For the first time, the CLC auditorium hosted an athletes worship night. This event was put on by the Spiritual Life Board, but entirely led by student athletes. Worth a flex credit and providing free Chick Fil A, worship was open to all of campus. Around fifty students attended. The time included testimonies from student athletes, songs led by students, and a former MLB player, Sean Green, acting as the speaker.
This is the first time a worship night has been done specifically for athletes. “The concept came about as we were brainstorming during a Spiritual Life board meeting. Our board came up with the idea to host an event that can bring unity among athletes on campus when it comes to their spiritual life journeys and the inward wrestling that happens for athletes when it comes to faith and sports,” said Nathan Gabbard, the VP of Spiritual Life on the ASC Executive Cabinet.
The message of the event was the idea of glorifying God through sports. For many athletes, it can be hard to balance the idea of performing for self-importance with performing for a greater purpose. The goal for Asbury Athletics is to be able to reflect the Lord through sportsmanship.
The program began with the testimonies of three student athletes: Emmanuel Dut, Emily Carpenter, and Emmy Robinson. Representing the basketball team, women’s soccer team, and cheer team, each shared their story of how God has and continues to move in their lives.
Emily Carpenter, a sophomore who gave her testimony, attributes a lot of the unity she has felt on campus to the girls on her team. “We’re one happy little family. We do team time, which is these Bible studies usually every Tuesday and typically the day before our games in the fall,” said Carpenter. This taught her to be vulnerable and gave her the courage to give her testimony to a broader audience.
The event then moved into a time of worship led by students Luciana Badani, Dorcas Lara, and Simeon Gunthorpe. All who attended were invited to enter into a time of openness and vulnerability.
The main speaker was Green, a parent of a current Asbury student. After playing baseball at the University of Louisville, Green went on to be drafted by the Colorado Rockies. He then went on to play for many major league teams, such as the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. Green shared his struggles in not placing his identity in sports, but in God.
The end goal of the night was that those who are interested in sports or who are involved in athletics are able to learn new ways to grow their faith and find a stronger community. Asbury Athletics continues to be a place that fosters and promotes athletes as not only performers, but also children of God.
