LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Grace College Athletic Department was honored with the Sports Ministries Award at the NCCAA Annual Convention last week.
The national award exists to recognize member institutions having significant spiritual outreach through the utilization of athletic ministries.
Student-athletes and coaches from multiple Lancer sports teams, trainers, and board members served in various ministries throughout the year domestically and internationally. These ministry teams were able to hold sports clinics, deliver food to villages, play against and minister to international teams and most importantly share Christ.
“It is an honor for Grace College to receive this prestigious award from the NCCAA. It is a direct reflection on the mission of Grace and the heart of our coaches to create opportunities for our student-athletes to serve both locally and abroad,” said Grace Athletic Director Chad Briscoe. “We appreciate the full support of our administration — Dr. Bill Katip and Dr. Jim Swanson — who encourage our programs to pursue a missional mindset.”
The entire department and community pitched in to pack meals for Feed My Starving Children at Grace’s Gordon Recreation Center, producing over 1 million meals for malnourished children.
Three teams took mission trips overseas. Women’s Soccer went to Nicaragua, Women’s Tennis went to Dominican Republic and Volleyball went to Israel.
Additionally, Men’s Basketball held basketball clinics and ministered to children in inner city Detroit, while Women’s Basketball served in similar ways in downtown Philadelphia with Urban Hope Ministries.