Sports as a Platform to Shine for Christ

Last year, Becker's game was canceled the day before they were set to play in the AAA Minnesota State high school basketball tournament. This year, the team made it to the championship game again, and there isn’t a cancelation in sight as they prepare to play against an undefeated Marshall on Friday, April 9. 

We spoke with four of the starters about the upcoming game. Seniors Julia Bengtson, Alayna Lindquist, Megan Gamble, and Courtney Nuest are more than a little excited for the game. Julia said, “It’s been our goal to get to this point and we got there.” Megan agreed: “I am so excited for this opportunity to be back in the game after losing sophomore year and not getting to play in the tournament last year.”

All four love the sport, but there are deeper reasons for their excitement. Courtney said, “I’m super excited. It’s such a special group with great coaches, and the support from the community is so cool.” Alayna had similar words to say: “I am SO excited to play in the state championship and am so grateful to play one more game with my teammates in front of my community!”

Amazing coaches, a tight-knit team, and the chance to shine for Christ have all four girls and many of their teammates motivated to play hard at the tournament.

Coaches

The girls attribute much of their success to their coaches. Coach Dan Baird took on the head coach position in Becker five years ago. After nearly a dozen years without making it to the state championship, Courtney says, “Coach Baird totally changed the culture of the team. We wouldn’t be where we are without him.” He puts in just as much into the team as this highly motivated group of girls. He is always there to open the doors for open gym, and he and the other coaches are always willing to help the girls go as far as they want to go.

A Tight-knit Team

And these girls want to go far. It all started when they were playing youth basketball. Megan said, “A lot of it is the work we put in over the years. It’s a really motivated group. As we came up in the program, the culture shifted to make us all motivated. That translates to playing on the court together today because everyone has put in the work to get us to this point.” Julia recognizes that the group is special. Many of the girls did their own workouts outside of basketball practice starting in middle school, and it has continued all the way through high school.

But it isn’t just their hardworking attitudes that have gotten them this far. Julia says, “We all love each other. We are great cheerleaders for each other.” She added, “The majority of the girls are solid Christians and super sweet girls. They do such a great job celebrating everyone’s successes. No one is ever selfish or trying to get the glory for themselves.” Courtney added that “A lot of the unity and team chemistry comes from being rooted in Christ.”

The Platform of Sports

FCA is all about using the platform of sports to “see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.” Julia, Alayna, Courtney, and Megan each recognize the tremendous privilege and responsibility they have in using that platform to shine for Jesus. How do they know? They have learned it in their families, in their churches, and also in FCA. All four serve as huddle leaders for the Becker High School FCA huddle and have learned through FCA that their identity is not in themselves as basketball players but in who they are as children of God. 

Megan said, “A lot of people recognize that our team is different, so it’s been even more important to bring Christ the glory through it. People see how we treat each other and see that we care about each other.” And people especially notice how they act when things don’t go in their favor. Courtney remembers last year, “When we found out the tournament was canceled, our perspective was different from other teams. It was definitely hard, but our identity wasn’t in sport and we could trust that God is good and be grateful for the season we did have. Having that perspective last year was really different for people to see.”

Shining for Jesus

Moving through that disappointment last year grew each of their faiths. Megan learned not to idolize the sport and Courtney realized that while sports are a great thing to enjoy, she doesn’t want to miss the opportunities sports give them. Julia agreed, “Sports are just the medium for us to share with our teammates what’s different in us. Basketball isn’t what we are living for but a bridge between us and nonbelievers.”

They hope the fans and the opposing team notice that difference in them. And “not that we are nice girls who do nice things but that the deep unity we have as a team comes from Christ. And that we give all the glory to God and not receive it ourselves,” said Julia. Megan wants to make sure people see that “no matter what happens our attitude can remain positive, that we don’t act on emotion but give God the glory.” Alayna hopes that people see Jesus in her.

These girls already shine Christ’s love wherever they go, and now they have an even greater platform and audience to do that. Each one mentioned how much it has meant to them that many community members have reached out in support of the team, but it is partly because of their actions that they have gained so much support. Dwight Lundeen, a community member, head football coach at Becker, and one of the FCA huddle coaches sees their hearts on and off the court. He says, “They pray before games and have been great role models in their faith, the preparation they do, and how to play well. They represent our school and community extremely well.”

This is the heart of FCA – to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. These athletes have learned that their identity is in Jesus and that He has given them this platform to reach others in His name.

We pray they have many opportunities to give God all the glory at the tournament and then in everything they do from that moment on.