MLC Athletic Philosophy 7.14.26

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE ATHLETICS KNIGHTS

PURPOSE

Built for Service Martin Luther College Athletics serves as an integral arm of the college's mission, encouraging and enhancing the training of servant-leaders for public ministry.

MISSION

Pursue Excellence

Martin Luther College Athletics seeks to glorify God by pursuing excellence in competitive NCAA Division III athletic experiences, fostering growth in qualities for public ministry.

VISION

Called to Serve

Martin Luther College student-athletes are built for service, called to serve the one true God in his kingdom as redeemed, dearly loved, holy children of God, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

CORE VALUES

We Pursue Excellence 1

FAITH

We pursue excellence by keeping Christ’s love for us at the center of who we are and what we do, grounding us in our identity as redeemed children of God, rooted in Christ, confident in his grace, and devoted to glorifying him through love and service to others.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

2

EFFORT

We pursue excellence in all opportunities to prepare and compete, not for personal gain, but to honor and glorify God by maximizing the gifts and abilities with which he has blessed us.

Colossians 3:23-24 – “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.”

3

CHARACTER

We pursue excellence by preparing our students for lives of Christian service, developing growth in wisdom, humility, maturity, and perseverance as they seek to honor Christ through faithful leadership in their vocations within public ministry, in their homes, and in their communities.

Philippians 2:3-5 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

MLC ATHLETICS

e c i v r e S r o f t l i u B

CORE ELEMENTS YOU: KNIGHTED FOR MINISTRY We operate in harmony with the mission of Martin Luther College, grounding all activities and conduct in faith and service to Christ.

We maintain a strong coaching staff in each sport that combines a love for their sport with a clear gospel ministry focus, understanding the unique role of athletics at MLC. We foster an athletic department culture that seeks out and humbly welcomes honest feedback from everyone involved in athletics: administration, coaches, and athletes.

RELENTLESS COMMITMENT We promote fairness, ensuring equitable opportunities for both men and women.

We demonstrate Christian character and sportsmanship in all aspects of participation, upholding the principles of amateur competition.

We set an example of integrity by complying with all NCAA and UMAC guidelines that do not conflict with our confession of faith.

We strive to maximize the individual and collective God-given gifts of student-athletes as we remain consistently competitive within the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.

TRANSFORMATIONAL GROWTH We promote academic excellence and personal growth of each student-athlete’s God-given gifts while emphasizing the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

We expect our coaches to continually grow and develop their professional skills and knowledge base, enabling them to intentionally guide and nurture their student-athletes.

We provide coaches with sufficient dedicated time to build relationships with student athletes, both prospective and current, who demonstrate both an interest in public ministry as well as a passion for their sport.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE We provide student-athletes with a college-level experience, including, but not limited to, training and competition facilities, equipment, nutrition, and travel.

We recognize a responsibility to maximize mission-friendly revenue streams to help invest in strong athletic programs.

We produce college-level gameday experiences for athletes and fans, including, but not limited to, promotional materials, print, digital, and social media content, as well as livestreaming of athletic events.

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