Athletic Ministry on a College Campus with Grace Hoyt

Athletes and athletic departments represent a significant community within collegiate life. In this episode, campus minister and former college athlete, Grace Hoyt, joins for a conversation about the heart and the how of athletic ministry.

Questions Discussed

• Why would someone involved in college ministry think seriously about intentionally reaching out to athletes? 
• Do you have to be a former college athlete in order to have an effective athletic ministry? 
• What are some of the particular challenges that college athletes face that others may not be aware of?
• Often times student athletes are some of the busiest students on campus. How do you find time to meet amidst their busy schedules? 

>>Join my email list today to get the inside track to help you grow in faith and develop in leadership.

Transcript

0:34

Well, what's up everybody. Hey, so great to have you back for another episode of the podcast. And we've got a great episode coming up with Grace White. And to be talking about athletic ministry and such an important topic, such an interesting topic. Uh, before we get into today, though, I want to introduce a new segment here. I've been talking about the importance of leaving ratings and reviews, and specifically on Apple podcasts. And so going to be introducing a segment here where we're going to look at and read a specific recent review. And so today we have a review. A five star review from JJ. K a R P F two. they say all of the episodes have been strong conversations at the intersection of faith. And leadership. The episode with Keith tower is over the top and so important. I could not recommend this episode. Any stronger, so good. Well, Hey, thanks so much for that. Really really positive review. So appreciate you taking the time to leave that and, uh, just wanna encourage the rest of you. If you could please take a minute. And leave a positive rating and review five stars would be amazing. I'm told that this can really help more people to discover the podcast. And so if you could do that, I would greatly greatly appreciate it. It only takes a minute. Secondly, I am in the process of, Building an email list. And this is something that I've been doing for a little while. It enables me to communicate a little more directly with you. The listener. And so I want to invite you to join the email list and that way I can let you know about, uh, episodes that have come out and email about other articles and other resources and things that I think can benefit you around these same themes that we address here in the podcast. And so I would love to connect with you in that way. Just provides a direct line of communication. So, uh, please take a moment to do that as well. I'll be sure to leave a link in the show notes and you can also just stop by my website. Dave has.com and click on the subscribe button there. If you would like to go about it that way. Well today, as I said, we're going to be hearing from grace Hoyt. And so here we go

David: 3:10

well, I am here with grace Hoyt, grace. Good to have you on the podcast today. Okay.

Grace: 3:15

Thanks for having me, Dave, how does it be here?

David: 3:18

Yeah. Well, for those that don't know, you, let me give you a brief word of introduction. Grace, you are a graduate of Kennesaw state university in Georgia, and you have been serving in college campus ministry full time with every nation campus for about the past six years. But of course we're involved as a student leader before that helping to launch an athletic ministry there at Kennesaw state. And you're currently the. Campus director or area director, really for every nation campus in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as the regional director for the central region of every nation campus. And so you and I get to participate in various meetings and planning sessions together, um, in that role. And it's been a lot of fun grades, just getting to know you so great. So good to talk with you today.

Grace: 4:09

Yeah. Thanks for having me, Dave, it's been fun to be a part of this ministry for so long, even with you. I remember doing some stuff as a student, even with you when you were at Florida state. So it's been a fun journey.

David: 4:21

Yeah, for sure. You know, I was thinking about that even before our conversation today and it feels like a lifetime ago for me. So I was, it was such a, like a distant memory. I'm like, I don't even know if grace would remember that, so I'm probably not going to bring it up, but then you, you went ahead and brought it up. So, yeah, that's fun. Um, well,

Grace: 4:38

Yeah. I was thinking about that this morning too. I was like, I wonder if Dave remembers that like athletic conference we did back in like tell them 11 gosh, feels like forever ago, but it was a lot of fun.

David: 4:49

It does. Yeah. I think probably part of that is just the year 2020 in the past six months alone just feels like, you know, maybe like five years, it's just like, wait,

Grace: 4:58

it really does

David: 4:59

year is it? I'm so confused right now. Uh, so yeah, it's, it's been disorienting for sure, but. Great. So just really grateful for you and your service to Jesus and your leadership in campus ministry. And then moving. I know that's something that we've been talking about in our ministry organization. A fair amount is, is expanding and going to new campuses and not just staying in our comfort zone, but really stretching in order to reach additional campuses and to extend the gospel. Into a more, more students' lives, um, and really just moving the gospel forward. So just, uh, I love it. I love it when people stay where they are and, and bear fruit over time. But just now there is something about being stretched and going into a new place. That is just pretty cool. I think it helps just to give you a different perspective on things and help stretch you in some pretty unique ways.

Grace: 5:51

Yeah, so true. Yeah. Getting to know a new context and new area, you know, you get out of it, the mundane and the rut of so to speak, doing the same things. And I just, I, for one love learning, so getting to go to new places really helps that. So learning new cultures, ways of life, and it's just amazing how different each part of our country is, which is crazy.

David: 6:13

Yeah. So

Grace: 6:14

I'm sure you've experienced going from Florida to Philly. So.

David: 6:18

Yeah. Yeah. It's quite different in a lot of ways. Likewise, I'm sure that Cincinnati Ohio is a bit different from, uh, North Georgia. Wouldn't you say?

Grace: 6:29

Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. It's a very different way of life, similar in some ways, but also very different.

David: 6:35

Yeah. Well, yeah. So interesting. Grace, I want to specifically talk to you about athletic ministry today. And, uh, I know that you are yourself, a former college athlete. Could you tell us a little bit about your athletic background?

Grace: 6:50

Yeah. So, um, I mean, I pretty much grew up playing every sport, like many kids do, but once I found the sport of volleyball, I just, I fell in love mostly because there was less running than basketball. Um, but that was like my thing. But then eventually when you play it at a certain level, You know, all bets are off, photometry running. You do so, but I just fell in love with it. Strategic ability, um, that you get to have with the sport, the team aspect of it. Um, it's just, uh, there's few sports like it, where you really have to rely on a team. So love that, love that about the sport. Um, so I played from about sixth grade all the way through college. Um, And it was just, it was a ton of fun. The sport change once I got college. Cause it was a little bit different. Yeah. When you play in college versus because you know, high school or club, and that becomes much more of a job than, um, something you just kind of do for fun. So it changed a little bit and I just had some crazy experiences. Um, when I, when I played in college having, um, I actually started out at Mississippi state university. Um, was there on scholarship. We had a coaching change and, uh, ended up losing my fellowship after, um, my freshman year. So I had to transfer. And so I ended up transferring to Kennesaw state, which was really to the God story in what he did all the way through that. I got saved my freshman year of college at Mississippi state university through the athletic ministry there. And, um, I'm so grateful for my time. There has crazy, that was to lose a scholarship. Um, I can absolutely see. You know, God's hand in that, that he then put me on mission to go to Kennesaw state. And like you said, I helped start an athletic ministry there. Um, finished up my time there. And then even after I graduated and finished playing, I coached for a couple of years, um, at the collegiate level, which was a lot of fun. So it was really interesting getting to see all different sides and aspects of the sport. Um, from being a player to then a coach and learning things you didn't know as a player now as a coach and why certain things happen the way they did. Um, you just to see the other side, which was, was a lot of fun, uh, of sorts. Cause it's just, I mean, when you become a coach yeah. Is your life, so it's a different world, but, um, but yeah, I mean, that's an essence, the. Some of my sport background got to be a little bit of a professional athlete there for a second, randomly with a different sport called netball. But yeah, sports were, were a huge part of my entire life. As soon as I could walk. I remember, well, I don't really remember. I just know my dad put a basketball in my hands. Like we were just, we were active. So it was just kind of part of what we did.

David: 9:43

Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Yeah. I'm, uh, I'm kind of at the beginning of it, you know, from the parents side now with, with my young children getting involved in sports and I'm actually coaching my son's eight year old soccer teams. So that's been kind of an adventure. Yeah. It's been a lot of fun. I'm actually, I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would actually. It was one of those things where. The, uh, the association, you know, clubs, soccer, they sent out a, a last minute appeal saying, Hey, we need one more coach, can somebody please do it? Just kind of begging for help. And I was like, ah, I guess I'll, I'll give it a shot, but it's really been a lot of fun just to get to work with the kids and just to be a part of my son's athletic journey as well.

Grace: 10:25

Yeah. That's going to be a lot of fun. Just extra time you get to spend with him. That's no different than you normally do. My mom coached one of my soccer teams when I was a kid. So that was fun. Fun to get to experience coach mom.

David: 10:38

Yeah. It's so funny. And some of the practices he'll be like, ah, it's like, he doesn't know how to address me, dad, coach, you know, so anyway, and then he calls me coach and then all the other kids are like, no, dad, you know, like correcting him as if he should be addressing me as

Grace: 10:51

No, that's your dad

David: 10:53

yeah. It's kind of funny.

Grace: 10:56

that's cute.

David: 10:57

Yeah, well, grace, just, uh, with regard to athletics ministry, you know, you shared a little bit about your journey and I think is just so helpful for giving us a little bit of context, but. Uh, you know, for those listening, some are college students themselves thinking about how to make an impact for Jesus on their campus. Others like you and I are staff workers with a Christian missions organization or campus ministry. And, uh, Not all everybody is an athlete. So what would you say to those that are not involved with athletics? Not college athletes, uh, but care about seeing students in general on their campus know Jesus, what would you say, uh, to perhaps encourage someone to think about intentionally reaching out to athletes? Why is this a, a good idea or a strategic aspect of ministry to get involved in?

Grace: 11:52

Yeah, I know. Um, The biggest part is just the influence that athletes have on a campus. Um, and I know sometimes we say that it's like all the athletes, they always get put on a pedestal, but like they really do have influence oftentimes the culture they're one of your, your culture, shapers influencers on a campus is his athletics, you know? Um, there's a lot of. You know, think about right now, there's a lot of community that's being missed out on because people can't go to sports, you know, not to make everything about COVID because I feel like everything's about that in the season, but just it's something that really shapes the call. College campus, um, specifically, and there is a platform that, that they have, you know, people are looking to them. People want to be them, you know, you've got statements. Like I want to be like Mike, that there was a big thing about everybody wanting to be like Michael Jordan. And it's just this, um, uh, Example that they are, um, that just culture across the board, not even just college campus looks too, um, of just how to do life. And so they're just a really important, um, when it comes to shaping that culture. So if you can see something like an athletic department transformed, you can really see the culture of a, a university transformed. Um, they just kind of have that kind of power. For better for worse, you know, cause sometimes it's not used for a good thing, but, um, there really is just that sense of platform that's given them and especially a football program, um, that can really shape a whole entire university. Then identity for a university comes from that type of a, a team yet. You know, you don't want to overlook the other sports that are on the campus as well. Cause sometimes. Sometimes we get a little bit too focused on football and then everyone else is like, what about us? But it is a whole different world. Football really is like what they go through and what they experience it's it is different than even the rest of the athletes. So

David: 13:57

what way would you say it's just, it's more intense in terms of what they're doing or in what ways would you say just from the athlete perspective that it feels different from other sports?

Grace: 14:07

there's definitely, definitely the aspect of like, um, there's so much more of their lives that are consumed. By their sport, then others, I would say some sports have a healthier balance life outside of work, sport and sport. Whereas like football really is more so your whole life, even as like an athlete too, I remember I was, I was dating a football player. I remember, um, watching him with this playbook that was like a three inch binder of all the place that they have to know. And I'm like, No wonder so to speak, jocks, have this like reputation of not doing well in school. Cause like football players have to have all this knowledge of their sport and these plays and all these different defenses and offenses and whatnot. And then add going to class and learning new information. On top of that, I was just like, gosh, I got a whole new perspective for the sport at that moment of like you guys, aren't dumb. You're actually really smart and you have to know a lot of stuff. Uh, and so it's difficult to know the rest of it, but like they had to know like the signs there's signs for all the things. Yeah. You have to know the plays and then you had to teach other people. Um, which was actually great because I have a picture, but I was just like, Oh my gosh, this is insane. What you guys, and then film and sitting down and the coaches, like I've watched coaches for football teams just be there from seven in the morning, till nine 30 at night dated a coach never really got to see him or talk to him. Like, do you actually care about me? Like just his life was crazy. Like it's just all consuming, um, in that world. A football because it's, it's make a rig. You gotta, you gotta perform, you gotta produce or you're out.

David: 15:56

Yeah.

Grace: 15:57

it's just, it's a high stress, um, crazy environment. That's just a little bit different than the other sports. So.

David: 16:06

What's helpful perspective grades. Yeah. If we could get into that just a little bit more, because I think for those that have not been involved themselves in the world of college athletics, it just can seem like such another world. Even as a student, you have athletes in your class and it's just. You don't see them around in the other places as much. A lot of times, you know, again, this is a different year with COVID, but a lot of times the athletes, when it comes to living on campus, they're, they're just living together and they're not living intermixed with other students and they're just kind of in their own world. They're there, they're gone. They're in the athletic facilities all day. And so there's not oftentimes a lot of. Uh, just interaction outside of classrooms with athletes and other students. And, and it just can feel like man, you know, I don't, I don't really, I don't really understand your world outside of, Hey, I see you. Okay. Playing in front of thousands of people, uh, at times, and that's. That's about it. And you're kind of a celebrity on campus, again, that varies sports sport or campus to campus. How big of a role that athletics play. But, uh, you touched on it a little bit here, just referring to some of the stress that athletes are under. Um, you know, Certainly, I believe we want to have the heart of Jesus for all students on campus. And, uh, and sometimes I think because athletes are viewed almost as just these celebrities on a pedestal, that for some, perhaps it's hard to have that. Appropriate level of, of compassion, kind of gospel oriented compassion for them of man. They, they are hurting. They need Jesus, just because it seems like, Hey, they've got it made. They've got a scholarship. They've got, yeah, just everything going for them. They're celebrated by the campus there, you know, got fans cheering for them. And so it just can almost seem like man, you know, I, I, I don't maybe feel the same level of urgency or compassion again, not, not everybody is that way, but I think I've picked up on that sort of. Attitude at times from some people. So what would you say to speak to that and to speak perhaps a little bit more from your perspective as an athlete and someone who's worked with athletes to help us gain a better understanding of some of the pain points, some of the struggles, some of the, uh, just the needs that athletes have.

Grace: 18:20

Yeah. I mean, one of the biggest things is just. Trying to remember to humanize them and remember that, you know, they're human just as anybody else that they go through the same struggles of, um, you know, family struggles, the different tragedies that happen to anyone happen to them too. Um, I know one of the biggest things I've learned and appreciated that people did to me when I was an athlete was asking. Things that I was passionate about, uh, besides my sport, because I do like to do other things besides play volleyball. Um, and when people, I saw that people cared about me as a person, more than just my sport, you know, just asking people would know, you tend to know who the athletes are. You know, I would walk around with bags of ice strapped to me or my athletic gear. Like you tend to know who they are on campus. Um, and when people would, I mean, they would come and support me at games, which meant a lot. It means a lot to your sports that don't get as many fans. It actually goes a long way to show up for them. Um, but just having classmates people around who would ask questions about me and get to know me and not just care about how practice went or how games are going. I mean, it was nice that they cared about that too, but just, you know, Knowing that they cared about me beyond that. Cause I had, um, some experiences with coaches where there were seasons of just not knowing whether or not they cared. Cause there was this there's this cycle I faced the cycle of. Of a coach wanting me to perform, um, for matches, but then threatening to kick me off the team during practices. And so it was this and down battle of trying to perform for this woman that was so unstable seemingly and our relationship and me trying to do everything I can to perform in the classroom. And also for this person who seemed really honest. I was unable to satisfy her. Like, it just didn't seem like a good dude, anything to satisfy this woman and then performing the classroom still, maybe have friends talk to my family. Like there was just so many different pressures from so many angles, get the experiences I needed for my degree. Like, there's just, there's so many different outside things that come with whatever degree program you're working on and then not having as much time to do that. Cause I got to at least be in two hours of practice every day. And lifting depending on what season we're in. So there were just so many demands from so many different angles and having people Mmm. Basically show that they cared about me as a person and didn't want anything from me, was huge. And so coming with that attitude of like, I just want to pour into you. Because there are so many people who show up and just want something from athletics, they just want to get around. Cause they can get free gear or they can get free tickets to games or like whatever it is. There's usually even in the mindset of coaches there, they're going to die. A lot of people have like, what do you want? Like, you're here, they're going to be suspicious that you just want something. And so coming to the table with just with that heart of, of service and wanting to know and care about them, um, Because they are experiencing pressures just as much as any other student on campus is experiencing pressures. Um, I'm not even going to necessarily say more because there are incredible pressors that every student faces, um, and it's different for everybody, but not comparing the two and thinking just because they may look pampered cause they get free gear or whatever. Um, maybe a different cafeteria or something like that, that their life is just so great and amazing. And there are absolved of all the difficulties that everybody faces as a human in this world, you know?

David: 22:19

Yeah, that's, that's great. I remember when he first told me that this, uh, uh, just, just recently this, you know, point of asking athletes, what else they're passionate about or what else they're interested in? Because I think for someone kind of on the outside, it can, you know, you can just fall into that thing of like, asking about their sport. You know, that's something that they spent a lot of time doing, but just again, like you said, humanizing and realizing like, okay, well that's obviously something they spend a lot of time doing, but yeah. They have other interests in life. They have other things that they, they do want to do, perhaps other things that they wish they had more time to do. And so, uh, always talking about the sport from a ministry perspective, it just can perhaps be more tiresome and not as helpful. Um, so that, that was really helpful for me to hear. Um, yeah.

Grace: 23:09

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's also to the reality that, um, because your sport often so much is your identity, um, like your worth in athletics, especially when you can compete at a certain level. Um, your work becomes so wrapped up in your sport and your ability to perform, um, that being seen as that, like you just almost expect to be seen as the volleyball player to everybody. And so that was why it was so profound to me is like, Oh, like, you know what? I do have other interests. I remember the first time I got asked, it was like, no, I actually do like other things I just ended up. Well, I talk about it as volleyball, cause this is my life and this is what I do they do. And that's essentially who I am. And so, you know, is that that's a big ruffling point for our, for athletes and what I've seen them. Most of them rustled through in discipling them or just being in relationship is just the reality that. You aren't what you do. Um, what do I think a lot of people can relate to new people get caught up in that and their jobs, whatever job it is, whether it's a sport or something else. Like we, aren't what we do, you know? And that was what just like made it really clear that someone cared. There was something that cared about more than just me performing or producing for them. That wasn't my worth to that person. And that was just so refreshing. Incredible. Yeah.

David: 24:41

Yeah. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. Imagine that, you know, seeing well as people it's impactful, like wow. Like groundbreaking,

Grace: 24:49

Right. I know.

David: 24:50

fundamental as that is. It's, it's just so important to remember, especially with, uh, you know, these segments and, you know, probably the same thing would apply to other leaders on campus of just sometimes we can get almost caught up in the aura of a position or role that they're playing and just forget like, Hey, wait, we all. Are humans that have struggles that have needs and just, you know, we, we need it at the heart level. Really the same thing we need. God's love, we need others. Love, we need, um, you know, we need that. So that's great. Well, grace, if you could speak to this a quick, so some people might be listening to this and they're thinking, okay, well, I'm starting to catch the vision reaching athletes. I see it. Okay.

Grace: 25:33

Let go.

David: 25:34

yeah, let's go. Uh, yeah, but PR, but they're thinking, okay, but I'm not an athlete. And so is this something that I can actually do? So what are your thoughts on this? Does it, do you have to be someone within athletic background or a current athlete in order to effectively, uh, really bridge into that world and, and minister in a meaningful way, connect in a meaningful way with college athletes? Or is this something that, uh, is not necessary?

Grace: 26:03

Yeah, I don't, I don't think it was actually necessary. And you know, obviously there's the helpfulness of like, I can connect and empathize with you because I've experienced those workouts and, and whatnot. But I don't think it's, it's a prerequisite to reach, you know, student athletes that you've been a collegiate athlete or even an athlete at all. Biggest thing I've seen is just confidence is not going in really just unsure, but going in of like, man, I love these guys and I want to, I want to be there for them. Especially as you're approaching coaches, there's just a really importance of not coming in. Like, so like, you know, if we could talk him, Sam, like, no, like I'm here and I want to love on your team and I want to serve you. Like, is there anything I can do? Just being confident. Um, because that's just, that's something that you can tell a lot of athletes there they're go getters, not every single one of them. You can't blanket put everybody in a box, but there's a fast paced world that it really exists in that space. And so if you're fumbling to really communicate what you do, we want to do, and while you're there, there most athletic programs, especially at the division one level. Those coaches are going to be like, all right, cool, bye. Like, they're just not, they're not going to wait. Yeah. And you have to try to figure out what you really want to do or why you're there, um, and communicate that to them. So it's really just, um, being competent that God has called you to reach them and walking in that confidence, regardless of what you know, to get from coaches. Cause even I, as a former athlete have had coaches just shoe me to the side. Um, to be like, that's cool. See you later, or even really not even talk. So, you know, it's not just because I've been an athlete. Do I automatically have this? Like, everyone's gonna love to talk to me in an athletic department about Jesus and what I want to do with their team. Um, which is where I think prayer is just to. Even greater key to reaching them is if you want to reach athletes, start praying for them. Start praying for the teams. You can get their names. They're all posted on the internet. Start praying for them by name, pray for the favor and open doors, and then just confidently walk in and approach them. I think that's the power behind it. Not a personality or an experience you've experienced when it comes to having played sports. Because, I mean, isn't all ministry about God and his power to move. Anyway, I can't transform their lives. I can just be painful to preach the gospel to them and approach them. But ultimately that's, the power and responsibility is on God and the Holy spirit to transform. And so everybody has access to that. You don't have to have a certain background, um, to have access to that. So I think that's the beauty of how God works. And I love when people are not athletes love on athletes. Cause I think it's powerful.

David: 28:58

Yeah, grace. That's so good. It's just starting with prayer and really laying that foundation. And of course, I think what prayer does is it also changes our hearts and it can actually even coming back to your first point about confidence, it can help to just work that sort of Holy confidence into our hearts of just getting more of a conviction. And as we get God's heart. For others that then were able to walk in, in greater confidence because we have more of God's heart for them. We have more of a, uh, an awareness of who we are in Christ. And so prayer, I love that. That's such a helpful word for us to hear grace, just to ask though, walking in and coffee minutes and then prayer, you know, w H how do you navigate the balance? Of going in and confidently and presenting something that's clear, but also just coming in with a servant posture of, of not just coming in with your agenda, like, Hey, I'm going to do X, Y, and Z, but also have a listening of, Hey, what, what do you need? So how, how do you manage that, that need oftentimes to listen, to understand the schedule and the needs of the team and how you might best serve with also, as you said, walking in, in a confident way and presenting something that's clear.

Grace: 30:17

Yeah. You know, with coaches, if I'm approaching them. My first couple of, um, interactions is just. Hey, I'm grace. I'm a campus missionary here. Um, just wanted to check in and say, hi, introduce myself. I'll be around. You'll see me around a lot, you know, cause I'm going to be faithful and consistent to show up. Um, and this, so this is just who I am, you know, saying, hi, is there any way I can pray for you? And it's just showing up and then being a presence. I don't necessarily lead with, Hey, I'm here. Here's what I can do for you. Like I'm showing up the first couple of times and asking how I can pray. Um, and then there's, cause they'll walk around the building. Um, I'll sit in the building and be there and they'll see me in the wave and we'll start building relationship that way. Um, sometimes they get curious and they're like, so what are you just hanging out here? You know? And I'll get it. Talk about them to them a little bit more. Might get to share a little bit more of my background. Um, hear more about their story. It's really just caring about them and learning some stuff about them, but also, um, Realizing being aware of time and respecting their time. So I do a lot of short, quick moments, and then eventually just like, Hey, you know, there's any ever anything or any way I can serve your team, you know? And you see maybe the need to serve your team in a certain way. Having tools like character coaching is always helpful when you're reaching athletes, um, to be able to be like, Hey, I can help, you know, character coach, because once something like that, a lot of coaches love having. People who can influence their flares and the role of character. Um, because sometimes they don't really have the personnel or the time to think about that, but they know it needs to be developed and they've got to develop them in skill. And so that's something we can bring to the table as ministers, which opens the door for ministry conversation. Because especially when I'm doing character coaching, it's usually trubes from the Bible that we're talking about. Um, because. This is what develops character without saying, you know, scripture and verse, um, you know, not to do wait and twist, but like this is it's biblical truth that a lot of people get and no one's had a problem because it's it's truth about character. And so it's always opened the door to ministry conversation, and then maybe like a Bible study or something down the line. Or if you get a coach that's like a Christian and they're cool with just being like, yeah, come do a Bible study, do whatever. But usually when it gets to that moment of asking, you know, how can I serve your team? I'll let, uh, let them share, like, here's what we would want to do. Like here's what I'd love to have. And then I'll also share, well, here's what I can do because sometimes a coach will try to have you at every practice, every game, everything, and you may not be able to do that. Sometimes you might be able to, but sometimes you've got other things going on. I know, especially in every nation, we're usually not just in the athletic world, so there's other things we have going on as well. Um, or maybe other teams. And so being able to, to know upfront, okay, here's what I can do, but not necessarily just going, here's what I can do to the coach of like, Hey, how do you, like, how do you see that? I might be able to serve your team. And you listen, you hear from them and go, okay. You know what? I think I can do that. How does that sound, you know, until you're working together to work this out, rather than just coming in guns blazing, well, here's what I can do. I want to serve your team and it's amazing. And here's what I can do to, to that.

David: 33:57

Right. Like, and you just met them like 15 seconds before. Right. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah. Nice.

Grace: 34:04

yeah, so it's usually just, it's relational. You build a relationship. Um, and pray for the open door and then pray for the ability to recognize the open door, um, because you don't want to miss that too, but, um, but yeah, it's mostly about relationships, um, and just building relationship and being consistent and showing up. Cause that's what coaches want to know is you're not just going to show up if it's convenient or you're going to get something or get access to their, their students. Um, showing up is one of the most, um, Powerful things you can do in that sense. So they know like you're, you're going to be around. And that's where I've been able to build relationship with some of our hardest coaches here in Cincinnati. That wouldn't really give me the time of the day to start out with who now. Like, even if I see them at a Starbucks, some other place in the city, they'll say hi to me. Like just being, because it did. And then knowing I'm there, I'm not going anywhere. And I care, like, it just, it goes a long way.

David: 35:05

That's awesome. Yeah. Consistency, I think is an underrated attribute in a lot of situations. And so, uh, that that's, that's really cool. Yeah. W what grace related to that you've talked some about the busy-ness of, of coaches, but even just going back to the players themselves. I know, oftentimes student athletes are some of the busiest students on campus. And in particularly with some of the sports, just how demanding it is a really early morning hours until, you know, they have classes and then they're back, back at it. They've got other workouts and they've got team meetings in the evening and yeah. And of course they've got a certain. Nutrition things they have to do and making sure they're getting in, not just food, but the right kind of food. And so, uh, watching film all kinds of things. So how do you find time to meet with them and to minister, to students in the midst of their schedules?

Grace: 36:04

Yeah, it's usually what's been different in different seasons, but sometimes it's just, it can be odd hours and that's where just the flexibility's important. And then also realizing it might be a shorter moment, um, to start out with just having a. 15 minute moment with a group or a team, if you can get access to that. Um, and knowing that that's going to be just as powerful as if you were able to get like a whole hour at some point, like you don't have to have like a whole hour or two hours with them to make an impact. Um, and so it might start out smaller and then be able to grow to longer amounts of time spent together. But I've found, you know, Just being a good steward of time. Um, and being faithful to the time that you're given. So like, you know, if a coach gives you access to the team and they say, you've got 15 minutes before practice, I'm taking just 10 of them. Um, you know, and I'm gonna hopefully in that and then just know that I'm available or just even being consistent to text them every once in a while. Hey, how are you doing like that? There's been seasons of that. I've just. Them knowing that even though I haven't seen them, or maybe we can touch base for a minute, I've still am thinking of you. I still care about you and I want to know how you're doing. Um, so that can go a long way as well. So it's really just being creative with what you can get in what works with the schedule. Um, but also realizing that, um, shorter moments are still just as powerful as the hour. You know, I know some campuses students will just hang around forever and the student union who aren't student athletes, and you can just sit with students as a campus minister in your student union or wherever. And they'll, you might just have to tell them to actually go to class, like, Hey, so you need to actually go to class again, if you're all day, but with them, you know, you might have to find just that quick moment, which is where even showing up if you know, where the athletic building or where they hang out a lot. If you just sit there, um, there's just divine moments and appointments that happen to where they might be sitting for a while waiting for a tutoring appointment or something. And you can hatch just like the little marginal moments along the way that are really helpful. Um, or go grocery shopping with them. That's also an option. You can do normal life things with them. They've got to get groceries or do something like that. Like, Hey, can I come with you? Sometimes I'll ask them if I can learn some stuff from their nutrition glasses, so I can learn more about how I can even feed my body better. Like, you know, just learning from one another. Um, I've found really helped relationship, um, cause they do have something to offer even in that sense. So, um, but yeah, it's just using the margin of time and realizing that that is just as powerful as the full sit down one, one and a half hour moments.

David: 39:06

Right. Yeah. So the ministry still counts, even if it's in 15 minute blocks instead of an hour and a half long blocks, it still counts.

Grace: 39:13

Absolutely absolutely counts. Sometimes those have been more powerful moments than the hour and a half of trying to get people to talk like it's, you know, it's just the amazing way that God works and how much it, it again, is about him moving in hearts and minds and not my abilities, you know? So.

David: 39:33

Yeah. That's really good. Grace. Yeah. I've heard you say in other settings, just something to the effect of how important the summers are when it comes to athletic ministry. Could you just speak to that a little bit?

Grace: 39:46

Yes, summers are really, really important because there is less pressure. Um, it's a less pressurized time because while they might have some classes going on and typically they do, if they're around. Um, there's not really typically a season happening. Maybe baseball might run a little bit into the summer, but most sports aren't actually competing during that time. And so they're just working out there and they're doing class. And other than that, they don't have all that much going on unless maybe some of them get a summer jobs that does happen sometimes. But. Um, life is a little bit slower for them in the summer. So really found that that's a really, really helpful time to grab them and do some deeper diving and we can do during, especially whatever their season of, of competition is. That's usually, um, so like volleyball, fall us the competition. And so that's usually where I'm like, Maybe we can see some people every other week. Um, and then hopefully I'm empowering some of the girls on the team to stick with their, their teammates beyond that. Um, and then the spring's a little bit more lax, but they do have a spring season for volleyball. Um, you know, they start doing full stuff again in March onto the rest of the semester. But typically a volleyball team is in town over the summer and there's a less craziness going on. Cause there's no competing about trying to travel somewhere on the weekends to play. Um, and so it's just, it's a slower time. It still may not like that's low because honestly it's but compared to yeah, other seasons, um, for them there, they typically have to be there and there's not as much going on. So absolutely capitalize on that time.

David: 41:32

Yeah. That's really good. Grace. Well, grace, this has been such a good conversation, just so helpful and inspiring. I think a lot of people are going to be helped by this, but I want to ask you one final question here, particularly for the younger college student that may be listening as well as, again, those that are trying to help mentor and lead, uh, college students. Knowing what you know now with all your lived experiences of life and athletics and all of the things that you've done, what advice would you give the 19 year old version of you?

Grace: 42:13

Yes. That is a great question. I feel like it's the same thing. I still try to tell myself today, even at 31, you know, Don't take yourself so seriously and realize that the weight of the world is not on your shoulders. Like just the reality that, um, We don't rest well in this country. And I think it's really important. I mean, just as much as we learn in athletics, you we've got to rest our bodies. Otherwise they eventually get injured or really good for nothing. Um, we don't tend to apply that to the rest of our lives. And I think some of that, I know a lot of that from being came from feeling like if I stopped the world would end like to put it in a really hyperbolic statement, but like, that's really what it felt like. You know, I was going to let people down. If I took time off, you know, I've got all the pressure of assignments and then performing on, on the court. I want to make my parents proud, you know, like just all of those different things added up. And it felt like if I took a moment for myself, if I took a moment to rest truly, um, and not do something for a day that the world was gonna end. Um, but the pressure. Is not on my shoulders, the salvation of the world. Thank God does not rest on my shoulders. It rested on Jesus's, you know, 2000 years ago. And I'm remembering that, you know, it just, it lessens the anxiety. Um, I feel like anxiety is such a, it's a big thing that so many of us are facing, you know, which just gets exacerbated by COVID. But, um, I feel like it's, especially for athletes, because you've got so many pressure points. It feels like if you take a moment, it's all gonna fall apart. And it's just not, we're not that powerful in that sense. And so that's, it's been the biggest just advice point. I think I could give someone is just rest, take a time to stop. It's going to be okay. The world is not going to fall apart. If you take a moment. And rest and give yourself the grace to actually rest. So, um, yeah, I mean, that's distinctly, as I can say it and as straight forward as I probably good, just, you know, as if that is a sound, you're not that important, like you are, we're all important. We're all here for, but I think we just put too much pressure on ourselves sometimes. Um, You know, granted that does come from a lot of different sources. So it makes sense why we feel so much pressure, but it's just the way the world is not on our shoulders. Um, and you know, it's okay to have fun.

David: 45:01

Yeah. Rest

Grace: 45:01

actually really important to have fun.

David: 45:03

Oh, totally. Totally. Yeah. Yeah. I can fall into that mindset in myself and it's not good. And, um, what I try to remember is that rest is not the enemy of achievement.

Grace: 45:16

Yes, absolutely.

David: 45:17

hand that if we want to achieve, we want to make an impact. We must have appropriate doses of rest in order to really go the distance.

Grace: 45:28

Yeah. That's good. That's a good way of putting it. I like that. I'm going to steal that phrase.

David: 45:32

Okay. Feel free. Feel free. Awesome. Well,

Grace: 45:35

I'll give you credit.

David: 45:36

okay. Alright, awesome. Grace, this has been so fun. Just chatting with you and, uh, you know,

Grace: 45:43

Yeah. Thanks for having me.

David: 45:44

for your time. Uh, and

Grace: 45:45

it's been fun.

David: 45:46

yeah, what for the, for the person that's listening to this, that may be like, Oh, that was so good, but I need more, I've got a follow up crush question for grace. How might someone get in contact with you?

Grace: 45:57

Um, I mean, they can come in and I'm on Instagram. I'm on Facebook. I think my Instagram is grace underscore, which is H O Y T. So it's fun to spell, but, um, No, I don't mind if people reach out via email, um, grace dot Hoyt. I don't know if there's a description, you can put this in, um, and whatnot, but grace dot Hoyt, every nation.org, you know, I'm more than happy to talk and, and strategize or give advice or answer questions just even that people might have, um, or even learn from others. I'm sure there's stuff I can learn from people who are out there. I would love to hear. Um, what things are going well for me, for others and other places. So, um, yeah, definitely reach out if you want to talk some more, I'd love to love to talk and keep the conversation going.

David: 46:43

Cool. Well, grace again, thanks so much. Appreciate you.

Grace: 46:47

Thanks, Dave.

46:50

Wow. Well, that was fantastic. I so enjoyed that conversation with grace. I loved her, uh, practical tips on how to connect, how to relate, how to. just engage this relatively, distinct subculture of the campus. And just the emphasis on prayer. I don't know about you, but I have just been stretched and challenged this year in significant ways. And I'm really making a conscious effort to just go deeper in prayer. And so some of the practical things that she shared in regards to. Praying for athletes as a, as a way to at least begin in that aspect of ministry, I thought were very relevant. Well, again, I hope you enjoyed this episode. Please stop by, Apple podcasts and leave a five-star rating and review. If you do, perhaps you will be featured in in the next podcast episode. And also be sure to subscribe to my email list. I would love to connect with you and communicate in that way. So have a great rest of your week. And until next time stay Oh,