Run the Race and Run Well [Issue 11] by mvmntmag

ISSUE 11

DATING IN COLLEGE IS UNDERRATED | RACHEL DOLEZAL | POVERTY CANNOT BE DONATED OUT OF EXISTENCE

RUN THE RACE AND RUN WELL MVMNTMAG.COM

CHIBUZOR UGWUT “I lost focus.” Chibuzor Ugwu on maintaining his faith as a freshman

AFTER THISSS...

REWRITING YOUR STORY DEAR BELOVED, ABUSIVE LOVE IS NOT LOVE AT ALL

GARRISON FICK

“I put in my best effort, and leave the rest up to God”

GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL. WHAT NOW?

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2 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

THE NEW COOL

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FEATURES

A REVIEW OF LOST AND FOUND: FINDING HOPE IN THE DETOURS OF LIFE BY SARAH JAKES THE VATICAN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES PALESTINE

INTERVIEW WITH CHIBUZOR UGWU

BUSTING THE SUMMER BLUES

ANSWERING GOD, AN ORIGINAL POEM BY RAQUEL “DATRUTH” SEGURA

AFTER THISSS...REWRITING YOUR STORY

14 15

JUDGE ME OR JUDGE ME NOT 10

DATING IN COLLEGE IS UNDERRATED

4 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

HOW CAN I TAKE CARE OF MY EYES NOW TO PREVENT DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE?

RACHEL DOLEZAL: EXCHANGED A LEGACY FOR A LIE

DEAR BELOVED, ABUSIVE LOVE IS NOT LOVE AT ALL

GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL. WHAT NOW?

POVERTY CANNOT BE DONATED OUT OF EXISTENCE

CHANTELLE CONLEY’S SMU STORY

INTERVIEW WITH GARRISON FICK

BRINGING CHRIST TO THE COURT

Support the

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INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE AMABASSADORS OF HIS KINGDOM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 #RUNTHERACE Chief Editor

Contributing Writers

TAZARRA BERRIEN

LINDSEY ADAMS, BUTCH BOOTH, CHANTELLE CONLEY, DR. DARLA FERREIRA, SETH GEBHART, TANGELA HARRIS, KIMBERLY JAMES, DANIEL JOHNSON, JANIAH LOCKETT, KEN NWANKWO, IKE OKPOBIRI, DEBORAH OSAKUE, ENOMA OSAKUE, NIKKI SMITH, MYLES K. WREN

Copy Editor DENISE TIPTON Manager BLESSING OSAKUE Issue Designer IYOWORKS Contributing Editor NATALIE MULVAHILL

MVMNT Magazine is a part of Makeover 101 Inc. (A non profit organization) and has a mission to spread the gospel of Christ. We produce a range of 1000-5000 magazines per issue in and around the Houston area. Our magazine is placed in Christian book stores, medical offices, churches, Christian schools, etc.We share information about other positive organizations, artist, media related movements, etc. We think it is important for others to know who to volunteer with, how to connect with them and exactly why to help them. Our main purpose is not for you to be a part of every organization we share but to find one that steals your heart and join the MVMNT!

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Just like many girls, Sarah Jakes dreamed of a life full of love, laughter, and happy endings. But, as her book states, her life dramatically changed when she became pregnant as a teenager. Her family treated her differently, and those who claimed to be Christians showed less than the love of Christ to her during her most difficult times as a teen mom. Many times people make bad decisions and want to be accepted in spite of their wrongdoings. And why not? God says forgive one another and to show them love. Even though she repented and moved on with her life to raise her child, many people in her circle and surroundings never changed their views on her decision to be a teen mom. After all, she was a preacher’s daughter. Her dad is the highly acclaimed Bishop T. D. Jakes in Dallas, Texas. He has one of the most prolific speakers in the world and pastors one of the most prosperous churches in the world.

A REVIEW OF

LOST AND FOUND: FINDING HOPE IN THE DETOURS OF LIFE BY SARAH JAKES

Yet after reading Lost and Found, I was full of compassion and understanding for anyone who has allowed their past to create their future. Many people forget that your past is just that: your past. As daughters of the king, we should not allow anything or anyone distract us from the future plans

that God has prepared for us. As stated in 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.” So, allowing those things in your past to dictate to you that you have failed DOES NOT line up with this promise from God. Lost and Found, a wonderful story of God’s love and redemption vividly shows God’s amazing grace. At times, we may feel lost yet, but God finds us and surrounds us with his never-ending love and mercy. Confession and repentance are necessary for forgiveness from God and we should rest in knowing this truth. God expects us to continue our pursuits of happiness and press forward to the higher calling, which is in Christ Jesus, because he is our God, our creator and ultimately the manager of our life. Repentance, prayer and faith are the keys to unlock our Jeremiah 29:11 promise. Sarah did just that and has a new life of hope and prosperity to share with you in her new book. Pick up a copy today and you will be encouraged to live again! Reviewed by Kimberly James

FLASHBACK

THE VATICAN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES PALESTINE In July of this year, the Vatican officially signed a treaty recognizing Palestine as an official state. The treaty establishes the Vatican’s official view of Palestine as a sovereign state as opposed to its previous view of it as the Palestine Liberation Organization. This declaration was three years in the making, as the Vatican had previously welcomed the United Nations’ General Assembly ruling on Palestine in 2012, but nothing could be ascertained as official until the Vatican signed the treaty. In a statement released by the Higher Presidential Committee of Churches Affairs, the tone is of excited hope: “This significant event represents an important moment for Palestine, the land of sanctity and virtue, and its people, who are longing for justice, freedom and peace,” The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, was scheduled to attend Pope Francis’ canonization of two 19th-century Palestinian nuns, and reports indicate that he is also to visit with the Pope at the Vatican. The oppression of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel is something that has been ongoing since the United States helped

to create it in 1948 following the end of the second World War, and though this announcement will likely not end it, it will lend credence to the idea of a two state solution. In addition to the treaty being signed, at the canonization of the two Palestinian nuns, the Pope addressed the crowd and implored the Christians living in the West Bank to stay despite their difficult circumstances. The mood in the Palestinian capital remains one of optimism and hope, as indicated by Father Ibrahim Shomali, a priest in Ramallah: “It’s a big day for the Christian community in Palestine and also for the Palestinian people.” Written by Daniel Johnson MVMNTMAG.COM 7

definitely tested my faith and it shook a little bit. It took me awhile to get back on track. We actually got a new coach, and he was talking to me one day. I didn’t really care much for him ‘cause I’ve never cared much for new coaches. I didn’t have anything against him. He was just another guy there. I was doing a couple of things that he

Take Off Coming Soon The New Cool Movement

thenewcoolministries.org

thought was out of my character, and the guy didn’t even know me. I had this bad outburst at practice one day and he pulled me aside afterwards. He said, “This doesn’t seem like you.” He was like, “I feel like you’re not this kind of kid. I heard about what some of the coaches said about you when they were recruiting you in high school. They said that you’re not that kind of kid.”

Until We Meet Again 08/04 Brinson godchaserz.com

That was a turning point, definitely. He sat down and he talked to me and it was eye opening, because I went to school really, really far away from home. I had never been that far away from home for that long.

OWNING MY FAITH

CHIBUZOR UGWU Number 91 for the University of Pennsylvania’s football team, an outside linebacker, Chibuzor Ugwu – or Chu – is living a hard-earned dream. Becoming an Ivy League athlete is like striking gold for many high school athletes, but it’s not without its challenges. We met at Starbucks, and the Hightower High School alum talked about something most college students struggle with: the significance of finding Christian community on campus. In high school I was never tested. I went from having all that guidance to doing what I thought was right, you know? Having my mom tell me all the right things to do, like I didn’t have to get up and make a decision to go to church. My mom told me to go to church and I kind of just knew it was right thing to do and no one was influencing me otherwise. Then I got to school where you know a lot of those things weren’t cool. Like, you’re supposed to drink. You are supposed to have sex. You were not supposed to go to church. I spent most of my teenage years studying the Bible a lot. I went from that being a big part of my life to being non-existent. Like, it wasn’t something that I did any more. I didn’t go to church the entire first semester of my freshman year and it showed. I didn’t do as good as I could. I lost focus. I wasn’t learning from the scriptures because I wasn’t reading them. I was lonely. I had friends, but I just felt alone. I wanted to quit football. I wanted to go home. I wanted to transfer to U of H. I wanted to bail on the whole Ivy League athlete thing. I thought it wasn’t for me. I didn’t think I had what it took, you know? I wasn’t talking to my mom. I wasn’t talking to my brothers. I was doing bad in class. I bombed the midterm, actually all my midterms. I started skipping practice. I kind of lost the will to fight which is crazy because that’s not something I ever thought I would do. It was just a really low point. It 8 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

The longest that I had ever been away from home without my parents was like a day. I didn’t have anyone to tell me what to do, and I didn’t have anyone to direct me towards my faith or towards God. You feel like you’re ready to go out in the world

Catchin Bodies 08/18 Reconcile catchinbodies.com

when you’re so far away from your parents. But having someone who is invested in you, someone that you want to make proud and wants to see you succeed, it feels so good. We just talked and it felt so good to finally have an adult figure that genuinely cared about what was going on in my life. Having that mentor figure really helped open my eyes to know that I had to get back on track. He used to coach in Massachusetts. When he

Power 08/18 I Am Justified iamjustifiedmusic.com

came, he started going to a church in West Philly. He invited me to his church on 37th and Walnut. I visited and I liked it, so I’ve been going ever since. He doesn’t do what I did [growing up]. Like, he doesn’t study the Bible every day, but he’s firm in his faith. He was telling me if that’s something that kept me sane, then I should go back to it. Even when we’re in the middle of darkness God was always pursuing us and drawing us back to him.

Born Again Disciple 09/01 Pyrexx pyrexxtbz.com

This often times happens through the influence of other Christians. Chu’s story is a testimony to the fact that walking in faith as a Christian is not meant to be done alone. It’s important to have a mentor or Christian company that challenges and encourages our faith on campus. Chu is a pre-med student double majoring in Biology and Finance at The University of Pennsylvania. Interviewed by Enoma Osakue

BIZZLE 10/23 God Over Money godovermoney.com

SOCIAL CRAZE

JUDGE ME OR JUDGE ME NOT? STUDENT LIFE

BUSTING THE SUMMER BLUES It’s nearly autumn again. Almost time to deflate the colorful beach balls, retire from summer jobs, and (if you’re like me) log out of your Netflix account in preparation for the upcoming high school year. This season typically meets students in a variety of ways: some are excited to plunge into academia again, while some are desperately clinging to the remains of vacation. Wherever you are on this spectrum, I’m here to give you some tips on how to make the most of the rest of summer! Everyone reaches that point in the summer in which their daily schedule consists of waking at midday, lolling in front of a High School Musical movie and searching the pantry for Oreos. Once the school year starts, however, and all of our time is filled with studying, we regret not doing anything active or adventurous. To prevent this from happening, I’ve compiled a fun bucket list complete with seven things to get you off the couch: 1. Take a road trip with friends or family. Whether it’s to another state or just to a neighboring city, blasting an upbeat tune while cruising down an open road is a great way to leave the house and get adventurous. 2. Learn a new skill. Always wanted to learn how to play the guitar? Or master that complicated family recipe? Now’s the

time to devote energy to things that you won’t have time to do once September rolls around. 3. Change your look. Try a new haircut, or trade in old clothes to a consignment store and use the money to thrift a vintage dress. If there’s something about your appearance you’d like to change, do it this summer and return to school made-over. 4. Read. Been meaning to finish that bestselling series or reread Shakespeare’s sonnets? Hit up your local library and spend a day catching up on all the essentials. 5. Have a sleepover. Eat junk food, watch Disney films, and give yourself a chance to talk to and catch up with your friends about their summer vacations and Back-toSchool goals before all your conversations become about tests and stress-induced zits. 6. Volunteer. Get ahead on your service hours and enrich your soul by serving meals at your local food bank, interacting with kids at a day camp, or by volunteering in your church’s Children’s Church. 7. Get fit. Take an early-morning jog, pick up a new sport, or dance in your bathroom mirror. Just get your heart pumping and burn off the popcorn from all those movie nights.

A new craze is sweeping the social media landscape. This one has an oddly hypocritical message attached to it, however. It’s called the Don’t Judge Me Challenge, and though I believe its intentions are good, it falls flat on its face, enabling the kind of behavior it is supposed to discourage. In most of the videos, a good looking person makes his or herself up as what we would call “ugly” by our aesthetic viewpoints, puts his or her hand up towards the camera, pulls his or her hand away from the camera and presto chango, we have an attractive person as if by magic. The problem with this “challenge” is that it only reinforces the values of a narcissistic society. A more effective way to utilize this “Don’t Judge Me Challenge” would be to try and break stereotypes, to show marginalized and often disrespected images of people or races and show their humanity. People with mental illnesses, disabled people, Asians, Latinos, Blacks, homeless people and anyone else that society often shortchanges and stigmatizes should be shown as humans, and we should not haphazardly and shortsightedly reinforce some people’s insecurity issues. There is a passage in the Bible which speaks to what beauty is, and I believe that it is equally applicable to men and women, though it speaks in gendered tones. To paraphrase, beauty is not found in the exterior, but the cultivation of a gentle and a quiet spirit. Though Paul here is speaking to women, it is my own personal belief that we all would do well to cultivate a gentle and quiet spirit in lieu of exposing our exterior beauty to generate shares and likes. Written by Daniel Johnson

Written by Janiah Lockett MVMNTMAG.COM 9

CAVALRY CORNER

ANSWERING GOD SUBMITTED BY RAQUEL “DATRUTH” SEGURA I had been living life my way Existing in my own world

Filled with hurt and searching for love Confused at the outcome

But amazed at how I seemed to survive The perception was that I was living

RELATIONSHIPS

DATING IN COLLEGE IS UNDERRATED “Dating in college is overrated”- I hear that all of the time. Recently graduating from The University of Oklahoma and getting married while still in school at 22, it was a bit out of the norm. People always tell me things like, “Boy you are too young to be married! What are you on, the fast track? How do you know she is the one?” I have heard it all. And yes, college days were the best. Late nights and sleeping in until noon, I lived it all while in college and wouldn’t change anything even if I could, even the getting married part. And along the way through my journey, I learned a lot, and there are even more things that I realize now that I wish I would’ve known while I was in college before I found my wife. Here are 7 things that I wish I would have known while dating in college. 1. EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE, WILL AFFECT EVERYTHING I WILL DO It is so easy to sit back and to make this claim, but as cliché as it might sound, every bit of it is true. We reap what we sow, and what we sow outside of our relationships will undoubtedly have an effect on what we reap inside our relationships. Right now, start becoming who your future spouse is looking for. 2. I KNEW ME. So often we try to add something to our lives when we are already exactly where God wants us to be. I know that there were significant times in my life where I felt like something needed to be added to my life to feel satisfied, when really, the answer was right in front of me. We try and place our security in who we are dating rather than in who Christ says we are. Start figuring out who you are before you start striving to figure out who your spouse will be. 3. RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING. It wasn’t until recently that I realized relationships are everything, and beyond that fact, people are everything. The sooner you grasp this idea, the sooner you will cherish both being in and 10 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

When the truth was I was dead inside Consumed with lies

The blessings kept coming but to an extent

outside of a relationship.

And I spent day after day in a form of autopilot

4. IT IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT FULFILLS SEX, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

When I realized that this life was not mine

God loves sex; he made it. But he loves it inside of marriage between husband and wife. Being married just under a year and a half now, one thing I have learned is that sex does not drive the relationship; the relationship drives the sextrue, good, fun sex. I am not saying sex outside of marriage cannot be fun; it can be, but I assure you, it will not be near as fulfilling, lasting, and great as it would be with your future spouse. 5. DOES SHE LOOK LIKE HER MOM – BUT REALLY? The way that your significant other’s mom or dad acts will paint a rather gleaming image of how your significant other might act one day. Rather than tagging physical appearances to everything we see, look for something deeper, something that won’t sag away. Look into her heart. 6. BEING SINGLE DOES NOT MEAN BEING LONELY. The reality is that we can live a purposeful, fulfilled life without being in a relationship. It is okay to be single. And God can purpose you and use you, as you are right now, not 5 or 10 years from now, but right now. He wants you to be satisfied in Him, and I think ultimately finding who you are in Christ through deep, meaningful relationships with groups of people helps teach us how to be in a marital relationship. 7. TAP OUT. I wish I had realized finding my future spouse was not dependent on me, but dependent on God. I wish I would have given up a lot earlier and stopped forcing my way into relationships. His timing is perfect, and striving never gets you anywhere significant. Written by Seth Gebhart

But something had to give

it was his and it was in that I found strength and purpose

See once you find your calling in life Everything falls into place You start to get it right

You see why he’s kept you

You begin to walk in a light that brightens your entire being

And those around you without you even having to speak start seeing

That God has to have his hand on you.

This in itself is more beautiful than anything you could ever dream

I am living my purpose

Driven on faith and focus

Every struggle was worth it

For this is my calling the phone rang And I thought I could hit ignore But then he left a voicemail

Telling me what was in store But I hit delete

So he had to show

And he walked right up to my door and knocked And I acted like I forgot that he was coming So he spoke to me gently in my ear and whispered

You are my child This is my story

And you will be who I created you to be And in it

You will give me all the Glory.

SAVE THESE DATES ROCK THE DESERT 2015 rockthedesert.com

JON FOREMAN - THE WONDERLANDS TOUR jonforeman.com

ARTIST Montell Fish SONG TITLE Pink Love 2.0 LISTEN http://bit.ly/1ixHb4q Wednesday, August 5, 2015 12:00 am - August 8 12:00 pm

Midland, TX NGEN radio is going to Rock The Desert 2015: Proof Of Love!!!! Here's a glimpse of the lineup: Andy Mineo, Blanca, Da Truth, Derek Minor, DJ Promote, DJ Vow, Everfound, Family Force 5, Jimmy Needham, KB, KJ-52, Lecrae, NF, OBB, Social Club, The Classic Crime, Thousand Foot Krutch, V.Rose, & many more. In addition to Music & Speakers, there'll be a Skate Park & 5K Run!For the full lineup, visit Rock The Desert online.

Sunday, August 30, 2015 @ 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Houston, TX NGEN radio Presents: Jon Foreman - The Wonderlands Tour with Special Guest Jillian Edwards. As the primary songwriter and voice of Switchfoot, Jon Foreman has played thousands of sold out concerts, had more than a few radio hits, and has had his talents used to impact lives for the Kingdom.

FASHION

MYLES’ FALL FASHION TIPS The fashion industry is always looking to attain the next big thing. I’m already seeing fashion enthusiasts foreseeing our Fall trends and it’s barely summer! As usual, fashions from our past are being reintroduced into our present. What you’ll begin to see are full collars, hem lines coming down, layering, versatility, and overall modesty with a new twist being highlighted all over your favorite fashion magazines and on your favorite celebrities! This is obviously good news to those that prefer a little bit more coverage and a little bit more decorum but still interested in being fashionably current.

With a name like Montell Fish, and lyrics like, “I’m going away to the forest mom, tell everyone I love them alright,” Pink Love 2.0 is a refreshing blend of everything unique. From the Willy Wonka dream-like production to the catchy hook that just begs you to sing along, Fish beautifully sums up the current generation’s experience. We are a generation of young people sandwiched between the world’s attempt to change the definition of love and the internal conflicts of our own heart. On one slice the government is telling us that “this is the new definition of love and hate”, while on the other slice we’re barely hanging on, trying not give into our own personal temptations. Written by Ike Okpobiri

Here are some looks you can start wearing as fashion begins to transition into cooler months.The key to purchasing is investing in pieces that you can wear year-round; pieces that you can layer in.

AIRPLANE MODE 09/25/2015 ARCHIE & SIZZLE KIZOMBAWORTH.WEBS.COM Written by Myles K. Wren

MVMNTMAG.COM 11

MISSION TRIPS

MAKING OVER

Family Mission Trip Space is limited March 14th-18th 2016

MANDEVILLE

MVMNT TEAM

JAMAICA

During July 2014, members of the Makeover team traveled to the Mandeville/Manchester Jamaica area to work with several different churches, sharing the love of Christ through our teaching. It is our goal to bless this community with Soles (shoes) for their feet while a concert blesses their souls for Christ. We personally witnessed many children with ravaged shoes and a number forced to walk barefoot. Without shoes, children are at risk. Many lifethreatening and debilitating health conditions can be absorbed through the feet. We believe God can use us to be a light both physically and spiritually. We have partnered with Clyde Bogle, Minister at Mt. Pleasant Church Of Christ and we believe we can produce a Christian concert for teens and young adult in Jamaica. The concert will have dynamic speakers & Christian dancers that relay the gospel of Christ in a way that will connect with the hearts of youth. We need the help of businesses and individuals like you to make a difference in the lives of the young people in this community. We are seeking donations to cover cost of artist, speakers, dancers, travel, lodging, food, venue rental and foremost shoes. Our desire is to provide a concert that delivers the message of Christ free of charge to the teens & young adults of the community. 12 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

MVMNT Magazine is a publication of M101. Our MVMNT Team are creatives who make the magazine possible. We are always looking for writers, graphic designers, photographers, bloggers, social media publishers, promotions volunteers and more. For more information contact Blessing Osakue, bosakue@mvmntmag. com

VOLUNTEERS WANTED VOLUNTEER, DONATE, MAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH US ONLINE AT M101MINISTRY.ORG

Volunteer at our conferences. We need your hands to extend Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love to every girl we serve. *Can be used as service hours

ONGOING VOLUNTEER PROJECTS Hip Hop Hope Missions

The last Tuesday of each month we partner with Hip Hop Hope

Missions in Houston and serve

food in the 5th ward community. You can help by donating food

or joining us to serve. There are opportunities to perform music, dance etc. for Christ.

Servant Leadership Louisiana

October 9th-12th 2015

Summer of 2015 we decided to work in an area of New Iberia, LA to bring hope. Our main focus will be to repair a home that will be used to benefit a community in need. A group of retired school teachers will be working together to lead a GED program, teach life & parenting skills, provide job training while sharing the love & word of God at this location.

Beauty Tips: Smokey Eye When life gives you a smokey eye or clouds your vision: Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

AFTER THISSS...

REWRITING YOUR STORY

Seasons change. Life happens. The choice is yours to begin again, get unstuck or take a new path. You can begin again by REWRITING YOUR STORY. Begin with the end in mind. Here are 3 ways to develop your Massive Action Plan, MAP! 1. Change happens, accept it. Change is common, a routine in life. People change. Things change. The sooner you adapt to change, the faster you will move forward. In my favorite book “Who Moved my Cheese” by Spencer Johnson, there are 4 rats that eat cheese in one spot. Well, one day the cheese is all eaten up. Two of the rats go looking for cheese in other areas, while the other two rats sit waiting for more cheese to reappear. You know the end of the story. Don’t waste valuable time looking at a closed door, a bad grade, or the girl/boy that you think got away. There is so much more available to you. Move forward, NOW! What changes do you need to accept? 2. Stop, tell the truth, the radical truth. What do you want in life? Where do you want to go? You cannot allow other people's views of life to impact yours. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Stop creating a life that is centered on what other people do and say: centered on momma, centered on daddy or granny. Stop in your tracks and answer: what will make me happy? Whatever you are telling yourself, it’s time for REFLECTING. It’s time to state the fact and speak the truth. I am raising my children without their father.(Fact) And God is the source of my help. (Truth) What negative things are you telling yourself?

STEP 1 Select taupe or dark brown eyeshadow and pat it on your lid from lash line to crease

STEP 2 Using a dark grey, dark blue or black shadow, smudge into crease of lid and onto and onto the outer corner of lid while blending to soften the edges

STEP 3 Using a natural lighter skin tone eyeshadow, highlight under the brow to the brow bone

STEP 4

3. Write the vision. The Bible tells us to write the vision and make it plain so when others see it, they can run with it. What is the vision statement for your life? I am a fan of a vision board. What you keep in front you, you attract. The law of attraction operates with or without your awareness. You are what you think about. What do you think about…whatever is in front of you. What is your vision statement? Written by Tangela Harris

Markup Artists. Share your tips and tricks with the rest of us! Submit your beauty tips to write@mvmntmag.com

Line upper and lower lash line with a dark eyeliner. Create a thicker lower lash line with a dark liner and smudge out for smokey look

STEP 5 To complete the look coat the upper and low lash with several coats of dark mascara.

MAKEUP ARTIST NIKKI SMITH // SKINLINQUEUR.COM // 832-277-7770

MVMNTMAG.COM 13

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS

DEAR BELOVED, ABUSIVE LOVE IS NOT LOVE AT ALL You never expect to be “that” girl. The girl who is carrying around so much weight, baggage and secrecy. “No,” you tell yourself, “he’s just having a bad day. This is normal. I’m glad he’s opening up to me and dealing with his issues.” Ladies, anger is never a way to deal with your issues. There is no amount of stress, no amount of junk that can happen in a day, month, year, etc. that can justify anger and abuse as a reaction to dealing with your emotions. I spent years in abusive relationship after abusive relationship, telling myself that this was normal – that this is what a healthy relationship looked like. You never really recognize that you’re in one until you leave, and unfortunately, some people never get the chance to leave. I think it all boiled down to the belief that I never was going to be good enough to be loved. I had such a heart for people, for helping the hurting, but never believed that I was good enough to be loved in return. Whether in an abusive relationship or not, here are some things you need to know: You are worthy to be loved. You 14 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

were created as a beautiful and perfect masterpiece, and anyone (even yourself) or anything that tells you anything less than that is a lie straight from the devil. You see, words are incredibly powerful. They speak life into our lives. After all, it was God who spoke the world into motion. We believe what we tell ourselves. If we hear day in and day out that we’re not good enough, we will start acting

enough to be loved the way they currently are, or even sexually or physically beating them. Love should encourage and uplift each other. Love is a continuous joy and journey of getting to know someone. There might be things that you don’t like about each other, but it should NEVER manifest itself in intentionally hurting the other person.

“OUR IDENTITY IS NOT FOUND IN WHAT ONCE WAS; OUR IDENTITY IS FOUND IN A GREAT AND POWERFUL GOD WHO IS THE ULTIMATE HEALER” and believing as if we aren’t worthy of love. YOU, my darling, are WORTHY to be loved, if for no other reason than that you EXIST. The abuser’s “love” for you is not how love was designed. Love is patient, love is kind, love is not easily angered. Perfect love drives out fear. Sure, we’re human and we make mistakes, but that should never lead to manipulating someone, telling them that they’re a mistake, that they’re not good

You can be healed. You do not have to carry this baggage into your next relationship. I believed for the longest time that my pain defined me, and that I would never be able to be truly healed from the wounds that others have caused me. The truth is, perfect love casts out all fear. It renews itself day in and day out. We are broken and mistreated creatures, but our past does not define our present circumstances. Our identity is not found in what once was;

our identity is found in a great and powerful God who is the ultimate healer. I often times think that my scars are too big for Him to handle, but the truth is there is nothing too big, too small, too scary, too dirty for Him to handle. When Christ died on that cross, he died for ALL of our sins: that means our sins, our abuser’s sins, our mom’s and dad’s, friend’s, family’s, everyone’s. There is nothing too big that he cannot handle. In Christ, we are made a new creation, and if we press into his love and mercy, we find that our mind becomes renewed and that these wounds that we think will never heal become a glittering scar that only reveals the testimony to God’s love and power. There is power in speaking up. When we feel alone in our struggle, we tend to believe that we are the only ones that have ever gone through something like this. The moment we start to open up to others about our struggle, that secrecy that is being brought to light is opening up the doorway into the healing process. We begin to have loving people who speak life into our lives and interns are able to connect with fellow victims and teach them about our stories. You ARE strong enough to leave. Let me say this again, YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO LEAVE. Philippians 4:13 talks about how, with God, anything is possible. Without him it might seem like a terrifying feat, but God can give us the strength to take that leap of faith: talk to our parents or person of trust, call a hotline for help, break off that relationship or friendship that is causing us so much pain and suffering. Our identity is not found nor defined by our relationships. Abuse can come in many shapes and forms: physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual. Abuse is anything that treats you less than the person you are. This can mean that it doesn’t always have to look like physical bruises and broken bones. Abuse can come in the form of harsh words – tearing someone down, not validating the true beauty that you are, secluding you from your friends and family. This can also mean manipulation of your mind; planting ideas in your head that you are worthless if you do not please your man sexually, and say yes to him any time he asks for it. If someone’s words or actions make you uncomfortable, this very well could be an abusive relationship. Talk about it and seek help. For years I thought that I could do this alone, that I could just weasel my way out of the situation, but the truth is there is NO SHAME in seeking help. There is no shame in counseling, seeking the advice of wisdom warrior friends, or even domestic help-lines. When we open up to others about our experiences, it brings healing. We tell ourselves that if people know that they’ll judge us, or if we go to counseling that we’re weak. This is absolutely false. There is no strength in remaining silenced; that’s cowardice disguising itself as courage. What we sometimes overlook is that talking about our experiences and pain can bring freedom for someone else. It can give them the strength and courage to step out of their abusive relationship and seek healthy healing. Written by Lindsey Adams

WE HONOR VETERANS Are you related to a veteran? Submit a short essay (80-120 words) and a photo of your veteran to write@mvmntmag.com

BEYOND THE BORDER

POVERTY CANNOT BE DONATED OUT OF EXISTENCE The first-time visit to a third-world country on a mission trip is often experienced with astonishment. The sight of a naked leper ostracized from his community begging for food should tear at your very being. The sight of children creating makeshift toys out of trash should alarm you. The sight of bloated bellies and famished skeletal figures should move you to compassion. But what about the unseen? The structures that oppress and keep the poor in poverty around the world largely go unseen and untreated. The chief culprit of this is a lack of access to quality education. After the Liberian civil war, 200,000 refugees were left in surrounding cities (Liberia - No More War, 2005) and thousands of people were forced to end their education at a primary or secondary school level. Upon resettlement to various countries, their highest occupational outlooks were jobs that could be attained with a GED. This life sentence to poverty happens every time there is a war in any country. Compassion International is hosting an interactive exhibit that allows participants to better understand the realities of global poverty (Change the Story, 2015). It’s a great introductory step to making a difference because it allows people who can’t fathom international poverty to empathize with this struggle. When we see nakedness and hunger, we send clothes and money to meet the immediate needs of the poor, which is good, but it’s like removing only a small part of a cancerous tumor and leaving the rest to devour the patient. My father walked five miles to school barefoot in a village in Nigeria, but today he is a doctorate professor of engineering and father of four college educated children. He knew hunger and he knew suffering, but by the grace of God, he was able to change the course of his life through school. Even more important than a meal or a pair of shoes is an education. If you want to make the world a better place, if you are looking to donate money towards restoring a developing country, then I implore you to do so through scholarships and educational opportunities. Written by Deborah Osakue MVMNTMAG.COM 15

Garrison is a senior at Houston Baptist University studying Management at the Archie W. Dunham College of Business.

16 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

SPORTS AND FAITH WITH

GARRISON FICK At 6’ 2” and 175 pounds, Garrison Lloyd Fick could likely blend into your average sports spectator crowd. However, should you find him on a track, field, or court, don’t mistake him as just another athlete. This young man is likely your fiercest competition. The 15-year swim team veteran-turned-Assistant Coach of the Commonwealth Piranhas keeps busy as a star for the Houston Baptist University’s track and field team. With a host of events including but not limited to the 60m dash, high jump, long jump, triple jump, pole vault, 4x4, 4x1, shot put, and discus throw, it’s practically an understatement to call Garrison well rounded. Leaving behind his high school careers in football and basketball, he now competes solely in track and field. He’s recently been shattering both lifetime and school records, thriving in events in the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon. The third child of seven in a lively family that has long garnered my respect and admiration, Garrison has accomplished what most parents of athletes could only dream. He is equally successful academically as he is athletically with a 3.97 cumulative GPA and a two-year streak making the Southland Conference Track and Field All-Academic Team. He remains active outside of school in the lives of his many siblings and is a regular attendee of Sugar Creek Baptist Church. With such an impressive rap sheet, the obvious questions that follow would pertain to the character of such an individual. How does he stay grounded? You have the opportunity to read that in his own words. I had the privilege of occupying an hour of Garrison’s time this summer as we talked about his sports career, faith, family, and his outlook on competition. YOU GREW UP PLAYING A LOT OF SPORTS. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION TO PURSUE TRACK? Growing up, I was always in smaller leagues competing for private schools. I had just a couple thoughts about doing college sports but never thought I’d be good enough to. Then senior year came around and I improved in all of my sports: football, basketball and track. Ultimately, I made times and distances in track good enough to attract the attention of coaches at HBU. The rest is history.

WHAT SPORTS DID YOU PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL? Flag football, 6-man tackle, basketball, track, and summer swim team. Every Fick so far has played sports all the way growing up. Actually, I was homeschooled growing up until I was in eighth grade. I still wanted the opportunity to play sports, and at Logos (Logos Preparatory

Academy), I had the opportunity to continue to play sports. It’s always been something that I’ve loved to do. If there’s ever a ball bouncing, or a Frisbee being thrown, or something, anything, I’ll be chasing it. I really love doing it. You really get a good core group of guys that you share blood, sweat, and tears with. I love it.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU’VE LEARNED TO HELP YOU BALANCE YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER WHICH IS EQUALLY IF NOT MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN YOUR ATHLETIC CAREER? Really? *chuckles* In order to keep school and sports balanced, especially at the college level, it doesn’t leave a crazy amount of time for a lot of goofing off. You really have to have the drive to stay on top of it. I don’t know, I wake up in the morning, go to practice, go back to class, go back to practice and then go home MVMNTMAG.COM 17

do homework and wake up. During the season I have three practices a day: three on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and two on Tuesday and Thursday.

AS YOU BECAME INCREASINGLY SUCCESSFUL IN TRACK AND FIELD, WHAT ROLE DID YOUR FAMILY PLAY IN HELPING YOU COMPETE AND DO BETTER? Anytime there’s anything that I really need, my parents are always, always there to help me out. They’ve come to every major competition that they can. They traveled to Hammond, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama multiple times to the place where our conferences are. The whole family, especially my parents, but the whole family has come. Track and field, it’s not a real spectator sport.

all come from different backgrounds. Some of us were jumpers coming in, some of us were sprinters, some were hurdlers, some might have had more distance orientation or pole vault or whatever, but we all have things that we’re good at. We all have things that we’re bad at. You can ask any track coach--just the camaraderie of guys cheering each other on, it’s just not like other events. I’ve really, really enjoyed that.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU’VE STRUGGLED WITH AS AN ATHLETE? Other than injuries? *laughs* One thing that I do think about every now and then, more often than not whenever I’m in the middle of a hard workout, or it’s been a week when I’ve had to put in extra hours, or we had to travel, you know, 3 days to a meet, coming back and wondering like, is all this time and

“ULTIMATELY, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS KNOWING WHERE THE GLORY IS DUE. THE GLORY FOR ANY SUCCESS ISN'T THE CREDIT. IT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME. WE ARE CALLED TO WORK HARD AND PUT FORTH OUR EFFORT” You’re lucky if there’s a crowd of 100 people there. But when there are 8 family members in the stands cheering you on, they always stand out. Just having them there, when they come all the way out and take the time to support me, it makes me want to do even better.

HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION AND YOUR FAITH? Ultimately, I think the most important thing is knowing where the glory is due. The glory for any success isn’t the credit. It doesn’t belong to me. We are called to work hard and put forth our effort. “Everything you do, do it with all your heart as if you’re working for the Lord and not for man.” All that being said, I work as hard as I can, give it the best effort that I know I can, and leave the rest up to God. Anytime I have a personal-best – that’s all track is, constantly improving and just getting better each season you step on the track. I’m just really thankful for anytime I improve and any glory in any medals that come along with it, it’s just a bonus really.

WHAT ROLE HAS YOUR FAITH PLAYED IN YOUR PURSUIT OF SPORTS AND HOW YOU TREAT YOUR TEAMMATES? I think, especially since I’ve been blessed enough to have a number of good strong fellow Christians on my team at HBU, it’s really just bonded us together. Especially for Multis – that’s what we call ourselves-the people who do heptathlon and decathlon – we 18 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

effort really worth being able to say that I ran you know 49 seconds instead of 50 seconds on this 400 meter circuit? I think – and this really is what I believe a lot. I’ve coached basketball, football, and swim team right now during the summer – I think that sports, especially growing up, sports are about the lessons. Really, I love to win, I love to compete, I love to get out there and do my best, but there’re so many lessons to be learned about just pushing yourself a little bit harder, handling victory with grace, learning to get past defeat, and just try to get better next time instead of just letting it keep you down. There are just thousands of lessons to be learned. It’s in those times when you’re exhausted during a workout and you’re like I gotta push through it anyways, that can help you with anything in life. How has your faith played out in the lives of people around you? My faith is the center point of how I make my decisions and how I live my life as a whole. In terms of the people around me, at HBU we’ve started a Bible study that I’ve brought many of my fellow track teammates to and got to share that with them and let it have an impact on them.

I know without a doubt some of my best friends on the track team, there’s no way I would have gotten to know them, or become as close if it weren’t for our bond as brothers in Christ. When one of us is down and struggling that’s just one other way that we can encourage each other and build each other up. In that we’re not testing in the physical things, but that there’s a bigger scheme of things. Our success or victory on the track isn’t what dictates our life at all. If you leave the readers of MVMNT Magazine with anything, what would that be? No matter what your thing is, whether you’re a musician, or you’re an athlete, or you’re an artist, or a writer, as much time and effort and energy that you may pour into whatever it is you’re doing, it still doesn’t dictate your true worth. It’s still not the big picture. No matter what you dedicate your time to in this world there’s always a much bigger picture. Your success or failure in whatever you’re dedicating yourself to shouldn’t be where you place your value. Interviewed by Enoma Osakue

COLLEGE ATHLETES! We want to know your story. Email us at write@mvmntmag.com.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP OCTOBER 2015

HEALTH

HOW CAN I TAKE CARE OF MY EYES NOW TO PREVENT DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE? As teenagers and young adults, maybe you haven’t thought much about helping to ensure your eyes stay healthy in the future. A few ways we can prevent damage to our eyes are by limiting sun exposure with sunglasses, taking care of your overall health, and getting regular checkups with your eye doctor. Let’s further discuss these ways you can prevent future eye problems.

Makeover 101 Ministry invites you to join us as we seek, save and serve those in need.

NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA OCTOBER 9TH-11TH, 2015 This home was purchased by a retired school teacher, Mattie James, founder of Hope Ministries. This facility will be a place for GED programs, life & parenting classes as well as job training. As a partner of Hope Ministries, we will be allowed to share the gospel here and provide ministry classes on on continual basis. This facility will also help single mothers get back on track. While there in October, we will work on the home, host a prayer walk, community block party with food, games, testimony, performances. You can be apart of an ongoing commitment by Makeover 101 and others to repair a home that will benefit a lower income community. Join us as we return to New Iberia, Louisiana on October 9th11th, 2015 for this ongoing servant leadership project. We have partnered with local community leaders, businesses, church groups & volunteers to impact this community. Find out how you can get involved, where you can donate, or how you can pray for this project at www.m101ministry.org or contact or email Tangela Harris at info@m101ministry.org.

Did you know that 90% of the total lifetime sun damage to your eyes happens before the age of eighteen!?! This means that you should be wearing your sunglasses. Not all sunglasses are created equal, so when looking for a pair, you should choose glasses marked with both UV-A and UV-B protection. These labels mean that they protect your eyes from both of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Certain kinds of contact lenses absorb more UV radiation than others, so you may want to let your eye doctor know if you spend a lot of time outside and need extra protection. By blocking damaging ultraviolet light, you can prevent future cataracts (lens opacities that decrease your vision) and can also help prevent some kinds of eye cancers called melanomas. Here are other ways to help maintain the health of your eyes: 1. Eat your veggies! A diet that is full of good greens, healthy meats and fish, and limited amounts of sugar can help nourish the back part of your eye called the retina. A good diet can also help prevent diseases, such as diabetes, which is a major cause of blindness. 2. Don’t smoke! There are lots of reasons not to smoke, but some of the chemicals in cigarettes can lead to early cataracts and a constant, blurry spot in the center of your vision called macular degeneration. 3. Exercise! Exercising regularly increases the levels of oxygen to different parts of the eye and removes harmful toxins. 4. Get your eyes checked regularly by an optometrist. There are many types of visual conditions that can be diagnosed early to help with blur and strain with distant objects and reading closely. There may be a visual cause if having headaches that we can help diagnose. You can reduce eyestrain on your electronic devices by using the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a break. By being aware of this advice, you can help to prevent future damage to your eyes! Source: American Optometric Association

Dr. Darla Ferreira, Optometrist graduated from Louisiana State University and Southern College of Optometry. She practices in Forney, Texas and lives with her husband, Matias and daughter, Sophia. MVMNTMAG.COM 19

WALKING IN LOVE

GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL. WHAT NOW?

RACHEL DOLEZAL EXCHANGED A LEGACY FOR A LIE Rachel Dolezal is a white woman who disguised herself to be black for years. She became a civil rights activist and president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Spokane, Washington. While most of the discussion around Rachel seems to be about race and race appropriation, I believe this is deeper than ‘skin color’. Surely, Dolezal did a lot of good for the NAACP Spokane chapter, but at the very end of it all, she did it under a façade. Her legacy will not be what she did for the community, but rather the great lie of whom she was. At least in one area of her life, Rachel’s work has been diminished by a lie. In our own lives, there are lies we tell and secrets we keep to further an agenda. Often times the agenda is to protect ourselves. But in truth, the vast majority of things we try to hide will be revealed on this side of eternity. When the truth comes out, the houses that were built around our lies come crumbling down. These houses are our reputation, relationships, future opportunities, and the ability to be a strong witness. What will be your legacy, the work God has created you to complete or the lies you told to complete your work?

Written by Ken Nwankwo

20 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to legalize same-sex marriage across America has left the Religious Right in disbelief and consternation as evidenced in the dissents written by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. The overarching results of the decision means that same sex couples are now eligible to receive the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts such as tax benefits, insurance benefits and many other legal issues. For them, the fight is not one of morality but a fight for equality. Even though they have the legal right to marry, the fight for equality for LBGT people is far from over. In almost every state, it is legal for them to be discriminated against in the hiring process or even fired because of it. While conservative Christians do not hesitate to point to the religious liberty they are supposedly losing as a result of this new law, there is no actual religious duty for the Christian to refuse to serve or to refuse to treat a same sex couple like humans. In China, a country which had laws banning homosexuality up until the year 1997, there is a cultural tug of war between some younger citizens who are gay and their parents’ generation which came up in an era when it was taboo and forbidden. As it is in America, not all parents are anti-gay, and some stories have been shared of open-minded parents who quickly accepted their child’s sexuality. Many other countries around the world (79, according to 76crimes.com) either completely forbid homosexuality or are extremely repressive regarding that segment of their population. Jamaica is a country that has been notorious in the past for its brutal treatment of and even killing people who will not hide their relationships as the culture demands. Yet even Jamaica recently hosted a Pride event, no doubt emboldened by the move by the US Supreme Court. So, Christians, what exactly is our duty? Jesus says that the world will know us by our love. Love looks like not flipping out because new groups of people have the same rights and privileges we have seemingly always enjoyed. Love is ensuring that they are not persecuted and punished simply for identifying as something different. Love is not tolerating the abuse of people simply because you have read a passage in a book that refers to an act as an abomination. Several other things in that passage were also called abominations. Love does not pick and choose which people it will assist. Love sees suffering and says, “Let me help you.” Love does not add to the suffering of other people. Our responsibility both to God and mankind is to love. Written by Daniel Johnson

COLLEGE

CHANTELLE CONLEY’S SMU STORY This year I graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Markets and Culture and Spanish. I also retired from my rowing career of seven years. While I did receive a great education from a university that still encourages and challenges me to change the world one day at a time it is not because of my triumph over 15 page papers or the excruciatingly difficult midterms that I stand tall in this world. My time at SMU was filled with athletics and academics but it was also filled with intentional relationships that have forever changed my life. My freshman year I lived on the same floor as four Christian men, each of them very strong in their faith. I on the other hand only believed in a higher power. Through this Christian community I came to know Jesus Christ. After my freshman year, through the Christian community of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, I started following Jesus. FCA empowered me to stand tall.

BEING PLANTED In Corinthians 3:6 Paul says, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” My freshman year one of the men in my dorm was obedient to God and he invited me to church a number of times. With every invite he was planting a seed. I finally said yes my church community. FCA watered the seed and God grew it. As a new believer in college I faced my fair share of challenges. My faith had grown so quickly and so intensely that the name Jesus was on my tongue constantly. As an athlete and member of FCA I had a number of opportunities to share the gospel and water the seeds I had planted. At FCA I learned about making disciples and being planted in a community. Now I am living the post grad life and I can confidently say my time in FCA, ministering to the athletes on my campus, has prepared me for the world and the call we all share as Christians: to share the gospel relentlessly through action and word.

DORM LIFE

My freshman year on campus, I lived in the dorms or as SMU calls them” residence halls”. I lived in Shuttles on the third floor where all of the cool kids lived, not really. My experience in Shuttles was unique. Our floor was filled with outgoing

was definitely my favorite spot my first two years on campus. My freshman and sophomore year would sit with two older soccer players for hours telling ridiculous stories, laughing, and people watching. We had our own table and everything; I think I would have classified us as some of the cool kids. After my freshman year coming into sophomore year I changed my diet and became much healthier so the food wasn’t quite as appealing as it had been. I still loved to kick it in the dining hall but I couldn’t wait for my own kitchen. Junior year I moved off campus so I needed to find a new favorite spot.

MY CAMPUS RETREAT

individuals. We truly were a family by the end of the year but other floors and other years of residence weren’t so lucky. Typically Shuttles is the quiet, antisocial dorm, but not my freshman year. We were loud, fun, and all close friends. My roommate and I had the perfect location, we were right next to the elevator. When we were home we’d leave our door wide open. We had everyone hanging out with us and it was awesome. My sophomore year however was a little different. We lived in Cockerel Macintosh, right next to the football stadium so we lived with half of the football team’s freshman class.

My junior year I experienced a turning point in my faith. My favorite spot became the Hall of Champions, where we held FCA. Its directly over the football stadium. By senior year I would go into Hall of Champions during the day and just sit in the stands soaking in the glory of God. I gained new perspective in those seats. My freshman year my free time was consumed with impressing people, comparing people, or pleasing myself but my senior year I desired to soak in the grace of God. The stands were the perfect place for me to do it. When I sat in those stands I was inspired and I realized that God is good through losses and victories. In those stands I learned about God’s character. The football games were my favorite part of SMU win or lose. I learned a lot from those players.

ACADEMICS...ABOUT THAT Sophomore year, academics became a challenge so we hit the library a lot or as athletes we went to the press boxes. We had all day access to Lloyd - the football stadium, weight room, locker rooms, and half of the athletic offices. A number of us athletes would sneak back to the press boxes and study all night. It was quiet and few people knew about it so it was often empty. Aside from studying and rowing I went to class and ate a lot.

LIFE IN THE DINING HALL My freshman year I frequented the dining hall a little too much. My favorite was the Texas shaped waffles. Another favorite was nachos. Sunday morning was the athlete morning off. My teammates and I would go to the dining hall and make our own nachos to eat while we waited for everyone to get there. We would get chips from the Salad bar, cheese, and salsa from the omelet station then we’d pop it in the microwave by the drink station. The food wasn’t bad during the week, it was definitely edible and there was always a variety, but on the weekends we had to get creative because they would cut the food in half hence the nachos. I spent a lot of time in the dining hall so that

MEETING CHRIST AT SMU I could find God’s goodness in every inch of that campus which is funny considering it is believed to be a major party school. When I walked down the boulevard and looked at our multiple fountains, perfect grass, and the timeless school landmark, Dallas Hall, I was filled with joy. To some SMU may reflect the world in all of life’s idols like money, drugs and alcohol, sex, prestigious education, and worldly titles but it is where I found Life. After four years of walking the halls of Dallas Hall, football games, early morning practice, late nights studying I walked away from SMU with a relationship with Christ and a faith community that pushes me to be a world changer. I stand tall in this world because of my relationship with Christ. I will forever cherish SMU and my time as a mustang. Pony Up! Written by Chantelle Conlet

MVMNTMAG.COM 21

STUDENT LIFE

BRINGING CHRIST TO THE COURT My freshman year in college at Eastern State

my face, in regards to broken and resentful hearts

service at the BCM each week. The whole essence

College, our American Legion started a baseball

in my players. Those teams even were invited to

of the sports program was gospel-saturated.These

program for an area that didn’t have baseball.

play in the national tournament of the ACCA and

teams all became family units: 12-15 young men all

They went two years straight without a win. No one

won it three years in a row. I hear from many of

growing in the Lord together and holding each other

volunteered to coach the third year, and I asked if

the players today, especially through social media.

accountable. Other teams saw the closeness of

I could. I was young enough to play and coach.

Several of them are now coaches and almost all are

our teams and what they represented. My players

Our team traveled in the back of my pick-up truck,

still involved in a fellowship.

weren’t perfect, but they held each other to a higher

four in the front and five to seven in the back. Yes, I was young and stupid and that was in the days before people sued you for looking at them wrong. That team won the first 12 games in a row. It was then I begin to see the opportunity for evangelism in sports. The next year, I tried to schedule other games, but the program died out. I transferred to East Central University and got involved with Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM).

“I TYPED UP A PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT THAT COINCIDED WITH THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE AND TOLD THEM IF THEY WANTED TO PLAY THEY HAD TO FOLLOW THE CONTRACT.”

I shared my vision of a sports ministry with the Director.

standard to try and walk like Christ. When witnessing, here are some things

that turn off non-believers to the gospel: Religion. “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.” Build a relationship with a non-believer first, then you have gained the right to share. If

you stand out differently from everyone else, all of the differences go back to Christ. Disingenuity. Sometimes people will ask you questions you don’t have all the answers to. Answer honestly. Tell that

He bought in hook-line-and-sinker. He

Now here I am at Sugar Creek Baptist Church

person, you don’t know and commit to studying it

gave us transportation and paid for gas too. The

as the Associate Student pastor. We had our first

and following up with them to sharehat you learned.

University baseball coach gave us old college

baseball sports mission project to Oklahoma last

Let them walk with you on your journey.

uniforms. I typed up a player’s code of conduct that

summer.

coincided with the Christian lifestyle and told them if

SE Oklahoma. We worked side by side with First

they wanted to play they had to follow the contract.

Baptist Church of Stigler and Bethel Baptist of

We played seven games the first year and even

Wister. We served Stigler High School and helped

had a road trip. The second year we played 25

them with a children’s baseball camp. We also went

games. We would go and play local high schools

to the nursing home each day, played baseball

and after each game we had the opportunity to

games in the afternoon, did leadership training at

share the gospel in the dugout or on the pitcher’s

night and held a huddle team competition late night.

mound. The ministry continued for two years after I graduated. Now fast-forward 14 years. I ended up at the college where I envisioned the sports ministry, Eastern State. I had accepted the position of Director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry. I

We took 16 boys from our church to

When non-believers see you slipping up or falling? It is called GRACE! Satan is the master at making us feel guilty. So when we fall, Satan loves to keep us there. It is through GRACE that we are to move forward but “We are not able to plumb the depths of GRACE. There is not bottom to it and GOD will always take us deeper in to it, so there is no reason to try and understand it. When we think

Last March we went to Arizona and hosted a

we have a grasp on it, GOD will always take us a

soccer clinic. This summer we are headed to the

step further in it. We just need to receive it and

Philippines to host basketball clinics at the schools

model it in our lives to others.” - Dave Sammons

and play the local college/university teams. These are some of the unique advantages that being on a team with others helps to create for the gospel:

Sometimes you’ll be rejected. Look to the cross. Put yourself on the cross. Look through the eyes of Jesus; no one was more rejected than

immediately begin to implement the sports ministry

It starts with your own. My college experience

Jesus. Sounds spiritual, doesn’t it? I mean, isn’t

into the program. The BCM was averaging around

brought in players that were not all Christ-followers.

that what we as believers are supposed to say?

30 students in the prior years, but upon starting the

They loved basketball and in order to play, they

Rejection hurts, and it is going to happen, in some

sports ministry; within two years we were averaging

would do anything, even if it meant going to a

form or fashion. It is through that rejection, hurt and

150 students. We had basketball and baseball.

Bible study and a worship service. After a game,

pain that can bring you closer to the Christ, for us

devotion time was filled with the gospel on every

to begin to feel the GRACE that HE desires to pour

road trip in the van and every motel Bible study.

all over you.

We saw more than 30 of our own players over a seven-year period come to Christ. There are too many stories to tell that bring a smile to 22 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015

Then they had the requirement to be at our worship

Written by Butch Booth

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Book Makeover 101 Ministry for student chapel services and school assemblies

MakeOver101 CONFERENCE The Makeover 101 Conference is an attempt to makeover the world, one girl at a time, from the inside out. The conference is filled with games, music, make-up sessions and a fantastic runway show. Our speakers explore all aspects including spiritual makeovers, while our breakout sessions guide girls through physical makeovers. The girls were invited to attend the conference from local areas, as well as inner city Houston. We believe that God wants to change our world and He can use teen girls to start the revolution. We challenge girls to have a foundation based on Christ and to give up their baggage acquired from

their life choices. We teach girls that God created us in His image, therefore we are already beautiful. We must live a life of true beauty reflecting God’s image by following His Word. Our speakers hosted a “talk show” in which the girls actively participated in and had their questions answered from a Godly perspective. We know that in today’s society, answers to questions are only a click away. Whether or not the answers are of God is our main concern. Our speakers who are also youth leaders and pastors are able to elaborate on topics the girls provide with Christian-based answers.

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Conquering Waves A Makeover 101 Conference

CO M I N G J A N UA RY 2016 M 101 M I N I STRY.O RG/WAV ES

24 AUG/SEPT/OCT 2015