Running The Race Well

Father’s Day Reflections on Derek Redmond’s Redemptive Finish

by Paul Putz | Jun 17, 2021 | Running The Race Well

Sports ministry leader Drew van Esselstyn revisits an Olympic moment from 1992 and reflects on its theological significance.

Bringing Sports Ministry into the Mental Health Conversation

by Paul Putz | Jun 2, 2021 | Identity, Mental Health, Running The Race Well

Retired professional golfer and current sports ministry leader Tracy Hanson reflects on the need to provide mental health support for sports ministry leaders alongside the athletes and coaches they serve.

What is “Good Enough” for a Christian Athlete?

by Paul Putz | May 3, 2021 | Coaching, Identity, Running The Race Well

College softball coach Dani Price reflects on a story from the Gospel of Mark and how it connects to our need for affirmation in sports.

The Sacred Vulnerability of Sports Ministry

by Paul Putz | Apr 23, 2021 | Identity, Running The Race Well, Theology

Truett Seminary graduate Josh Flores Olvera writes about his introduction to sports ministry and what he’s learned about working with athletes.

Beware the “Christian Athlete” Performance Trap

by Paul Putz | Feb 17, 2021 | Identity, Mental Health, Running The Race Well

As a former professional athlete, Tracy Hanson has been involved with Christian sports ministries for nearly three decades. Here she writes about the need to create safer spaces for athletes to process grief, trauma, and loss as their faith grows and develops.

Creating Spaces that Invite Joy

by Paul Putz | Jan 19, 2021 | Book Reviews, Running The Race Well, Theology

An excerpt from Truett Seminary theology professor Angela Williams Gorrell’s new book on joy.

What Are Christians in Sports Reading? Book Recommendations from 2020

by Paul Putz | Dec 30, 2020 | Book Reviews, Running The Race Well

A collection of book recommendations from Christians involved in sports in various ways, ranging from scholars and sports ministry leaders to coaches and athletes.

More Than Sports: Changing The Narrative For Young Athletes

by Paul Putz | Dec 11, 2020 | Identity, Running The Race Well

Truett Seminary Sports Ministry student Joshua Ehambe draws on his experience and observations in American sports culture to make the case for a healthy Christian approach to sports that recognizes and values athletes as whole persons.