Friendship Sports International – Fall 2025 Newsletter
Tension ~ Endurance ~ Contentment
Thriving in Tension, Building Endurance, Finding Contentment
This summer, whether on vision trips to Honduras and Guatemala or walking alongside student-athletes at Cornerstone, one theme kept emerging: life and faith are rarely simple. God invites us not into comfort, but into a journey where tension, endurance, and contentment intersect.
Tension reminds us that faith often exists in the in-between—the space where we wrestle with uncertainty, navigate challenges, and trust God when the path isn’t clear. On our trips this summer, we saw it in real time: teams stepping out of their comfort zones to serve children, families, and communities far from home, learning to rely on God’s guidance in unfamiliar places.
Endurance is cultivated in the struggle. Like athletes in training, the Christian life demands discipline, resilience, and perseverance. We witnessed endurance in teams hiking volcanoes, working in villages, and sharing the Gospel with both patience and passion. Each step required focus, faith, and grit—a daily choice to keep moving forward despite fatigue, setbacks, or uncertainty.
And yet, through it all, we see contentment emerge—not as settling, but as deep satisfaction in God’s presence. Amid chaos, challenges, and cultural differences, hearts were filled with joy, peace, and assurance that God’s purposes are good. True contentment anchors us, enabling us to thrive even in the storms and tensions of life.
As we move into fall, our prayer and pursuit remain the same: to thrive in tension, grow endurance in faith, and find contentment in the presence of Christ. Whether discipling student-athletes, leading vision trips, or walking with a local church, we seek to live fully satisfied in God while preparing for His eternal promises.
This is the heartbeat of Friendship Sports International: living faithfully, serving boldly, and pursuing God relentlessly, knowing that He is faithful and His presence sustains us in every season. In all of this we will strive to share the hope, hands and heart of Jesus through sports. ~ Matt
Seeing God in Action: Honduras Vision Trip
This summer, I had the incredible privilege of putting together a vision trip to Honduras, and I want to share a bit of what they experienced. Our trips are never just about travel—they’re about seeing God at work in the lives of others and catching the vision of local ministry leaders. In Honduras, we partnered with Inspirata Foundation and FSI missionary Mario Velasquez, who works and leads ministry in the village of La Venta.
A truly special highlight was that the group from Arcadia Christian Church was led by my sister Amy Brown and her husband. They brought their families—including kids—so the whole family could experience God’s work firsthand. Together, they visited villages like La Venta and El Jicaro, hosted youth parties, and shared in joyful fellowship with local children. Faces were painted, bubbles were blown, games were played, and friendships that I know will last were formed. It was inspiring to see the impact of Katie and Mario in La Venta, the work of Inspirata in Tegucigalpa, and the way God moves in every corner of these communities.
This trip reminded me again that vision trips are about partnership, not leadership; about learning and serving, not impressing; and about building discipleship relationships that are eternal. I’m grateful for every person who prayed, supported, and participated—your investment in these trips is multiplying in ways that will last far beyond a single week.
Guatemala Vision Trips: Faith, Friendship, and Service
This August, I had the joy of joining two incredible teams in Guatemala, partnering with Hands of Grace Ministry, led by Doug and Holly Harrold.
The first team was a wonderful mix of family and friends, thoughtfully put together by Lexi Plitzuweit, who had traveled with FSI last summer and wanted to share that life-changing experience with others. Alongside her mom Dawn, a former teammate Meghan, and family friend Elisa, and my friend Janaya, the children’s pastor from Relevant Church in Grand Rapids, this team brought energy, curiosity, and hearts ready to serve. This team gelled together quickly! They spent the week working with children, visiting homes, and delivering food to a church community dislocated due to a volcanic eruption . Beyond the hands-on service, what stood out most to me was how this group grew together. They listened, learned, and captured the vision from Doug and local ministry leaders, seeing firsthand how God is moving in Guatemala. Their passion, curiosity, and heart for ministry were contagious and set the tone for the Cornerstone Women’s Basketball team as they arrived. Around the fire their first nights, the first team shared their experience and challenged the CUWBB team to lean in and be present!
As expected CU WBB team jumped in with full hearts—leading a women’s conference, playing with children, running a basketball camp, and even helping build two new houses in the village of El Sitio. This was their programs second trip with FSI coming to Guatemala previously in 2022.
While the work they did was meaningful, the true highlight was the relationships formed—between team members, ministry partners, and the local community. Both teams studied the FSI Bible study Beyond Borders, growing in endurance, finding contentment in Christ, and learning to thrive courageously in the tension of ministry and life. These trips reminded me that seeing God at work isn’t just about the projects—it’s about the people, the learning, and the growth we experience together.
MAYA HARROLD
We are especially grateful for the servant leadership of our summer intern, Maya Harrold, who helped plan, lead, translate, and engage with both the Honduras and Guatemala teams. Her presence and guidance were a blessing throughout the summer!
Thank you to everyone who supported and participated—your partnership made lasting impact and Kingdom work possible!
The SAVA Project: Fully Satisfied, Eternally Focused
Everywhere we go—whether sitting with athletes, students, or leaders—we sense it: a low, steady ache in the soul. It’s the tension between what we know about God and what we still see in the world. We proclaim the God who created, the God who loves, the God who saves. And we should. But many quietly wonder, Then why is everything still so broken?
This generation doesn’t need another Instagram reel, quick-hit devotional, or shallow spiritual “pick-me-up.” They are hungry for something deeper—truth that can’t be scrolled past, hope that can’t be shaken, substance that will outlast the moment.
Psalm 107:9 declares, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” The Hebrew word for “satisfy” here is savaʿ (שָׂבַע)—to be deeply satisfied, nourished, filled to overflowing. That’s the heart of the SAVA Project: to help a generation find the kind of satisfaction that only comes from God Himself—greater than anything the world can offer.
We want to dig deep into the Scriptures—not just for head knowledge, but to grow roots that hold firm in storms, to build endurance, to thrive in tension, and to learn contentment in God alone. We want to see how the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—points to the fullness of the Gospel: not only the Cross and Resurrection, but also the return of Jesus Christ.
This hope changes everything. It’s the hope that one day our King will come to reign from Jerusalem, bringing justice, restoring creation, raising us in resurrected bodies, and making all things new (Revelation 21:5). It’s the hope that the same Jesus who ascended will return “in the same way” (Acts 1:11), fulfilling every promise God made to Abraham, David, and His people. It’s the hope that one day we will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6–9), united with Him forever.
But here’s the reality: when we leave out the end of the story, we leave this generation without the full picture of the Good News. Jesus is “the Alpha and the Omega… who is, and who was, and who is to come” (Revelation 1:8). The prophets proclaimed it, the apostles preached it, and the church is called to live in light of it.
This vision shapes the way we live now. It gives us what Paul calls “spiritual grit”—the ability to “not lose heart” because our “light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16–17). It drives us to “strict training” like an athlete pursuing “a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
The SAVA Project is our call to 18–25-year-olds—and anyone hungry for substance—to live Fully Satisfied. Eternally Focused. It’s about being:
Satisfied in the Word – Deep, joyful, Scripture-rich discipleship
Set Apart in Servant Leadership – Influence shaped by the character of Christ, not the pursuit of celebrity
Secure in the Return of Christ – Living in expectancy for our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13)
Steadfast in Endurance – Rooted in eternal hope, walking with perseverance through trials
Embracing Humility - As we study and learn we strive to wrap it all in humility, remembering it’s His glory, and truth we seek, not ours.
We invite you to join us—week by week—as we explore God’s promises and His plan to fix everything. Let’s study the return of Christ together so we can see the full Gospel, the amazing Good News of redemption, restoration, and renewal.
Learn more and sign up for the devotionals at www.friendshipsports.net/sava
Because when you know how the story ends—with Jesus returning to restore all things—you can live with joy, peace, and courage while you wait.
n the Zone: Thriving in the Tension
Being “in the zone” isn’t just for athletes—it’s a principle for life and faith. The Christian journey calls us to embrace tension: faith and works, grace and truth, waiting and action. Learning to navigate these tensions builds spiritual strength, focus, and endurance.
This fall, I’m excited to share that my new book, In the Zone, will be published! It’s currently with editors, and we plan to release it in late September, with accompanying video and/or podcast study materials. The book will also be available for purchase on Amazon. In it, we explore how leaning into life’s tensions—rather than avoiding them—helps believers grow, stay rooted in Christ, and live with peace amid chaos.
Paul’s words in Philippians 4:12-13 offer the perfect reminder that contentment is a skill, a spiritual muscle, not passive acceptance:
“I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Jesus modeled this beautifully—fully God, fully man—navigating the tension of life daily, showing us what it means to live focused, faithful, and strong in the midst of challenges. In the Zone invites readers to learn how to train spiritually, embrace tension with courage, and thrive in the sweet spot where grace and grit meet.
Stay alert for the release date for this devotional.
Looking Ahead: Fall Ministry & Events
CUWBB: Mentorship and discipleship with Women’s Basketball
CU XCTF Fall Retreat support: Partnering to disciple student-athletes.
IN THE ZONE: Book release and devotionals coming late September
SAVA Project Devotionals: KICKING OF JANUARY OF 2026
SAVA Project Retreat: Returning to Cody, Wyoming for a summer retreat in 2026.
Pack the House 2025: Men’s & Women’s Doubleheader on Nov 19 at Mol Arena, with food packing on Nov 23 in Hansen Athletic Center. Learn more: friendshipsports.net/pack
International Vision Trips: CU Men’s Soccer ~ CU Women’s Volleyball
Get Involved
Your partnership helps make Kingdom work happen! Here’s how you can join:
Pray: For our vision trips, student-athlete discipleship, and upcoming SAVA Project initiatives.
Give: Support ministry trips, student programs, and discipleship initiatives: [Giving Link]
Join: Volunteer at events, mentor student-athletes, or join a vision trip or pursue some of upcoming Bible study content
