Through the Cross: NRCA Athletics Discipleship Program Makes Christ Central in Competition

At the beginning of the school year, NRCA’s athletic department launched a new discipleship program to build faith and unity across the Knights’ sports teams. 

Titled “Through the Cross,” the program features devotionals written by the NRCA Athletics leadership team and emailed to the coaching staff, as well as a cross logo—strategically placed across NRCA athletic arenas—as a reminder that following Christ is the ultimate goal, greater than any accomplishment athletes can achieve in sports.  

Athletic Director Josh Diamond and Associate Athletic Director George Hoyle spent last year talking to athletic leadership at other Christian schools and learning about the different approaches to intentional discipleship already in use in those programs. Diamond and Hoyle also spent time talking to NRCA’s athletic staff to discover how the coaches approached discipleship opportunities with their teams. 

Hoyle shared, “The two of us alongside Josh Leonard (Dean of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship) and Tripp Lilly (Assistant Athletic Director) came up with the theme of ‘Through the Cross.’” 

In planning materials for the discipleship program, the athletic leadership team searched for a logo to represent its values. “We wanted to have a logo to be able to intentionally place across our sporting events and on jerseys and T-shirts,” Hoyle said. 

As they were looking through different cross logos, one day one of the athletic directors was driving onto campus and looked at the cross on the front of the main building. That was the symbol, the athletic leaders agreed, they wanted. The simple cross with a ring encircling the intersection of the stem and arms had a strong connection to the school founder, Dr. S.L. Sherrill, who chose that particular cross as the symbol of NRCA’s Christian foundation when the Perry Creek campus was built. 

Hoyle detailed the thought process behind the logo’s placement on the newly refinished gym floor. “The first place we put the logo was on the basketball court, and intentionally, we put it where you sub into the game. So, in order to sub into the game, the way is quite literally through the cross.”  

Intentionality also undergirds the discipleship resources that the athletics office sends to their staff each week. “Discipleship happens naturally in sports. Some of our coaches put a lot of intentionality into discipleship previously. Some of it was happening organically. Having a Christian leader with Christian values, that’s going to naturally happen,” Hoyle said. “But this is a framework we’ve tried to create to pass to our coaches and equip them for the conversations we hope that they’re having with their team each week, each day.”  

Each resource gives coaches tools they can use to help focus their athletes on knowing Jesus and making Him known. “We made it broad. We didn’t want to say to our coaches, ‘Hey, you have to replace everything that you’re doing,’ because some programs already have really, really good systems. So we made it broad but also structured enough that someone who was brand new, who didn’t know where to start, would have a good starting place,” Hoyle said.  

The discipleship resources are built around three pillars: character, community, and calling. The pillars build on each other. “If we focus inward, and we focus on our character, that’s going to impact our community in a positive way. And if we can understand and work on that, it’s going to prepare us for our calling and prepare us for life after NRCA,” Hoyle said.  

In presenting the new discipleship program to the athletes’ parents, NRCA Athletics communicated that “the only way to be the best versions of ourselves, to be the best athlete, to be the best coach, to be whatever we’re trying to be is through the cross—knowing Jesus and making Him known.” Hoyle continued, “Hanging state championship banners is awesome. And filling up trophy cases is awesome. But I think for us, knowing that our athletes had opportunities to grow in their relationship with Jesus, to know Him, is the goal.” 

Each week, the athletics discipleship email includes this reminder, formatted in bold and highlighted in yellow: “This is the most important thing you’ll do this week, and every week, for the rest of the season.”  

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NRCA Athletics Discipleship: Through the Cross 

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24) 

NRCA Athletics is guided by the theme “Through the Cross,” emphasizing that every practice, game, and relationship is an opportunity to serve the Lord. Rooted in this foundation, we emphasize the development of Christlike character, the importance of Christian community, and the pursuit of our calling to reflect Jesus in everything we do. The NRCA athletic department believes that the pursuit of excellence is not achieved through human effort alone, but only with the Holy Spirit and through the Cross. 

Pillar #1: Character – “...for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) 

This pillar focuses on developing physical, personal, and spiritual skills with lifelong benefits. Coaches emphasize eternal values and Christlike traits such as responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, endurance in faithfulness, unshakeable joy, and patience (RISE UP), qualities that reflect the heart of God. 

Pillar #2: Community – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) 

Our second pillar emphasizes building a Christ-centered community rooted in humility, encouragement, accountability, and selflessness. Athletics serve as a microcosm of life full of challenges, victories, and teamwork, where athletes learn to respond with humility, serve others intentionally, and prioritize the team over self. Through sports, student-athletes grow as empathetic leaders who reflect Christ in all areas of life. 

Pillar #3: Calling – “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love...” (Ephesians 4:1-2) 

This pillar encourages student-athletes to find their identity in Christ and live with humility, patience, and love. Their calling goes beyond performance; it's about honoring God and impacting others. Coaches help athletes lead with Christlike character, preparing them for lifelong service wherever God leads.