Living in Maui — the mecca of windsurfing — we are out in the ocean every day. When we were in high school, my brother and I started getting recognized for our sport. Soon, opportunities opened up for us to travel and pursue this sport as a career. While my brother chose another path, I was all in. At age 15, I went pro and poured a lot of time and energy going to tradeshows and doing all the things that weren’t so fun, but necessary, to excel in my sport. While on the road, I was hit with the contrast of two different lives I could live: that of the world and that of God. You see, I grew up going to church with my family, but it was never as real to me until I saw the drastically different life lived outside Christian faith. At age 17, as I began to notice the contrast between the value system of the world and that of which I read in my Bible, I felt God’s conviction and calling for my life. At age 20, I got baptized. As I continually pursued Christ’s calling on my life, I started to find much more enjoyment in my sport. Suddenly, I was able to use my talent for His glory and purpose instead of my own. God has blessed me with incredible opportunities. When you engage in extreme sports, you tend to ride on such a high during competition. But if you do this for a long period of time, you begin to wonder what the purpose is. It can suddenly turn into a negative, self-interested experience. I’ve watched many athletes go through that, but as I started sharing my faith and giving God glory through windsurfing, I felt a great peace and purpose, knowing I was doing exactly what God has intended for me to do with my life. When you know you’re bringing God glory with what you’re doing, there’s a whole lot more reward in the end. For me, being out in nature is a connection to sanity. The quietness of nature and the beauty of all God has created is the picture of a greater meaning for life. It’s the reconnection I desperately need in this world. The more I connect with nature, the more I feel His presence. He’s been with me in the ocean for so many years, watching over me through some really serious situations and some tough performances. He’s blessed me in spite of my faults and I owe everything to Him. T O S U B S C R I B E T O S P O Photo R T S S P Eby C T RMichael U M : C A L L Clark/Red 8 6 6 - 8 2 1 - 2 9 7 Bull 1

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Tuesday>>> embrace or change? [OPEN WITH]

Matthew 5:14-16

immediately sought out his friend to tell him the good news: He had found the Messiah! But his friend was skeptical. Hearing about this man from Nazareth, Nathaniel said, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

Are you changing the culture around you, or is the culture changing you? Many times sport culture isn’t known for being a “light to the world” or a “city on a hill,” as Jesus calls His followers to be in Matthew 5:14-16. The pressures and pursuits within athletics can get intense, but thankfully, we have a God who’s greater than the temptations we face.

Until Jesus, it seemed like nothing good had come from Nazareth. It was known for a lack of moral and religious status. In addition to this city’s reputation, it was not the expected location for the coming of the Messiah. Yet one moment with Jesus and Nathaniel’s perception changed. After being in His presence, if only briefly, Nathaniel “No temptation has overtaken you except recognized the supernatural light and truth what is common to mankind. And God Jesus offered. is faithful; He will not let you be tempted How can you be an unignorable light to beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so those around you? Don’t let the reputation of that you can endure it.” — 1 Corinthians 10:13 your surroundings determine the impact you can have. You may think, “Yeah, but you don’t know what it’s like on my team!” You’re right, every circumstance is different. But the Bible tells us that Jesus was faced with every temptation and yet was still without sin (Hebrews 4:15). faithful perseverance He paved the way for us, not to be culture Colossians 1:1-14 adapters, but culture changers.

Thursday>>>

What would it look like to take a stand against the culture around you? What would it cost you? It may cost you a lot — comfort, status, maybe even some of your closest friends — but if/when others begin to adopt your style of living, they may just gain eternal life. Is that a risk you are willing to take?

Wednesday>>> be the unlikely

John 1:43-50

When Levi traveled the world, in pursuit of his dream to become a professional windsurfer, he came face to face with a stark contrast. Would he choose the lifestyle of the rich and famous, joining in with the excitement of the world’s ways? Or would he choose to stick out from the rest and follow the path Christ was calling him to? Levi choose the latter and because he did, God blessed him with more joy, peace and fulfillment in the sport he already loved.

Genesis 1:2-3

Darkness is the absence of light. There is only one way to get rid of darkness: to shine a greater force of light among it. You can’t escape darkness, and neither can you pretend it doesn’t exist. In order to conquer the dark, you must cause something to shine. The same is true with spiritual, emotional or relational darkness. If something is lacking true light, it needs a source powerful enough to bring about change. From the very beginning of time, God has been the ultimate source of light to the world. In Genesis, we see that the whole earth was covered in darkness — that is, until God created light. In the same way, He created us to be the light of the world, shining His truth to all the earth.

Trying to be a light on our own can be tiresome. We can’t do it from our own strength. Instead, we’re called to abide in Christ and remain in Him. When we do, we gain our strength from the true Source of light It may appear as if your efforts are in and as a result, we can’t help but illuminate vain. Often when we are faithfully obedient His glory to those around us. to Christ, we can become unaware of the His light gives life, and not only physical impact we may be having on those around us. You may think the choice you made to life to plants, trees, animals and people. say no to one temptation was a small, futile When we allow His light to penetrate our decision, but others are watching. That hearts, it gives eternal life to our souls. choice may challenge a non-believer to think about why you turned down that seemingly attractive opportunity. A fellow Christian may be encouraged to choose the same, or continue reading about challenged to consider how to refuse his or her area of struggle. living a life of contrast

Weekend>>> ...

In windsurfing, you have to work with the wind. Without the wind, the sport becomes impossible. But with the wind, you’re constantly being pulled. You have to use all your weight and strength to act against the forces of the wind.

Living the Christian life often requires us to go against the tide. There will always be pushes and pulls, tempting and trying us to let our guard down. But we must take up the armor of God, with which we have more than enough Good things may come from unlikely strength to stand against the schemes of places. You may be tempted to think, the world. “Nothing good can come from ____” — you “Therefore put on the full armor of God, fill in the blank. Is it your family? Your team? so that when the day of evil comes, you Your school? Your city? may be able to stand your ground, and In John 1, Jesus was recruiting His after you have done everything, to stand.” followers. When Jesus called Philip, he — Ephesians 6:13

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Friday>>>

overcoming the darkness

2 Corinthians 4-5 & Psalm 119:105; John 15 & Daniel 12:3

Becky York The Increase

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Chris R idener 76 76

SPORTS SPECTRUM

bmx stunt rider

an unexpected turn

“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” — Proverbs 21:21 There seems to be no time in my life when I was not involved in some form of BMX. In the early 1980s, I was introduced to flatland freestyle — I was hooked! I rode my bike day and night, learning new tricks and trying to perfect my skills. I was chasing one dream: to be a sponsored rider. This dream would fade as quickly as my youth. Don’t get me wrong, BMX remained in my life, but more as a hobby. What never faded in my life was my faith in God. I say this proudly and without shame. I read the Bible daily and I pray daily. However, I am not perfect and will never claim to be perfect. What I can tell you is that I always let the Lord lead, and I follow. For some, this can be a scary thing. Why? Because you never know what path you will go down. It’s important to remember one thing: You have to have faith. I have had many highs and lows in my life, but through each of those trials and tests, God has never let me down. He’s never failed me. One way I can testify to this is with my organization, Flatmonkey BMX. I had plans to ride flatland the rest of my life as a hobby; God had other plans for me. Ten years ago, while riding in a parking lot for fun, I got the opportunity to tour with some large names in Christian entertainment. I was to be the volunteer opener for them. I found true salvation during that trip. I recommitted my life to the Lord and a new journey for my life began. When I arrived back home to Texas, I started working on Flatmonkey BMX — a faith-based flatland BMX stunt show for kids and teens. Over the past 10 years, this has allowed me to travel the United States and meet many great people, artists and churches, and I’ve been able to work with many sponsors. My mother always raised me to know that no matter what we do in our lives, we can never outgive the Lord. Proverbs 30:8-9 states, “Don’t make me either rich or poor; just give me what I need for each day. For if I have too much, I might reject You. If I am poor, I might steal and disgrace the name of God.” By honoring God’s grace and blessings, He has allowed me to entertain and outreach to more than 300,000 people over the course of a decade. My life and BMX career is growing, but more importantly, God continues to guide me. I see His perfection and work in others. I see the blessing He provides for so many when they choose to follow and allow Him to lead. TO SUBSCRIBE TO SPORTS SPECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Tuesday>>>

Don’t accept your present state in life as final, because it is just that, a state. Don’t tapping into your potential be satisfied with your last accomplishment, because there are many accomplishments yet [OPEN WITH] 1 Timothy 4:14 to be perfected. Since you are full of potential, Suppose Steve Jobs had died before he you should not be the same person next year developed and started the Apple computer that you are this year. company. Suppose Michael Jackson had died Never accept success as a lifestyle. It is but before he wrote “Thriller!” Suppose Moses had died before he saw the burning bush. a phase. Never accept an accomplishment as What if Paul died before he met Jesus on the end. It is but a mark in the process. the Damascus Road? What if Abraham died before Isaac was born? How different the pages of Scripture and history would be! Can you imagine how many great works of art, music and literature are buried in the graveyard near your house? Can you imagine how many solutions to the problems we face today are buried with someone you knew? People die without getting out their full potential. They fail to use all that was stored in them for the benefit of the world. I wonder what would have happened if your father had died before you were conceived or your mother before you were born. What would the world have lost if you had not been born? What will the world lack because you fail to live out your potential? What do you believe is the reason for your birth? What would the world miss out on if you die without reaching your full potential?

Thursday>>> greater is within me

1 John 5:1-5

Friday>>>

cooperate with the power source

John 14:16-17

God’s potential is far greater than anything we can ask Him to do. Everything that is visible came out of God. Everything that we have yet to see is still within Him. Because we came out of God, that same potential is available to us. Are you connecting? Is the Holy Spirit present in your life? Are you flowing in a consistent, empowering relationship that undergirds your every thought, dream and plan? Or are you trying to do great things without the power of the Spirit?

“Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated We may see a skyscraper or a space and overcome them [the agents of the shuttle or a fancy computer and say, “That’s antichrist], because He who lives in you something else. Man is really working here.” is greater [mightier] than he who is in the But the Spirit says, “That’s nothing compared world.” — 1 John 4:4 (AMP) to what man could do. That’s what man is doing without Me. I want you to do something Because you are God’s offspring, there people cannot do unless they have Me. are many selves within you that lie dormant, I want you to build people. I have the stuff untapped and unused. Your primary problem to empower you to help people build new is that you do not think like God does. He is foundations and open new windows through always looking for what is not yet visible. He which to see life. I want to give you a view expects to find inside each person and thing from the top of life so you can see the way He created more than what is evident on the God sees.” outside.

Wow! What power! The power’s there. On the other hand, man is often satisfied It’s up to you on whether you make the with what he has. Or, if he is not satisfied, he connection that releases the power. thinks there is nothing better to live for. Thus, he settles for what he has. Therein lies the exposing your potential tragedy of life. The minute we begin to settle 2 Corinthians 4:18 down and be satisfied with what we have, we lose the possibility of revealing what is really continue reading about “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, inside us. jesus as your power source but on what is unseen. For what is seen is Too often we die without exploring John 15 & Genesis 2:15; temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” the gifts, abilities and successes that lay — 2 Corinthians 4:18 1 John 4-5 & John 1:3 hidden within us. Our thoughts, ideas and possibilities are not used. We fail to realize Potential is always present, waiting to be exposed. It demands that you never settle for the vast potential that is stored within us. We are like batteries in a radio that is never what you have accomplished. played — our potential is wasted. One of the greatest enemies of your Let’s not waste. Let’s seek greater. potential is success. God wants you to maximize the potential He has given to you. You are not yet what you are supposed to be, though you may be pleased with what you now are.

Wednesday>>>

Weekend>>> ...

Ted Winsley Philadelphia Eagles Chaplain

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Shaun Murray professional wakeboarder

setting goals

My brothers and I were always doing dangerous and goofy things. We spent a lot of time on the lakes in the Midwest, water skiing and eventually wakeboarding (which was first called skiboarding). When my older brother and I moved to Florida for college, I got a job working at a ski school, where I spent most of my time coaching and riding. One day, a guy approached me and introduced himself as the editor of Wakeboard Magazine. He told me I should try entering the competition down the street. I hadn’t competed much until that point, but I went for it. After that day, he said I should try riding on the pro tour. That brought me to tour a number of different cities, qualify for the pro tour finals in Portland where I made the top three, and land my first sponsor, Hyperlite. From that moment on, I thought, “Maybe I can give this a shot!” But as I went back to school, I realized wakeboarding was distracting me from school, and school was distracting me from wakeboarding. I talked with my dad about going pro, which meant taking a break from school. We sat down and wrote down some goals; if I didn’t reach those goals by next semester, I would go back to school. Well, I exceeded those goals and made more, only to exceed those as well. When I got into the wakeboard scene, I found myself involved with the party scene. My faith in God started to struggle. I began doubting the existence of Him, asking questions like, “How could a good God create a world with so much pain?” Though I wrestled with these questions, I still attended church, and even played guitar on the worship team, simply because I love playing music. But one day, after we played and I sat down in the congregation, God got my attention. “How can you lead these people in worship when you have all these other things in your life that are breaking communication between Me and you?” I couldn’t ignore His voice. As I left church that day, I set more goals for myself: to walk away from those things and to read the whole Bible. I took my time reading it, and after two years, I had read the whole book. Then I started again. It’s not just about the Word of God, it’s about spending time with Him, knowing each morning I’m going to sit down and have a hangout session with God. This has made a huge difference in my life; it’s given me a new perspective to take into each day. Lately, I’ve been reading the amazing journey of the nation of Israel, which shows humanity continually walking away from God. Yet God brings them back by His grace alone. These people are His beloved, chosen people. He doesn’t choose the superstars, He usually chooses the underdogs. He chose people who were fighting sin and doubt and made them instrumental for His purposes. He chooses people like me. AP Photo/Chris Polk

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SPORTS SPECTRUM

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Tuesday>>>

new tricks they’ve learned or are working on, obstacles in your way to inhibit growth, but the new equipment they’re going to buy, Jesus is going to pull you toward Himself. the new sponsors that are talking to them, the vest etc. But talking doesn’t get them anywhere. If anything, it only conforms them to the [OPEN WITH] Psalm 119:105 stereotype that is so prevalent in the wake In most states, the law doesn’t require you culture. progression session to wear a life vest while you ride on water. You Proverbs 19:20 We should be more than just talkers, we can legally ride without one as long as there is a U.S. Coast Guard vest in the boat for you. should be doers. The Bible lets us know that How do you get better at wakeboarding it’s not our knowledge, our kindness or our So why do we wear them? For safety. If number of quiet times that bring us closer to (or at any sport for that matter)? You seek out anything bad ever happened while we were God. Our faith brings us into relationship with instruction form someone better than you: riding, the vest will help us to float and keep Jesus. If our faith is genuine, it will begin to a coach, a buddy, the “Detention Videos” by Shaun Murray, etc. You practice the transform our lives and affect our actions. us near the surface. basics and build upon a solid foundation of This life transformation (led by faith) is fundamentals and repetition: proper edging, Also, it’s easier. Have you ever tried to keep what sets us apart from both the Pharisees bent knees, handle placement, weight your head above water without a vest while strapped into a wakeboard? It’s miserable! (the know-it-alls) and the Gentiles (the really distribution, etc. You put in time and energy, You’re constantly treading water and gasping nice people). Our faith should compel us to perfecting the tricks you have and pushing for breath. There’s no time to relax or rest, act, and our actions should cause our faith yourself to attempt new tricks when you are because if you stop swimming you will quickly to grow, thus making us both believers and ready to tackle a new challenge.

Friday>>>

go under.

doers of the Gospel.

Finally, the vest keeps us floating and allows us to rest on top of the water. It also helps the boat driver to find their way back to us quicker.

Thursday>>>

Similarly, the Bible is our life vest. It directs our path and keeps us connected to God. It’s meant to teach us how to navigate and keep us from flailing aimlessly through life. It’s both our safety blanket and our sword. It keeps our head above the waves and allows us to rest and relax in God’s presence, and it helps us to vanquish the lies of the world, the flesh and the devil.

When you become a wakeboarder and you find your identity as a wakeboarder, you inevitably want to become a better wakeboarder and learn more about the sport you love. The same thing is true for our walk catching edges with Christ. Once you become a Christian, you put your faith in Jesus, and you realize James 1:2-3 the love and grace He’s given you, you Learning tricks on the wakeboard, will inevitably want to become a stronger wakeskate and wakesurf can take a lot of Christian and grow more in the relationship time and effort. And inevitably, this means you now have. falling. Thank God we fall on water! But how? Just like in wakeboarding, you need three things: instruction, strong Even from the first time you get up on a wakeboard, you can guarantee that an foundation and practice. Find someone who “edge-catch” is in your near future. And knows more than you or has battled the while these hard falls might knock the wind same struggles as you, and learn from them. out of us, put water under our eyelids, and Practice the basics of reading your Bible, put an abrupt end to our day of riding, they praying and talking about your faith.

Without it we would not have direction. We would inevitably struggle through life, we would not experience the peace and comfort of the Lord, and we would not have the tools almost always have us coming back for more. And continue to push yourself to learn Falling is just a part of learning, and if you to fight against the lies of the world. aren’t falling, you will find it very difficult to more, take bigger steps of faith, and gain confidence in the knowledge and faith that progress in your skills. Do you use your life vest? you practice.

Wednesday>>> strapping in

James 2:24,26 Even though you’ve heard about wakeboarding, you have all the equipment, you bought $100K boat, and you talk-thetalk, that doesn’t make you a “wakeboarder.” If you want to fully experience the joy that comes from wakeboarding, you cannot simply collect all the gear that comes with the sport, you have to actually go do it! Then you will not only get to experience joy, but you will also get to test and approve of the many intricacies of the sport.

Falling is a vital part of the learning process, both in wakeboarding and in our walk with Jesus. No one is perfect before they begin walking with Jesus. We would be fools to believe we would magically become perfect when we begin. As our lives transform, we’re inevitably going to fail. We will slip back into bad habits, addictions and sins. Does that mean we aren’t really saved? No. Does it mean our faith isn’t real? No. Does it mean Jesus isn’t strong enough to keep the evil away? No. It simply means we are growing and going through growing pains.

As we grow stronger in our faith, we become more useful to the Kingdom of Wake sports are saturated with “talkers” God. We also become more threatening and — people who are always talking about the dangerous to Satan. Satan is going to throw WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Weekend>>>

...continue reading about following god’s path for life: Hebrews 4 & Romans 15:4; Ephesians 6 & Romans 12:2

Mark Heger Pro Wakeboard Tour Chaplain

SPORTS SPECTRUM

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Monday>>>

Matt Manzari professional wakeskater and motivational speaker

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SPORTS SPECTRUM

an unfair god

We serve an unfair God. Hold on — before you discard anything else I’m about to say, let me explain. In a fair world, things happen in cause and effect. If you touch a hot stove, your hand will burn. You’re most likely not going to blame God for that one, that was all your doing. You expect to be burned in this situation. It’s not His fault, it’s yours. In a fair world, what should happen does happen. What is fairness? The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). In a fair world, if we got what we deserved, we wouldn’t be living the life we’ve been given. But God. Because of God, we experience His grace and salvation despite what our sinful selves deserve. Why is it that I survived when the best doctors in Central Florida — at the only level one trauma center — who are barely ever wrong, said, “Not if, but when your kidneys fail…” They were sure I had brain damage. They were sure I had heart damage. They were sure my arms were coming off. They were sure they were keeping me comfortable until I died. Why were the best doctors wrong again and again? Because we serve an unfair God who, for unmerited reason, steps into this world and says, “This is still My world, these are still My people, and I have the last say.” This is the God we serve. One who has given us everything through His Word — all the tools we need — to lay our challenges at the cross. And at the end, He brings full restoration to everything. Thank goodness we don’t serve a fair God! I’m often asked to speak at these big churches and leadership conferences and it’s so overwhelming. Who am I? I’m just a kid who loved to do a sport — one nobody knows about — and then I got electrocuted. Now I’m being asked to speak to these leaders and titans in these industries. I know I should be learning from them, not them from me. It’s been a process of learning to say, “God, I can’t but You can. I’m just going to tell these people what You’ve done in my life. I just hope I can reach one.” It’s a really humbling experience. I don’t know what I’m doing; I don’t know how to run a ministry. But I do know we serve an incredible God who has done some incredible things in my life, and I want to share that with the world. Even when I think I’ve led a pretty bold, crazy lifestyle as an action sport athlete, it takes more guts to be bold and go for it in my faith walk. We need to take these leaps of faith to say, “OK God, I can’t but You can. I just need to trust You.” For more on Matt’s story of competing, survival, ministry and redemption, T O S U B S C R I B Esee T O S Ppage O R T S S P18. ECTRUM: CALL 866-821-2971

Tuesday>>>

Friday>>>

you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” If God is our God and we are walking take captive your thoughts a humbling thought in His will, trusting in His plan, we will not be dismayed. There won’t be room for fear [OPEN WITH] 2 Corinthians 10:5 1 Peter 5:6-7 in our lives; God’s strength will become our When we take our thoughts and replace Discovering how to manage your thinking own. This is only one of the many promises them with God’s, we’re sure to experience is an extremely valuable skill to develop. He gives. a deeper sense of humility growing within Especially as Christ-followers, we need to Spending consistent and faithful time in us. When we get our eyes off our own be alert and aware of the fact that we are under constant attack from the enemy, Satan, God’s Word uncovers the lies we are listening circumstances and onto the greater vision whose main goal is to distract us from the to. It shows us where our thinking is not lining and eternal purpose of God, suddenly what truths and promises of God. While many of us up with the truth we hear directly from our we might have been putting our hope and rationalize our misery or frustration with the Almighty Creator. Without this tool, we have confidence in can seem insignificant, futile, circumstances surrounding us, the battle we nothing but empty self-talk to combat the lies fleeting. need to focus on fighting is the one within our the enemy feeds us daily. In today’s world, we are often told that own hearts and minds. If there is a specific lie you’ve been if we are busy, stressed or over-achieving, Matt has faced more challenges and listening to — believing as truth for your then we are doing the right thing. More is struggles in his life than most do in a lifetime. life — take it to God. Confess it and replace better. Peace won’t come until you are able Many who experience such traumatic events it with an unconditional, unending promise to surround yourself with things, money and spend the rest of their life suffering from fear, of God. Go to His Word and fill your mind accomplishments. These are lies straight from the enemy; these are not from God. In fact, depression or self-pity, but Matt’s story is with truth! often throughout the Bible we are told to rest different. Out of the tragedy, Matt discovered in God’s promises and to trust in His timing. a newfound hope, purpose and calling. When the future seemed impossibly bleak, he “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and trusted God to fight the battle. the weapon of prayer wait patiently for Him to act.” — Psalm 37:7 2 Corinthians 10:2-4 In 2 Corinthians 10:5, the Apostle Paul Notice this passage doesn’t tell us to work encourages the Church to take every thought Talk to God. If anxiety, fear or worry harder; it doesn’t require us to sacrifice more captive to the obedience of Christ — not the occasional thought, every thought. Don’t let riddles your heart, take it to God. He wants of our time and energy. Instead we’re told to your imagination, worries, fears or insecurities to hear from you. He knows your heart. In wait — something our instant-gratification get the best of you. God has a much greater Jeremiah 17:10, He tells us that He searches culture just hates to do. What are we waiting purpose and plan for you, one you may not our hearts and examines our minds. He for? For Him to act. be able to visualize in the immediate moment. knows a thought before it takes place in our Humble yourself and let God lead your minds. He knows how we will react; He is not life so you may experience the peace and You might not have much control over surprised by anything. presence He offers. your circumstances today, but you do have If you don’t know where to start, take control over your thoughts. Take them captive and live in the peace and joy Christ offers an example from His Word. There are thousands of excerpts, psalms and prayers through His Holy Spirit. from Scripture we can pray over our own continue reading about lives. Maybe the first we should start with is David’s prayer from Psalm 139:23-24: taking your thoughts captive

Thursday>>>

Wednesday>>> god’s word is truth

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead How is it that we are so easily swayed by me in the way everlasting.” the fears of this world? If we truly believe in the Sit down with your Bible and journal promises of God, we have absolutely nothing to worry about! Yet our world, even among today. Take time to quiet your heart and find the Christian community, is plagued by almost a psalm that applies to your situation right constant anxiety. What is the antidote for this now. Rewrite the psalmist’s word in your own. Maybe it will look something like this: vicious cycle we seem to be trapped in?

John 17:17

“Heavenly Father, show me the ways in Dive into the source of all truth. God’s which I’m not fully believing your promises. Word is full of hope-filled promises. Teach me how to obey Your Word and help In Isaiah 41:10 we read, “So do not fear, me to leave behind any sin that I’ve been for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I unknowingly clinging to. I want to follow You, am your God. I will strengthen you and help Lord. Would You lead me?”

WEB SITE: www.sportsspectrum.com

Weekend>>> ...

Philippians 4 & Matthew 11:25-30; Philippians 2 & Romans 12:21

Becky York The Increase

SPORTS SPECTRUM

daily devotionals

Monday>>>

Andre w Carruthers world longboard tour chaplain

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SPORTS SPECTRUM

dust

“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” — Psalm 103:14 Professional athletes are valued because they excel in one area of their lives. It may be throwing, catching, tackling or playmaking. In the case of the surf athletes I work amongst, it’s catching and riding waves well enough to receive a high score. The surfer who can partner with and ride the two highest-scoring waves wins the heat, and hopefully the event. An athlete’s life is defined and valued by what they do. If they do this one thing well, often sponsorship, prize money, accolades and titles follow. It’s a discipline of doing. This life of works or activities and achievement to garner worth and value is not just contained in the realm of professional sports. It is, however, amplified there. Once an athlete can no longer do what they have derived achievement from, they are dropped by sponsors and fall out of the highest echelons of the sport. They retire or are washed up. The rise of athletes is often well documented, but the fall not so much — unless it’s dramatic, marked by indiscretions and failings. These failings are often overshadowed by athletic success. It is here, into the minefield of worth and value — rising and falling careers — that I as the chaplain come and quietly speak of value derived from being rather than doing. I love the verse above because it tells us that God remembers that we are dust. He alone gathered up the dust of the earth and formed the first man. He gave him a name, a purpose, community and communion with Himself. This means value was derived from who created him, not from what he (the man) created or accomplished. It is this constant, inescapable fact that I whisper, quietly and consistently, to the athletes: “The catching and riding of waves does not define you, it’s just something you do. You are valued, loved and precious because of who you are — a child of God, His creation, made in His image.” Most of the people in athletes’ lives are there to invest in their sporting success. I’m not. Sure I celebrate and commiserate with them, empathising with their highs and lows. However, I’m invested in who they are and who they can become as a whole person: body, mind and spirit. How does this person reflect the nature of the One who created them and how does the value and sense of purpose derived from that grow in their lives? Careers rise and fall, winners are crowned each year, contests are won and lost. But there is only one you — the you made in God’s image, made to reflect something unique of His character. If you search for value in what you do, you are drawing from an empty well. If you find value in the One who created you, then the well is replaced by a constant stream of living water that refreshes your soul.

T O S U B S C R I B E T O S P O R T S S P E C T R U M : C APhoto L L 8 6 6 -by 8 2 1Andrew -2971

Carruthers

Tuesday>>> contrasting value [OPEN WITH]

1 Corinthians 15:45-47

We love to celebrate successful athletes we are fans and followers of. Everyone loves a winner. However, the accolades and adoration soon fade if our athlete falls or fails, whether that be because they cease to win or have a moral and emotional loss in judgement. Some athletes are so defined by this worth in achievement that life falls apart should they fail in competition. Ronda Rousey and Michael Phelps, both eminently successful athletes, revealed that they contemplated suicide and battled with mental health after suffering losses in competition. When our worth is so bound up in achieving, we fall hard when we cease to succeed. This worth-based belonging is like the dust of the earth — it comes and goes, blown here and there by the wind. “As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” — (Psalm 103:15-16) This is the legacy of the man of dust. The man of Heaven leaves us a different legacy — an eternal one that does not fade or fail. I pray you will search for where your value and worth lie. Are you bound to this earth, struggling to find worth in the dust, or are you looking Heavenward? We need to recognize that we are prone to search the dust for our belonging rather than looking to God.

Wednesday>>> image bearer

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 Many athletes are sponsored by companies as brand ambassadors. They become a person who embodies some part of the values and aspirations of that company. They are an image bearer; the values they espouse should mirror the values of the company. The endorsement of an athlete or a sporting code is serious business for companies. Here in Corinthians, we see that we too are image bearers. In verse 49, we read that we are born into the image of the man of dust, but we shall bear the image of the Man of Heaven (Jesus). This change of sponsor, or change of covering company, should reflect a change of

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values and direction in life. This is a complete direction change, from being bound to the earth to being headed for Heaven. Is it any wonder this is best communicated as being born again (John 3)? Our view and outlook should change from looking down at our feet in the dust — looking to ourselves and our achievements — to gazing to Heaven, beholding Him who saves and gives us worth. As image bearers, who and what do we reflect in our lives? Are we covered in dust or are we looking to Heaven? I pray that you will reflect God’s image in your life, not by doing better things but by fixing your gaze Heavenward to Him.

Thursday>>> ttraining

Friday>>> unmerited gift

Ephesians 2:8-9

In surf sports, the uncontrollable element is always the waves. Nature is not an even playing field; waves come and go. I have seen surfers just sit and wait for a wave, only to have nothing appear. The waves travel thousands of miles across the ocean and the surfer competes on this constantly moving and changing arena for a few seconds. Most surfers agree that waves are a gift. We can plot their journey, but unless it’s in an artificial environment, we can not make them appear. In Ephesians, we are told grace is the gift of God. Much like the waves, it arrives unmerited, unearned. We cannot make grace appear; we cannot attract it to ourselves. Grace is not of our own doing, it is the gift of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50

There is a purpose in this gracious gift: that none may boast. It’s not as a result of Athletes train their bodies over and over to works. Grace is not a reward for things done excel at the movements required to achieve or merit earned. It just is what it is: a gift. success. They build strength and flexibility to We are graciously granted entry to His perform at peak levels. However, fitness fades and eventually even the fittest of individuals Kingdom by what He did through Jesus. The will die. This is an inescapable truth of life. Heavenly perspective is this view that He We hold it at bay through fitness, just like alone is the great “I AM” and we should quit athletes prolong careers via good nutrition applying for His job. No matter how fit, rich, successful or good we are, we need His grace. and training, but the end always comes. Many athletes are prepared for success and the career they hope for. Not many prepare for the end of that career. Either through injury or retirement, many lose their way after the applause fades. They have trained hard for the temporary goal but missed the eternal. They have strengthened the body but not the soul. Flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. No medals or titles, no level of peak performance or extreme physical fitness, qualify you for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. So how does one gain entry? By looking upward. Not to what we have done, but to what Jesus has done for us. By accepting His achievement on the cross, not pointing to our achievements in the dust. By asking for forgiveness and receiving grace. Do you train your soul and mind to look to Jesus as much as you train your body for peak performance? I pray that your priority might be renewed and reinvigorated to embark on a good discipline of spiritual training, prayer, study, repentance and grace.

I pray that grace and its work in your life may grow, permeating your being and your thinking. I pray your worldview may change to one of Heaven and not of dust. I pray you grow more each day in acceptance of God’s great and gracious gift through Jesus.

Weekend>>> ...continue reading about god’s grace:

John 3 & 2 Corinthians 12:8-9; John 4 & Romans 3:20-24

Andre w Carruthers World Longboard Tour Chaplain

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“I think it’s really important for people to understand who God is, what He says about us, and what He says about our sin. You have to turn from your old ways, from your old self. It’s not going to be perfect, but you have to turn and focus your eyes back on Him.” — Matthew Slater, New England Patriots

N A C ST U YO CHRI LLY OUR PROBLEM, A W N GOD’S SOLUTION O O N K PERS By Randy Alcorn

1. “God created mankind in His own image … God saw all that He had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:27, 31).

God made human beings with personal and relational qualities like His own (Genesis 1:26). But something went terribly wrong.

2. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Our sins against a good and holy God have broken our relationship with Him (Isaiah 59:2).

3. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

When humankind chose to rebel against God, sin poisoned the world. People lost their relationship with God, and with it their happiness. But God loved us so much He sent us Jesus, fully God and fully man, to deliver us from death and give us life (John 3:16).

4. “God demonstrates His own love toward us … while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for our sins. He rose from the grave, conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

5. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). God’s greatest gift is a restored relationship with Himself, delivering us from hell and granting us entry into Heaven (John 3:36). This gift depends not on our merit but solely on Christ’s work of grace for us on the cross (Titus 3:5).

6. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be

saved” (Romans 10:9). We must admit our wrongdoing, and ask God’s forgiveness: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Then we are to affirm to others that the resurrected Jesus is our Lord.

7. “Whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over

from death to life” (John 5:24). The life we long for is freely offered to us in Christ. We can believe His promise and call on Him to save us, humbly accepting His gift of eternal life: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

If you believe Jesus Christ loves you, and would like to ask Him to forgive you and receive salvation, pray this prayer with me. It’s as simple as A-B-C: Admit, Believe, Confess.

“Dear God, I ADMIT that I’m a sinner and the penalty of my sin is death. I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that He died and rose from the dead for my sin. And I CONFESS Jesus as my Savior. Please forgive me. I repent of my sin and surrender my life to You. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen." — Miles McPherson, senior pastor and former NFL player 3

If you’ve said this prayer text “Surrender” to 52525 to receive the next steps in your walk with God. SPORTS SPECTRUM

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THANK YOU Thank you to the ACTS Network (www.actionsportsministry.org) for making this magazine possible. This global network of action sports ministries — existing to make disciples of Jesus in the world action sport community — tapped its resources to provide stories, photos, contacts and ideas for this issue. Below are the ministries which directly contributed:

CHRISTIAN SKATERS Christian Skaters exists to connect local skate communities to Jesus. We are a global family of skateboarders who are dedicated to living out our faith, sharing the hope we have in Jesus Christ and discipling skaters in God’s Word. www.christianskaters.com CHRISTIAN SURFERS The MISSION of Christian Surfers is to be a ministry TO surfers and a mission FOR surfers to impact the beach and beyond with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The VISION of Christian Surfers is that every surfer and every surfing community will have the opportunity to experience and follow Jesus Christ. www.christiansurfers.com FLATMONKEY BMX Flatmonkey BMX Flatland and Pro Scooter Stunt Shows is a faith-based BMX outreach. Our main focus is to provide family entertainment in a variety of settings and to provide quality outreach to schools, churches and youth events. www.flatmonkeybmx.com INSPIRED2BECOME Our mission is to focus on specific groups of young people (through rollerblading, skateboarding and skimboarding) who many times get overlooked and to inspire them through role modelling, relationship building, coaching, therapy, mentoring life skills and creating new opportunities in Cape Town, South Africa. Our vision is to inspire young people to reach their full potential. www.inspired2become.org JSAW JSAW is an action sports ministry making riders into disciples. We integrate mentoring relationships, service projects and small group Bible studies with action sports activities, camps, trips and contests both locally and worldwide. www.jsaw.org NARROW PATH MEDIA Narrow Path Media is a collective of images, videos, writings and blogs as seen through the lens of Andrew Carruthers. This website is a fundraising vehicle for Carruthers — World Longboard Tour Chaplain. This ministry is completely funded by donations and sales. www.narrowpathmedia.com.au PANICREV PanicREV is Faith, Family and Motocross. We are a movement, empowering and equipping the motocross community to know Jesus and to walk strong and bold in their faith. www.panicrev.org

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SNOWBOARDERS AND SKIERS FOR CHRIST Snowboarders & Skiers for Christ USA exists to bridge the ski/ snowboard culture to Jesus, partnering with the local Church. SFC’s vision is to be the light of Jesus in the ski/snowboard culture. SFC USA leaders believe God’s Word calls them to find their identity in Jesus, to engage those within their culture through genuine, loving relationships and to do selfless acts for others as they share the Gospel message. www.sfcusa.org SOLID ROCK CLIMBERS FOR CHRIST Solid Rock Climbers for Christ is a community of climbers, many of whom are followers of Christ that are interacting with principles of God found in the Bible. What does climbing have to do with one’s religious views? Not much or everything! We love to climb and as we do, we want to honor the God we serve and be a witness of Him. www.srcfc.org TRAILSTOKE MOUNTAIN BIKE MINISTRIES Trailstoke aims to serve and expand the mountain bike community with the desire to see individuals that are healthy, and full of life. www.trailstoke.org WAKEWELL WakeWell’s VISION is to bring the living water of Jesus to the wakeboarding, wakeskating and wakesurfing culture. Our MISSION is to bridge the wake culture to Jesus Christ, partnering with the local Church. www.wakewell.org

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Photo by Daniel Looman