Hockey is a PART of me, but not ALL of me

Shelley Pearson • July 13, 2021

“My identity in hockey is a part of me but not all of me. My identity in Christ is everything.”

The work God does in the hearts and lives of athletes through the ministry of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is not duplicated anywhere. For so many athletes, sport is everything. If they are injured, don’t make a certain team, or cannot play for another reason, they often go through a huge identity crisis as they try to figure out who they are apart from sport. This is especially true with high-performing athletes who have been immersed in their sports for many years.

But FCA teaches athletes something else.

A Love for the Game

Stephanie Anderson has been on the ice since she was two years old and started playing hockey when she was five. She has sacrificed a lot over the years to remain dedicated to her sport. When asked what she is most proud of, she says, “the sacrifice and dedication. There are a lot of things I’ve had to say no to, but it’s all been worth it in making it a long-term commitment.” It’s been worth it because she loves hockey: “I love being a part of the team, being around the other girls, and working for something greater than myself. I love the game - the fast pace, skating, the cold. But the largest part is the team aspect.”

Today, Stephanie is a junior at Gustavus and captain of the girls hockey team. Hockey has been a part of her life for more than three-fourths of her life. It could easily consume her, and it has consumed many athletes like her. But it doesn’t because her identity is in something else.

A Place to Grow

Stephanie grew up in a home where she consistently heard the truth of God’s Word. She got serious about her faith in Jesus in junior high and had multiple opportunities to grow in her faith through high school. She became part of the FCA huddle at Gustavus her freshman year and has served as one of the huddle leaders since then. FCA has helped her stay grounded in her faith. Stephanie said, “Being part of FCA has made me talk to God more and keep Him more integrated into my life. It’s nice to hear those words of encouragement each week at the huddle and put God at the forefront of my mind. It makes me be continually in communication with God.”

Even though Covid forced the huddle to meet online for a full year, God continues to teach Stephanie that He is faithful. She said, “He still has a plan and is still here for us through all this craziness. He has not left our sides and is still with us. Because of His tender mercies He’s shown to me, I’ve been able to show others the same.” God is teaching her to trust Him. “I am learning how to be patient, to step back and know I can’t do it all right now, but God can and letting Him take the reins. His timing is being shown to me right now. As someone who is a planner, I plan everything way in advance, so it’s been huge just trusting God.”

Bringing Together Faith and Sport

Over the years, Stephanie has learned to connect her faith in God with being part of the hockey team. She said, “We are all part of the greater good and part of the team. My identity in hockey is a part of me but not all of me. My identity in Christ is everything. He will always be a constant.” She prays regularly for her team but not that they win every game. She said, “It’s praying for the greater good of the team and not my individual wants. I pray, ‘God I pray today goes how you want it to go.’”

As Stephanie has learned more and more to put her faith in God and her identity in Christ, FCA has provided a means to grow and live out her faith. “It’s made me talk to God more and have Him more integrated into my life. It’s nice to hear those words of encouragement at the huddle each week and put God at the forefront of my mind. It makes me be continually in communication with God.”

FCA has been a vehicle for her to keep her walk with God part of her hockey playing. She said, “Your faith can be involved in your sport. A lot of people don’t know how to integrate them, and FCA has been such a blessing to show me how they can go hand in hand together. I encourage students to get involved and see if there is an FCA community around.”

Transforming the World through One Coach and Athlete at a Time

The mission and vision of FCA is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes and to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. Through FCA, Stephanie and others are living for Jesus, sharing the hope of Christ with those on their teams and on their campuses, and learning to live fully devoted to God - not their sports or any other “thing” in their lives. This will transfer to their future careers, relationships, and entire lives as they continue to live first for God.

Praise God for the work He is doing all over the world through The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Pray for the Gospel to go further onto high school and college campuses through coaches and athletes who are boldly representing Christ to those around them.

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