Presbyterian College (PC) in Clinton, South Carolina, has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 900 students. Nearly 50% are athletes, and a majority claim Christianity as their faith tradition. Competing at the Division 1 (D1) level, where many of the PC sports teams compete, is time-consuming, requiring a grueling practice and travel schedule.
Here, PC athletes Jamahri Harvey and Kory Mincey discuss with The Rev. Dr. L. British Hyrams the ways that their faith and their faith communities are a balm and resource in the athletes’ lives.
Rev. British: Jamahri and Kory, I have enjoyed getting to know you as the PC Men’s Basketball team chaplain (thanks Coach Ferrell!) I know that your Christian faith is important to you and I’m excited for you to share. Here is the first question: Athletes are idolized or put on a pedestal from a young age. How do you as an athlete of faith view this attention and how do you handle it?
Kory: As athletes, sometimes there is a narrative put on us that we are just good at sports and not in the classroom. This attention for all athletes should be used as motivation because you are already put at higher expectations, so go meet them, or, even better, exceed them!
Rev. British: Where do you find Christian community as an athlete? Is the church or organized religion a resource?
Jamahri: I have found Christian community through peers and on campus. Also, I have been blessed to play on teams that have ministers involved with the athletics program. But I definitely see the church as a resource. I have been to a church specifically for college students and I feel like that really helped me grow in my faith. It provided me with an outlet to be able to praise the Lord and learn and grow in my relationship with the Lord with my peers. It’s refreshing to see people my age take their faith seriously and want to grow in it.
Kory: As a Christian athlete, sometimes it’s hard to find people who are willing to speak about Christ openly. Back home, my church started an all-athlete program because so many athletes attend the church. I was excited to go to church because I’d be in a room full of people like me where we could discuss what we go through and how Christ can help us. Also, my grandmother is very big on going to church and giving back to the Lord. Since I was young, she would gather me and my cousins for church and gather us for talks to help us answer our questions. The community she fostered is still up and going. We check in with each other at least once a week to make sure everything is ok and [discuss] how God has been impacting our lives. So yes, church is a major resource for me because each and every session I gain more knowledge about Jesus Christ. Church also always allows me to be myself without being judged or talked about.
Rev. British: How do you as an athlete of faith understand the relationship between your physical self and your spiritual self? Where do you find conflict/harmony?
Jamahri: The biggest thing for athletes is to just understand that we aren’t defined by our performance. When you love what you do and you’re competitive, it’s easy to be down on yourself, especially when you’re not performing the way you want to. For me, understanding that God knows us for who we are all the time helps: good, bad, great, terrible. Focusing on what matters and what God thinks of you helps, instead of listening to what others think. It’s not easy, but that’s why you need to practice your faith the same way you practice your sport. It gets easier over time.
Kory: As an athlete who has been playing sports for over 15 years, my body, physically, has gone through many ups and downs, so the relationship I have with my body physically is different than spiritually.
I tend to neglect my physical body. I’ve twisted my ankle or hurt my knee so many times that I just overlook these injuries and say my body will be okay. But if I feel spiritually off, I won’t neglect it. I’ll stop whatever I’m doing and talk to someone or reach out to my pastor. Because if my spirit isn’t right, I’m not going to be the best version of me. For example, if I feel like bad things just keep happening and I haven’t spoken to God in a couple days or haven’t been praying, I’ll ask for help or go straight to my Bible and ask God to heal and help me through a hard time. I find harmony in my Bible and in talking to God. As I’m speaking, I feel a connection with the Lord and I instantly just start feeling better.
Rev. British: How do you understand Christ working in your life as a D1 Basketball player? Does your identity as an athlete ever conflict with your identity as a Christian?
Jamahri: First and foremost, it’s important to understand that everything we have comes from God. Everything that I’ve received, it’s all been a blessing from God. I don’t think my identity changes as an athlete compared to my identity as a Christian because I’m the same person, every day and I think I’m living my life in a Christian way. I’m not living the way the world thinks athletes should live. I’m trying to live as Jesus lived.
Kory: Christ has been working in my life for a long time. When the season started, I was tested with injuries, and loads of homework. It was a lot for a freshman. All I could do was look to God and ask for help and guidance. Every time I rang the bell he answered, from allowing me to have good study partners and pass my tests, blessing me to heal from my injuries earlier than expected, becoming a key player to the team, and getting rewarded with honors at the end of the season. My identity as an athlete never conflicts with my identity as a Christian. Before games I pray, on the way to games, I pray; I’m very open about praying and being a Christian because when good things happen to me I want to give thanks to God. When the bad times come, I still thank the Lord because I know the storm doesn’t last forever. My relationship with God also calls me to help others, because as college athletes we all go through some of the same struggles.
Rev. British: As an athlete, how do you maintain your faith and your humanity or better yet, your humility?
Jamahri: Nothing I’ve done has been because of myself. Not only with the help of God, but having a good support system, mentors, and coaches who have taken the time to help me elevate my game. I could never not be humble because that would be a slap in the face to everyone who has been good to me.
Rev. British: Kory and Jamahri, thank you for sharing, I look forward to our time together this season. Go Blue Hose!
