Luke Swan - Football
Throughout my entire life, there has always been an audience for me to perform my sport in front of. As a young kid, I was performing for my dad as we played many sports together. He was the one I was looking to for praise and acceptance. As I got older this audience grew to include the friends I played sports with, then teammates and fans. I played for the applause and approval of all of them.
In college, I soon found a whole host of new audiences. The fans went from 500 to 80,000. I had many more chances to use fame and recognition from these audiences to be my motivation for my sport. But I have learned that this type of motivation is empty, insignificant, and is a substitute for God. I have come to realize that God is my ultimate audience. He is the one who created me with the talents and abilities I have. My response to this can be only one thing; use these gifts to honor His greatness and glorify His name in all that I do. This is not only within my sport but in every area of my life. God has really challenged me to keep Him as the number one thing in my life. I wear the number one on my jersey as a reminder of my need to keep Him as my Audience of One.
Jinelle Zaugg - Hockey
Growing up I loved playing any sport possible with my three older siblings. Through High School I was fortunate enough to excel in hockey while playing for the guys team, and eventually I joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s women’s hockey team. I enjoyed being part of the first NCAA national championship team at Wisconsin for women’s hockey during my sophomore year.
Although I grew up in a Christian home, it took a while for me to make my faith my own and decide to trust God enough to follow Him. Following my sophomore year, I went to Athletes in Action Ultimate Training Camp which turned my life in a new direction. I approached that summer and my junior year with a new focus and desire to play my sport for nobody else but God. I realized that satisfaction could not be found in victory, but only in Jesus Christ. My outlook on things has changed, but my desire to do my best in everything I do is still the same.
A verse that always sticks in my head is
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
