This fall, Christians and young Salvationists across the country are going back to school for another year of higher education, representing themselves and God. Many of those talented young people are also using their gifts from God to represent Him in their schools’ athletic departments in a surprisingly wide range of sports. Despite their busy lives, The War Cry was able to speak with four such amazing students. 

Jordan Tuck

George Mason University | Year: Sophomore | Major: Finance

Jordan originally got into running to condition for other sports he was more interested in, such as soccer and football. And while he spent most of high school juggling multiple teams, he made the decision to switch exclusively to track in his senior year after his coaches told him he could likely qualify for scholarships with his running record. Not content to wait around, Jordan proactively contacted coaches from over 50 schools to see about running for them, and he got plenty of responses. In the end, he chose GMU for their business program and how close the school is to his home. 

Faith is important to Jordan, and he lets it influence his athletic career. He notes that being a Christian reminds him to be humble in a setting that’s fueled by ego. “In sports, there’s not really a humility aspect,” says Jordan. “I try to focus on being humble regardless of what times I hit or what happens, being content with my situation.” It’s not always easy to live out your faith on campus, but Jordan has found that joining Christian student organizations is beneficial. He’s a part of Every Nation Campus, where he finds fellowship with like-minded Christians. And he’s also adamant about sharing God with his fellow students. “At the end of the day, you’re commanded to do that. That’s what the Great Commission is.”

Ben Lloyd

Gannon University | Year: Freshman | Major: Criminal Justice with a minor in Forensic Science

Ben started out as a football player, but when he was getting ready to play in middle school, he was told that if he wanted to do football, he should wrestle in the offseason. When he decided to give the sport a try, he instantly fell in love and never looked back. Since then he’s exclusively wrestled, building up an impressive record of 104 wins to 56 losses throughout his high school career. He spent a lot of time reaching out to colleges, listing his accomplishments and sharing highlight clips. When he took a break from the exhausting process, Gannon University contacted him on Instagram out of the blue to invite him to wrestle for the school. 

He starts classes at Gannon this fall, and he’s more than prepared to continue a life of active soldiership. “I’ve already found the closest Salvation Army. I’ve already met the officer there,” Ben says, mentioning that they’ve even discussed plans to get his fellow wrestlers involved in bell ringing this holiday season. “By all means, I’ll do it. I just want to bring as many people as I meet there, show them the Army, show them all the amazing things we do, because it’s always been a big part of my life. I love it so much.”

Abbigail Hartt

Life Pacific University | Year: Junior | Major: Biblical Studies

When Abbigail was going into sixth grade, she wanted to get into sports. Her parents presented her with two options: volleyball or basketball. Abbigail chose basketball because “basketball has pretty cool shoes.” Thankfully, she found more to enjoy about the sport than the footwear. She fell in love with the reward of seeing hard work pay off on the court, and she greatly appreciates bonding with her teammates, her sisters in Christ. She went on to play basketball throughout middle school and played on the varsity team for all four years of high school before being guided by the Lord to choose to play at Life Pacific University. 

Abbigail credits The Salvation Army for instilling her with leadership skills that she brings to her basketball career. “The Salvation Army taught me servant leadership. I’m serving my teammates. Not just by what I say, but I’m showing it through actions. And that’s what Jesus did when He was on Earth,” she says. “Words are cheap.” That mentality permeates her life and is critical to maintaining her faith on campus. “What I do in my secret place is just as important as what I demonstrate on the outside, because ultimately the love and the grace that I show on the outside is an overflow of what God is doing within me privately,” Abbigail said, adding that it’s critical for Christian student athletes to make time for God so they’re more influenced by the Spirit than by others around them. 

Zayden Amick

Indiana Wesleyan University | Year: Junior | Major: Marketing and Finance 

A few years ago, Zayden never would have believed you if you told him he’d be a competitive cheerleader in college. He’s been an athlete for a while, having played lacrosse throughout middle and high school. But when he got to IWU, he met a couple of guys who tried to convince him to join the cheer team. It seemed like a joke at first, but after bugging him several times about it, Zayden eventually agreed to attend a practice. He was surprised to find that he found the routines interesting, and when he had an opportunity to try some moves during that practice, he ended up enjoying himself. The coach approached him afterwards and asked him to join the team, and Zayden said yes, now knowing how much fun the sport could be. And it didn’t hurt that everyone on the team gets scholarships. 

Zayden and his team aren’t the cheerleaders you see on the sidelines at football games. They put together rigorous, athletically challenging routines, and compete in cheer tournaments. And all the time Zayden spends traveling with the team to various competitions makes for a tight-knit community he can rely on. “We have such a Christ-centered team where everyone shares the same mindset and goals,” Zayden says, mentioning regular Bible studies and group outings. “I’m just truly blessed to have a team like that.” 

What advice do these college all-stars have for other Christians and Salvationists looking to get into collegiate-level athletics? 

• “Be humble, because it can all flip in a moment. You’ve got to be content and understand that you’re going to get curveballs thrown at you. You’ve got to understand who you are. Your identity has to be based in Jesus.” – Jordan
• “It’s going to be rough. But just stay willing to accept God’s plan because He’s going to send you to the right place for you.” – Ben
• “You can’t be complacent about it. God has taught me that sometimes the dreams He’s put on your heart require sacrifice,” she says. “Sometimes you’re going to have to do the work that you don’t want to do, but it’s all worth it.” – Abbigail
• “Do everything you do as an act of worship. When you’re working out, or you have a practice, it’s super hot outside, nobody wants to be there, do that in an act of worship. That will really help you stand apart. You’ll appear different in the best way possible.” – Zayden