Meet The Christian Athlete Team
Brian Smith
I thought quoting a Bible verse would help me perform better.
I’m Brian Smith and as a cross-country athlete at Wake Forest University in the early 2000s, I recited the same Bible verse before every cross-country race thinking it would help me reach my goals. The truth is, I never fully understood what God wanted from me when it came to applying my faith to my sport. Praying before the competition seemed like a good start.
But what else did God want from and for me? I knew there had to be more.
In 2008, I started working with Athletes in Action, an international sports organization dedicated to helping athletes integrate their Christian faith with their sport. I’ve wrestled with this topic, guided college athletes, and written widely, including multiple published books, including The Christian Athlete: Glorifying God in Sports and Away Game: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. I have an MA in Theology and Sports Studies from Baylor’s Truett Seminary. My life’s passion is helping athletes, coaches, and parents live biblically at the intersection of faith and sport. That’s why I founded The Christian Athlete.
Now, does the Bible talk about sports? Very little, actually. But it does tell a story about God redeeming His people through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. And when we interact with the story of God, we learn about…God. We learn what He likes and dislikes. We learn how He wants us to live and love. We learn about what brings Him glory. That’s where the fun begins. Because when we know what glorifies God, we can begin to be creative in how we express that within the unique context of sports.
Over the last two decades, I’ve had the opportunity to encourage and equip thousands of athletes, coaches, parents and ministry leaders across the country. Whether you’re an Athletic Director, Coach/Athlete, Parent or Pastor, I’d love to connect to find ways to serve you.
For booking requests use the booking button or connect with me directly at 608-469-7983. You can email me directly at Brian@thechristianathlete.com
Tyler Turner
“There has to be more to life than winning.”
That statement is what started me on a journey to figure out how Jesus and sports fit together.
I’m Tyler Turner, and I'm on staff with Athletes in Action, where I help direct this platform called The Christian Athlete. I get to walk alongside athletes and coaches asking questions like: What is there besides winning to give you purpose? What does it look like to stay anchored to Christ when the pressure, noise, and pace of sport pull you elsewhere?
I wrestled at the University of Wisconsin, where I was an All-American for the Badgers, and I still stay close to the sport today as a club wrestling coach. I hold a Master's in Theology and Sports Studies from Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary and serve on the Executive Team for Ultimate Training Camp.
Much of what I create for The Christian Athlete grows out of a curiosity to help sportspeople discover how to live the Kingdom of Jesus through the ordinary rhythms of sport—a quiet life and leadership that challenges others to live differently. I'm passionate about giving athletes, coaches, and parents practical, biblically grounded tools so that sport becomes a place where faith is lived out daily, not just referenced before the whistle blows.
As The Christian Athlete grows, I look forward to putting the structures in place that will serve more organizations and people in the sports world. Graduating from the University of Wisconsin with an Elementary Education degree leads me to enjoy teaching in the classroom of the gym, locker room, or even on the screen.
I love meeting with athletes, coaches, administrators, and parents to ask the question, "How can I serve you?" Click the "Connect" button or email me directly at Tyler.Turner@athletesinaction.org
Amanda Wiggins
I’m a soccer chaplain who is passionate about discipleship in and through sport.
I’m Amanda Wiggins. From reciting the Lord's Prayer before soccer games at age 8 to sharing the Gospel with any teammate willing to listen in college, faith and sport have been two central components in my life since as long as I can remember. However, faith hardly ever informed or provided meaning to my sporting experience. I lived under the notion that God did not care about sport as anything other than a platform to share the Gospel. As soon as the game kicked off, God was the furthest thing from my mind. As a college soccer player, I felt alone dealing with issues around performance anxiety, identity, and fear of others. What does God have to say about these experiences? Does God even care?
Driven by a passion to make Christ known in sport, I joined staff with Athletes in Action in 2015. Since then, I've had the privilege of ministering to athletes at Xavier, UNC, Duke, and NC State. Currently, I serve as a chaplain in women's professional soccer for the NC Courage. I'm also pursing a Master's Degree in Theology and Sports Studies from Baylor University's Truett Seminary.
As a chaplain, I am passionate about walking alongside athletes and coaches as they navigate challenges in life and sport. I want sports people to know they are not alone. God cares deeply about them AND their sporting experience.
As I stand at the edge of a soccer field or read about a current event in sport, I let my mind wonder: if heaven invaded earth today, what would sport look like? This question motivates much of my writing and resource development. I long for the day when the sports world more fully reflects the Kingdom of God. Until then, I want to help sports people experience heaven on earth now through faith and sport integration practices.
I love connecting with sports people. If you want to connect about faith and sport practices, chaplaincy, or anything I have written on this site, click on the “Connect” button or email me directly at Amanda.Wiggins@athletesinaction.org.