Faith and Coaching

Faith and Coaching

My story, like most, isn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be. My story is more than I could have ever asked for or even dreamt of. I attribute a great deal of who I am and where I am to my faith in Christ, my family and Point University. As a soccer coach here at Point, I’m blessed with the opportunity to act out my faith on a daily basis. To know God is using me to further His kingdom is a truly rewarding feeling.

I still remember the night that I knew God’s plan was for me to transfer to Point University (then Atlanta Christian College). At the time, I was a freshman at a college in North Carolina and I knew the school was not where the Lord wanted me. One night I was praying, asking the Lord to show me where He wanted me to be and literally minutes after my prayer I received a call from Soccer Head Coach Randy Douglas at Point University. Without reservation, I knew at that moment that Point University was the place for me. As a soccer coach today, I’m still trying to figure out how to call recruits at moments like that!

I was blessed to spend four years at Point University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. During those years I gained knowledge, made relationships and played college soccer, but most importantly I grew in my walk with the Lord. It was truly amazing to see Point’s impact on my life. Looking back, I could not have asked for a better college experience!

I was also blessed to meet my beautiful, better half, Alexandra, a Point alum,while during my time as a student. We were even married by our favorite biblical studies professor, Mr. Wye Huxford. Alex and I recently welcomed our first child, Liam James, and I can only hope he grows up and attends Point University! Who knows, maybe he will even play soccer for me one day.

When I think about my role here at Point University, I can’t think of anything else I would rather do with my life. I believe my faith and coaching go hand in hand. Every day I have the unique opportunity to further God’s kingdom through my passion for soccer. By definition, faith is the confidence or trust in a person or thing. Without my faith in Christ, I would be nothing. Faith does not make all things easy; faith makes all things possible!

In our soccer program here at Point, faith is an absolute cornerstone. Without faith it is impossible to become your absolute best. If you have faith in the Lord and your abilities, there is nothing you can’t overcome. Like I tell my players, if you think you’re beat, you are. The human body is capable of amazing things, but first you must have faith that you can achieve them. The body does what the mind and heart believes. All throughout the bible we see amazing feats accomplished by seemingly ordinary people. Take the story of David and Goliath for example: David was victorious only because of his faith in the Lord and because he believed that God would use him to defeat the Philistine giant.

My faith does not waver in my Lord or my team. Faith is not a switch you flip on and off. I was once asked, “How do you address your men if you think they are the weaker team?” I responded by saying “It’s never happened.” I say that because I have faith in this program, always. If I don’t have faith in my team to win, how can my players have faith to win? Having faith allows you the peace of knowing the Lord can and will use you as an instrument to advance His kingdom. I think St. Thomas Aquinas’ assertion is spot on when he said, “To one who has faith no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

As a coach, I often ask myself what is the most important thing these young men learn and experience while they are a part of the soccer program. The most important thing by far is seeing a player grow in their walk with Lord and graduate with a degree. I know the Lord cares much more about seeing His children grow spiritually than how many wins they had while in college. Please don’t get me wrong; winning is great, and I love to win just as much as the next guy (my players can attest to that), but there is nothing more important than their faith.

My journey would not be what is today without faith, and because of faith, I rest easy knowing God is working through me to instill the right priorities in my players: faith, family, education and then soccer. I could not be more thankful for a career that allows me to pour out my passion for the Lord through the sport that I love.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1)

 

Jimmy WebbJimmy Webb ’10
Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach