Why U.S. Olympian Brock Kreitzberg Gave Up NFL Dream for A life of Missions
By Movieguide® Contributor
After encountering Christ, former NFL prospect and U.S. Olympian Brock Kreitzburg gave up a life of sports for a life of missions.
Kreitzberg’s goal as a kid was to play in the NFL. That dream was well on its way to becoming a reality when he received a Division I scholarship for football from the University of Toledo. While his hard work in college led him to talking with NFL teams, the most important part of his college experience came from a conversation with his team chaplain.
“I was 13 years old when my father passed away from cancer,” Kreitzberg said. “Moving into high school, I had an emptiness inside that I tried to fill with external things like sports and friends. The more I tried to fill it, the emptier I became.”
One day, during a college football practice, Kreitzberg saw his roommate talking with the team chaplain, Gus.
“I remember looking at them talking and I saw peace about them,” Kreitzberg remembered. “I thought, ‘That’s what I’m looking for.’”
Kreitzberg talked with Gus later that week and asked him about the peace he saw his roommate had. Gus went on to share the gospel with Kreitzberg and explained how Christ died for his sins. That conversation brought Kreitzberg to faith.
“I prayed to receive Jesus as the Lord of my life,” he said. “The emptiness inside me went away and I was overflowing with a joy and peace inside that hasn’t been felt through any accomplishment I’ve had.”
After that moment, the Lord placed it on Kreitzberg’s heart to attend seminary rather than achieve his lifelong goal of playing in the NFL.
“I was in a minicamp with the Tampa Bay buccaneers,” he said. “I’m sitting on the practice field and I can see the airport. I thought, ‘I cannot wait to leave.’ I was more excited about going to seminary than about getting into the NFL.”
While at seminary, Kreitzberg still had the desire to compete. He applied for the U.S. Olympic bobsled team on a whim and after a three-month training period, was selected as 1 of the 7 athletes on the 2006 National bobsled team.
“To train and compete at a high level is something I look back on fondly,” Kreitzberg said. “But none of my past accomplishments compare to my relationship with Jesus.”
“Jesus is the lens I see life through now. As an athlete for many years, my focus was on myself. Then, there came a time in my life when I decided to stop investing in myself and start investing in others. I wanted to have a lasting impact, not just physically, but spiritually,” he continued.
Kreitzberg now serves as the director of disaster response for Water Mission, an organization that provides water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to those in need. The organization also works to support local churches and help them with their outreach missions.
“We try to work alongside churches in each area to strengthen them so the community goes back to them and says, ‘It was the church that helped me in my time of need,’” Kreitzberg said. Water Mission is full of passionate people who work hard to provide safe and Living Water to those who have been affected by their circumstances in life.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Water Mission:
Former MLB wife Gari Meacham recently shared how God used a three-week trip to Uganda in 2010 as a springboard for her own ministry in the country.
Soon after her first trip, Meacham co-founded The Vine, an organization that serves the community of Kamuli, Uganda.
“We exist to glorify God through the empowerment of women, children’s education, orphaned infant care, and spiritual discipleship resulting in community transformation,” The Vine shares.
As her ministry continues to grow, Meacham also helps build churches and schools in Uganda.
“We’re in the final phases of construction on our school block and the building is beautiful,” she shared in an Instagram post.
“This will not only be a place for children to learn—but a place of hope. Jeremiah 29:11 says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, plans to bring a hope and a future.’ Thank you, friends, for being a part of this adventure. Brick by brick…we build futures,” she added.
Additionally, Meacham has served those in Uganda by helping provide for their biggest need: safe water.
She partnered with Water Mission, an organization that provides safe water and hygiene solutions in evolving countries and areas of disaster.
“It’s life-changing when you bring safe water,” Meacham says. “It serves spiritual needs and physical needs. Without water, we don’t have life.”
Do you believe that God uses athletes for His glory?
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