“…my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11
I have been overwhelmingly encouraged by the success of our team this year, on and off the court. On the court I see what everyone else is seeing: superior talent, guys that enjoy each other, and a team that is having fun.
But it is what happens off the court, what people don’t see, that is having the biggest impact. You may say wait, the biggest? Well, an eternal impact. Spiritually, this is one of the strongest teams I have been around. Prior to each away game we have Bible Study. This year we are walking through the book of John. I am amazed that most players, usually 10 to 13, attend when participation is not mandatory. We even held one Bible study in the middle of a hotel hallway and the guys were locked in, even with people walking through. Guys have been vulnerable, transparent, and encouraging to one another. I have seen moments at the end of Bible study when players are literally on their knees praying to God.
While at Ole Miss, our program went out on the town to eat. Normally that is a recipe for a Bible Study that is not well attended because guys stay out on the town, see family or don’t make it back in time. Normally, our dinner is held at the hotel and our study immediately follows. However, this night was different. Guys were talking about Bible Study during dinner, topics they wanted to bring up and questions they had about the study, etc. I left dinner early to go set up at the hotel for Bible study and sure enough the guys came in waves. To my amazement we were in God’s Word for almost two hours. At one point around 10:15pm, our Associate Head Coach, Steve Pearl, came in the team room where we were holding our study. Some of the players asked him to rank his week, just to capture where he was mentally and spiritually. Later on that night Coach Pearl sent me a text saying, “Good stuff, keep making an impact”.
Our players are being more open during our times together and the faith that they are striving to live out. Dylan Cardwell, also known as Disciple Dyl, is an incredible spiritual leader. Last game, I saw him pull Chad Baker Mazara aside in the tunnel and pray over him and he assists me in Bible Study, truly living out his nickname.
Chaney who loves to wear his Faith is Key shirt (our Honduras mission trip shirt) was an encouragement to me personally, by telling reporters “Pastor Jeremy is a big part in why we’re so great this year, cause we’re giving the glory to God’.
Johni Broome, the national player of the year candidate when asked what’s different about this Auburn team said, “I’d just say it’s the connection, the brotherhood we have, our faith. We have Bible study and things like that. That’s just a way for everybody to open up. That’s how we build our foundation, our brotherhood. That’s something that’s unmatched. On the court, it just rolls over, because we have each other’s back, each and every play.”
What is happening within this Auburn men’s basketball team is how God can use a character coach as an instrument to make an impact for the Kingdom. Not only in the now, but for eternity! Personally, I am humbled to sit under a head coach that has a strong desire to do the things the LORD blesses. He gives me the freedom to teach the Truth, and I do so unapologetically.
Bible Study is just a portion of the job description and one of the ways I try to bring our guys together. My prayer, is that God would increase their territory, enlarge their platform, so that God’s name will be honored, lifted, and the name of Jesus be spoken on the biggest stage!
Please continue to pray for protection from the enemy (who is already defeated), please pray that each player grows closer to Jesus and that each player boldly shares what they know to be true.