Columbia International University Athletics

Columbia, SC- Spiritual Growth is the first of four core values CIU athletics is built upon. Spiritual growth is placed over the other three core values for a reason, as it is one of the most critical aspects of student-athletes development while at CIU. While CIU athletics strives to develop athletes athletically and academically, they also aim to develop them spiritually. The goal is that every student-athlete grow closer in his or her walk with the Lord, achieving this through communing with fellow believers, commitment to scripture, and fervent prayer. 

Athletic director James Whitaker highlights the importance of spiritual growth every chance he gets, "The spiritual growth of our student-athletes is the most important commitment within the CIU athletic department. I'm so proud of our coaches and staff for the emphasis they place on the discipleship of our student-athletes. Our desire is not only to build championship programs but also to build a culture where Christ is central and our student-athletes are growing and impacting others their sport." 

While all teams are committed to this core value, women's soccer exemplifies this commitment well, in and out of season. After starting the program in 2015, Head Coach Kara Farnsworth has been intentional about developing a culture of spiritual growth and encouragement on all of her teams. Through her nearly six years of coaching at CIU, she has seen the Lord work through her players to not only grow spiritually together but also impact other teams for Christ. The women's soccer program takes practical steps toward spiritual growth in four different ways: a community of believers, intentional discipleship, accountability, and authentic testimony. 

A strong aspect of the program is developing a community of believers within the team. Coach Farnsworth uses family groups within the team to develop a strong community of believers to challenge and grow spiritually. Each family group is comprised of 5-6 players, who are lead by their family leader, who is usually a selected upperclassman. These family groups meet each week with the goal of sharing their everyday struggles with one another. Sharing their high and lows of the week, scripture they have been reading, and sharing what the Lord is challenging them with and how they are working through it. Coach Farnsworth has seen "peer to peer" mentorship, where the players have been able to fellowship and grow together through their faith. This weekly foundation of community fellowship is an integral part of creating a community of believers, who challenge and grow with one another. 

Another cornerstone of practical spiritual growth that the women's soccer team employs is intentional discipleship. Each season, Coach Farnsworth selects a student chaplain whose mission is to disciple each player on the team individually. This student-athlete is often an upperclassman who has shown great character and spiritual maturity through her years on the team. The student chaplain meets with each player one on one throughout the season, with the purpose of loving on each player and getting to know their struggles. Along with meeting with each player 1 on 1 throughout the season, the chaplain also issues challenges to the team each week. This "challenge of the week", is tied into a scripture verse that they chaplain shares, and challenges the team to live out during the week. These challenges include anything from loving your neighbor, to being bold in prayer. 

While Coach Farnsworth emphasizes the value of community and discipleship, she also recognizes the importance of accountability. Farnsworth creates this accountability within her team through accountability partners. Each player is paired off in twos in the fall with the purpose of holding each other accountable. Farnsworth encourages each partner group to meet each week and discuss their challenges with each other. Along with meeting once a week, Farnsworth has them spend a few minutes in practice with one another to share and pray about their struggles. 

The final practical step comes from Coach Farnsworth herself in authentic testimony. Farnsworth is intentional about sharing her testimony with her players regularly. Whether she shares the major struggles she's gone through in her life, or smaller more recent challenges, Coach Farnsworth always tries to be as authentic as possible with her young players. Farnsworth believes that having this authentic testimony may help her players learn and grow in their walk with the Lord, as well as creating an environment of trust and security for others to share. Above all, Coach Farnsworth stresses to her team that even though she is mature in her faith, that she too needs grace every day, and that growing spiritually is a process that she has to work on each day. 

Farnsworth views her position as a head coach as a major responsibility and relishes the ability to lead her team spiritually every day. "We have incredible and gifted professors here at CIU who teach our students about the Lord and His Word. As their soccer coach, I get to be another person who can guide them to grow in an area of their life that Lord has blessed them with, their ability to play soccer. It is my goal to help foster what they are learning in class and what the Lord is teaching them in their life currently, to teach, challenge and love one another through their community and teammates. More than anything, I learn through the God-given wisdom from others, as I want my players not to fear how the Lord is teaching them, but let the Lord use them to teach and work in others"

The women's soccer team will kick off the 2020 season in August, making it the 6th season in program history. 

Written by: Scotty Grigsby