Allison Sparrow - Volleyball

I was…

Born into a Christian home where attending church on Sunday, being active in youth ministry, and being engaged in small groups was the regular, BUT as a young child it was so easy to look to the world to find happiness apart from Christ. I was young, insecure, an ornery instigator, and everything that I did in those early years could be seen as me serving myself, my own desires, and my own selfishness. I was the epitome of Ephesians 2:1-3; dead in my trespasses and sins, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, enslaved to the desires of myself…absolutely distracted from God. My parents were Christians and I viewed myself as “good”, so I never necessarily saw a need to change who I was. I honestly thought I was good to go. I had no intention of making the decision to follow Christ for myself, and I was complacent in my sin.

But Christ

As Paul says, it’s by grace that we have been saved. I can’t tell you the exact day or the exact hour that I was saved, but it was a work that God intervened, and He just began to move in my life. He had begun to awaken and grow those gospel seeds that were planted from my early years of childhood. God kept impressing the perfect life, the sacrificial death, and the resurrection of Jesus on my heart. Something just clicked…I realized that all my sin actually demanded God’s just wrath, yet he sent His son. It was MY sin… yet HIS death. He who knew no sin was made to be SIN so that I might be the righteousness of God. God finally softened me, His spirit regenerated me, and I was ready to take it amongst myself to respond to the work that the Spirit was doing in my life. I repented. I believed that Christ died MY death and rose to life, so that I may be raised to new life with Him. When I finally decided to accept Christ as my personal Lord and Savior it was on MY terms and for MY eternity.

And now…

I’ve changed- changed the way I spend my time, the way I play volleyball, the way I view trials, the mindset I carry, and the way I interact with people. When you choose to serve a God that is sovereign over all, you begin to recognize that your entire perspective changes. Since surrendering my life to Christ, I’ve learned there is something higher that derives my purpose here on earth. As Christians we are to be ambassadors of Christ; we hold knowledge of the TRUTH that Christ came and died for us sinners, and that we can be reconciled to Him. I’m on an unending journey that consists of me constantly having to surrender myself daily to allow Him to cultivate me. When I become less, He becomes greater.

Life Verse

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

Challenge to Other Athletes/Coaches

- There is someone to play for higher then ourselves. We have the opportunity to use our sport as our stage and our platform to worship Christ, let others see that you are different by the transformation of Jesus.

- No matter the result of your game, there is nothing more freeing then being able to walk away declaring that your identity is NOT found in your sport but Christ!

- Do not be blinded to the opportunities that are right in front of you- a majority of the time, there are coaches and teammates to witness to right there on your team. Be the change, be a light beaming for Christ, and be a prayer warrior. There is so much opportunity in getting to be a collegiate athlete.