4 Ways to be a BOLD Christian Athlete and have an Eternal Impact for Christ / Guest Post by Chris Heaton

October 13th, 2023
by Chris Heaton

What does it mean to be a Christian athlete today in the competitive sports world?

I know when I first came to faith, I certainly had my fair share of questions. Once I surrendered my life to Christ, I had a radical transformation, a modern Saul to Paul conversion. At 22, the beautifully unfair truth of God’s grace through the Gospel was revealed to me. I was overwhelmed by God’s presence and love for the first time, and finally found the hope, joy, and satisfaction I had been yearning for. The only problem was, I didn’t know what to do next. I wanted to be an Olympic level athlete, but I also wanted to impact my teammates and share the love of Jesus with them. I struggled with how to do both. Amidst some of the voices and distractions, here are some of the questions I wrestled with:

What am I called to do?
What should I focus on?
How can I ensure people see the change in my life?
What will others think?
Could I face backlash?
How do I know if I’ll make a difference?

At the end of the day, I was convicted and convinced that I was made for a purpose. I knew God would put me exactly where He wanted me to be to impact lives for eternity! Within the first few months of being a Christian, I found my life verse:

Galatians 1:10 – Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

And with that, I started using my platform and voice to minister to teammates, competitors, coaches, and even people outside of my sport. I truly believe God created each of us uniquely to minister to others in different ways. I had to learn to use the gifts and personality God gave me for His glory and not try to be someone else.

For those of you that don’t know me, I have a VERY INTENSE work ethic, energy level, and personality. I have two speeds: OFF and 100%. I am thankful that the Lord made me this way because it created opportunities for me to reach a lot of people. We might not all be the team captain or a veteran, viewed as a leader, a top performer, and we might not feel like we’ll be heard; but I know God made each of us to make an eternal impact on the teams we’re on right now.

Thinking back on the lessons I learned, I made an acrostic on how to be a BOLD Christian athlete that makes an eternal impact. These principles can be applied by all of us with the same level of impact regardless of our personalities, backgrounds, or positions. Simply because Jesus is the sole focus on how we impact others.

I challenge each of us to be BOLD Christian athletes!

B – Bear Witness

1 Peter 3:15-16 – "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

2 Timothy 4:2-5 – "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction."

We are called to testify of his greatness and the works of his hands. Testimony is powerful! We must be prepared to give an answer in any season and bear witness to who Christ is and what He has done.

O – Obey Unapologetically

Romans 12:2 – "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will."

1 John 2:5-6 – "But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Obedience to God the Father, and his Word are paramount. In a world where we are told to do and believe many things, we are to obey the Lord and Scripture above all else.

L - Love Courageously

John 15:12-13 – "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

We are called to love in such a way that it’s undeniable we’re God’s children. When we do, others will know that we have the love of God in us. Authentic, vulnerable, and sacrificial love can accomplish more than any amount of words can.

D – Delight & Deliver

Jeremiah 18:6 – “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

Colossians 3:23 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"

As Christians, we have the privilege and honor of being used for the King’s glory! We get to delight ourselves in the Lord and deliver the Gospel to our teammates. We have numerous roles, responsibilities, and ways to serve on the team in the Lord’s eyes. We can take delight in each of them! Every role has a purpose. We’re called to showcase the fruits of the Spirit, help bear our teammate’s burdens, bring hope, healing, and joy, and numerous others. We’re commanded to be humble and still set the tone by being the hardest workers! It is our responsibility to deliver the Gospel in word and deed and to meet the needs of the people around us. Our teammates should see examples of Jesus in our lives. Then, when they look at us, they’ll see Him!

Bonus verse: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Chris is a BOLD Christian and has been radically saved by grace. He is a board member for Pure Encouragement and helps Gary lead Journey groups. Chris met Gary in college while at Miami University and is a former elite level diver. Chris continued to compete after college as an international competitor for Team USA, Olympic Trials finalist, and National Championship medalist. Chris and his wife have four kids and he is currently a Mortgage Advisor and Realtor in Southern California.