Club Sports Disciple Makers return from annual retreat spiritually refreshed

A record number of 46 Disciple Makers — out of 72 designated spiritual leaders for Liberty University's 42 distinct Club Sports programs — participated in a retreat from Aug. 15-16 at Thomas Road Outpost near the Peaks of Otter in Bedford, Va.

The weekend included four sessions led by Gary Steffes, executive director of Pure Encouragement, a sports ministry that disciples coaches and athletes.

"The theme of the weekend was 'Living a Confident and Victorious Life in Christ,' and it was all about preparing the Disciple Makers for the year and their walk with the Lord," Club Sports Associate Athletic Director for Holistic Development Reese Braband said.

He said the focus of the retreat was for the student-athletes to get away for time alone with God, to prepare their hearts and spend time in prayer about how they can better serve their teammates and help them to overcome barriers that might prevent them from getting closer to the Lord and giving everything they have to Him.

"(Steffes) talked a lot about identity, how we are Christ followers first and how our performance as an athlete doesn't define us," Braband said, noting the student-athletes formed small discussion groups after each message. "It was fun to see players from different teams get together and talk about what they are excited about for this year."

In the last session called "Living Inside Out," Steffes challenged the student-athletes to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength," based on Mark 12:30.

Aside from the devotional sessions in the lodge, the Outpost offered a variety of recreational activities for the Disciple Makers to experience and challenge themselves, from zip lines, a ropes course, paintball, and swimming to a giant swing, power pole, and flying squirrel over the lake.

"It's a fantastic place, and it was a great time to bond with other athletes, get out of their comfort zones, and be vulnerable with each other," Braband said. "The activities put them up high and forced them to work together as a team."

A spiritual highlight of the weekend was getting up at 5 a.m. Saturday and hiking up Sharp Top Mountain trail to see the sunrise.

"The hike itself was a fun bonding time," Braband said. "Everyone had some fun conversations along the way and at the top, (new Holistic Development Assistant) Jesse Castro gave a short devotional message, and we had a time of prayer as a group before we hiked back down."

On Monday morning, a total of 64 Disciple Makers gathered in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom for the first of monthly large group meetings.

Disciple Makers meeting with President Costin — Liberty President Dondi Costin addresses 64 of this year's Club Sports Disciple Makers in the Montview Student Union, Alumni Ballroom.

Liberty President Dondi E. Costin shared his philosophy for academic leaders based on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30, which he wrote his dissertation on for one of his two Ph.D. degrees. This philosophy was based on the acronym, "L.E.A.D.E.R.S.," capped by "Shepherding" — training leaders to serve as under-shepherds to the Good Shepherd and model their leadership after Christ by guiding, nurturing, and protecting those they lead.

"It was a really cool kickoff meeting to go over some expectations and to have President Costin show up and encourage the students in their roles of being Disciple Makers," Braband said, noting Club Sports Athletic Director Kirk Handy and Doug Damon, the new director of the Athletic Shepherd ministry, also made appearances and addressed the group.

The Disciple Makers broke into small groups for discussion on the passage Costin shared from 1 Peter 5 about shepherding others, before spending time in prayer for their teams' respective seasons.

"It's exciting to see their heart," Braband said. "They are excited to disciple their teammates."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Jordan Chamberlain/Club Sports Video & Media Coordinator

Club Sports Disciple Makers return from annual retreat spiritually refreshed

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