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Today’s inspiring conversation is with Leah Church, former UNC Women’s Basketball player and current three-point world-record holder. She’s a 2020 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and currently coaching, training, sharing her testimony. Leah was miraculously offered a full-ride scholarship to her dream school only to have to choose her faith over basketball later. Many of us will have to make difficult decisions in our lives in order to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, and for Leah, this meant walking away from the sport she loved completely. This episode is about doing hard things for the sake of the gospel, and I hope it not only leaves you feeling inspired but challenged as well.
After God worked a miracle that allowed her to play basketball at UNC-Chapel Hill – her lifelong dream – Leah never imagined the adversity and challenges she’d face on the team just a few years later. After a drastic change in coaching staff, the program she knew and loved changed dramatically as well. Leah was faced with a heartbreaking choice: compromise her convictions and keep playing for her dream team, or stand firm for Jesus and give up what she’d worked so hard for. She chose the latter, and now she is passionate about using her platform to share her story of God’s faithfulness and miracle-working hand with others around the world.
Leah gives an encouragement to the FAM: Bloom where you're planted. God has you right where you are in His perfect timing for a very specific purpose. We need to realize that Christianity is now counter-cultural; we likely won’t be the most popular person in the room for standing up for our beliefs. But we are called to not be ashamed of the gospel and to do difficult things for the cause of Christ. At the end of the day, it’s not about us. It’s all about Him.
3 key takeaways from this episode:
How the Lord orchestrated Leah’s UNC basketball career
For as long as she could remember, Leah’s dream was to play women’s basketball at UNC. Just when it looked like that dream was impossible, God put it on the head coach’s heart to offer her a full-ride scholarship! All she had to do was say yes. How amazing is that?!
What led Leah to walk away from her dream school & team
Despite the miraculous start to her basketball career at Carolina, it did not come without difficulty. Leah endured a challenging year of adversity before she was asked to compromise her convictions, which she could not do. She felt the Lord make it clear that it was time to walk away.
Standing firm on faith when making difficult decisions
Leah now uses her story and platform to encourage others to stand up for Jesus no matter the cost. God has you exactly where you are for a specific time and purpose. He doesn’t make mistakes, and He will strengthen you to endure through trials.
Here are all the things mentioned in this episode:
