I’m CSPC member Mary Alice Cox. This is how I’m living deeply. 

“I never saw myself as a coach. I love sports -playing, watching, just being around the competition. And I was an athlete in high school. But coaching? That felt like a whole different thing. I didn’t see myself as a leader. Didn’t have the confidence. Still, a family I used to babysit for started to nudge me toward volunteering with the CSPC Sports Ministry. They knew I loved sports, and they kind of planted the seed. But I didn’t really jump in until a friend, [CSPC Assistant Director of Middle School Ministry] Bethany Johnson, was interested, too. We started coaching middle school soccer together about three years ago. Honestly, for the first two years, I felt more like an assistant. Bethany was better at leading, and it was just easier to be a follower. I think I was a little intimidated by middle schoolers. I work with kids in my job as a pediatric audiologist, but I really had no idea what I was doing with middle schoolers- and definitely not in a sports context! But I jumped in, and I’ve grown. This past year, I coached first-grade soccer with my roommate Alyssa. Very different from coaching middle schoolers! Especially when it comes to sharing about Jesus (which is a great opportunity working in Sports Ministry provides). Those first graders were so energized to talk about Jesus! They’d memorize verses and just rattle them off to us, always fighting to speak over each other because they wanted to share so badly. How encouraging to see their hearts for Jesus already at that age! Middle schoolers, on the other hand, are kind of the opposite- you get more blank stares. It’s hard to really get their outward involvement or feel like they’re grasping it. But I try to remind myself that whatever I’m teaching them, whatever verse I pick on a given day, there’s a reason the Lord led me to focus on that. Even if they aren’t responding, that’s okay. It’s a chance for God to grow me one more small step at a time as Christian leader. I just keep doing what I’m doing and trust that the Lord will work in some way.

Sports Ministry is giving me a glimpse into the humanity of each kid, and that’s one of the biggest blessings God’s had for me. I coached one first grader who could be a challenge at times- the class clown type, always stirring the pot and getting everybody going. Coaching a kid like that can tempt you to lose your patience- there are moments when he’s taking over all the attention and the team’s kind of following his lead, being silly and not really listening. But even though I was frustrated with this kid at times, I saw something that really struck me. The minute a kid on the other team went down, he was the first one running over to make sure that other kid was okay. I mean, his heart toward others was just so big. I saw the Lord work through him as a teammate, and as an opponent who cared for the kids he was competing against. That was really cool to see: a reminder from God that these kids aren’t one-dimensional. There’s so much more to them than a first impression or a frustrating moment would ever indicate. Our main goal is to develop their character and faith, so it’s encouraging when you see them grasping that it’s not just about who wins or loses. Don’t get me wrong, though- all the kids definitely want to win! I’ve coached a couple of undefeated teams, including our first-grade soccer team this past fall. Alyssa and I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it in front of the kids. We didn’t want them to have big heads or go off telling other teams- that’s not what the season was about. When they’d win, we’d be like, ‘Yeah, y’all won again, great!’- and tell them how proud we were. And that was basically the extent of our celebrating. I’m trying to be very aware of how I present myself to the kids because they’re always watching and listening. I want to make sure the Lord is coming out of me when I’m around them, not my sin struggles. So one of my main themes is, ‘Yes, play aggressively, but keep a sense of kindness toward your opponents. Don’t purposely hurt them.’ And when they lose, I remind them that’s part of life, too. God makes us winners and losers at different times, and we have to learn how to be both.

Looking back, that first season of soccer was kind of tough. I was nervous going into each practice- feeling pressure to keep the kids entertained & wanting to come back and having the right things to do & say with them. I don’t feel that way anymore. Now I just get excited for practice every week. There’s so much joy in it. I love sports and I love kids, so it’s two of my favorite things coming together. I never saw myself as a coach, but God’s changed my view. Today, I see coaching as a gift from Him. God still has a lot more growth ahead for me, but it’s crazy to look back and see how my confidence & comfort with coaching has grown. That’s His goodness- when you rearrange your time to say ‘yes’ to the ministry He’s calling you to, God provides whatever you need to serve faithfully. And it doesn’t have to be sports. When it comes to ministry opportunities at CSPC, there truly is something for everyone. So if you’re feeling that pull, I’d encourage you to really listen to the Lord and pray about where He’s leading you. Don’t push it away. Because I do feel like it’s the Lord putting it on your heart. And if He confirms that in your spirit, just do it. Don’t overthink it. I think that’s what happened with a mission trip I took to Prague last month. Last summer, my heart was feeling a push towards missions. But working full time, I just didn’t know how it would work to take time off for something like that. Then [CSPC Pastor of Young Adults] Mike Ford put out a message in our Sunday school group letting us know Cary Lewis, the church’s director of communication, was leading a trip to Prague. I messaged Cary right away and was like, ‘I’m interested.’ I really had no idea why, because I didn’t know much about Prague. I’d never been. It was just kind of a ‘Say yes, why not?’ moment. I just took the trip in January, and I’m so glad I did; probably another story to share down the road. The bottom line is- when you say yes, you’re different than you would have been if you’d said no. God grows you spiritually. He makes you more confident and comfortable in the opportunity before you- and all the opportunities to come.”