IN THIS EPISODE

• An athletic career that began on the balance beam and was nurtured in an athletic family | 1:44
• Settling in to your identity heading from high school to college | 7:01
• A family oriented, faith-based upbringing | 8:41
• What role does your faith play in developing new relationships? | 11:31
• Transitioning from being a collegiate athlete to a working professional | An intro into CrossFit | 15:33
• As you pick your friends and community, stay true to who you are in Christ | 21:36
• The ability to pursue what you’re passionate about with family | 23:39
• There’s times when we feel close to Him, and times when we feel further away | Stay Strong | 26:25

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES

Heather is a wonderful example of prayerfully establishing balance in her life and leaning into where Christ is leading her when she makes decisions. Throughout this interview, she talks about choosing a school to make sure her academics don’t come second and when she’s choosing relationships she works her faith into it where appropriate. She is conscious of the fact that she is designed by a Loving God who has her best intentions in mind as well as a plan for her future, and she wants to fully embrace that and lean into it. When you are making decisions in your life, make sure the first place you turn is to the Father. Ask to join Him on His mission for you in your life, He’s in charge!

2 | PURSUE YOUR PASSIONS

An amazing thing about your life in Christ, and your Father as a wonderful Creator, is that He has designed us each, uniquely. Each and every one of us is designed with a special skill set, a different set of passions, and He wants us to pursue and embrace those. When we use those talents, skills and, abilities to honor Him, it is bringing Him glory. So make sure that you run after your passions, wholeheartedly, and honor Him in the process. Our Father loves us and wants to bring us joy. And, in return, we can honor Him with worship and praise through our unique pursuits. 

3 | IT’S ABOUT THE YES’S

Sometimes, as Christians, and also as people looking from in from the outside, can perceive Christianity as a set of rules that we have to follow. But our Father in heaven isn’t satisfied with us following a bunch of rules, and it’s not about giving things up for Him to love us. A personal relationship with our Creator is all about saying YES! Often times we think we have to say no to a bunch of stuff in order to adhere to a “Christian Lifestyle”. But that is completely the wrong emphasis. What we should be focusing on is, when we say yes to a personal relationship with our Father, it brings complete truth and fulfillment into our lives. Life with God is so much better than life without God. As long as we are true in our walk with Him, He will stay faithful to us. 

SHOW NOTES

Welcome back to Anchor + Waves for our final episode in our Identity Series. We’ve had basketball players, volleyball players, outdoors-women, coaches and everything in between. Today, we have a true athlete in every sense of the word joining us, Heather Hippensteel. Heather is a former collegiate diver turned Cross Fit Games champion.

Heather has an amazing perspective on being a Christian-Athlete in a multitude of sports and disciplines. She is unabashedly someone who embraces her faith, and her likeness to Christ comes out in all areas of her life. Listen in today as Colin and Heather talk about what it looks like to be raised in a Christian household and how to firmly grasp your relationship with our Father.

*And if you’re looking for another fun episode, her dad (Dave Hippensteel) is on our Men’s Podcast, Uncharted, this week.

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity.

IN THIS EPISODE

• An origin in dance | the true athletes | 1:26
• Establishing mentors and teachers in areas that you’re called to and are passionate about | 4:46
• Pursuing faith in the midst of a culture that points everywhere else | 7:57
• What it looks like to truly own your faith | 9:52

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | worship DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SINGING

A common theme we’ve had in this series is that we serve a creative God and that he has designed each one of us to be unique. With passions and skills that are all our own. One way, is he designs each one of us to connect with him. We want to worship Him! Worship is an incredibly meaningful way to express our adoration and reverence for our Father. And Alysia, has found an incredibly impactful way that she can connect in worship with her Creator, and that’s through dance. Often times we think that the only time we worship is on Sunday mornings when we’re signing the set list of songs with our congregation in our church. But that doesn’t have to be all. Our creative Father has designed us to sing, play instruments, dance, paint, draw, and a multitude of other artistic expressions and outlets that honor Him. Press into your creative side and connect with our savior!

SHOW NOTES

Welcome back for the eighth installment here for our Identity Series on Anchor + Waves. Today we have another, fellow, Colorado State University graduate in Alysia Kamrath. Alysia is a Colorado native through and through and a true, competitive, athlete in every sense of the word. Listen in Today as Colin and Alysia talk about the splendor of their King’s creation in their backyard along with what it looks like to push into Worship (outside of singing on Sunday mornings). You don’t want to miss this one!

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity.

IN THIS EPISODE

• A lot of us have a similar beginning: Beehive Soccer | 1:58
• The roots that we plant for our children run deep | Growing up in a Christian household | 6:22
• The opportunities that open up for us when others pour into us | 10:40
• Even when we know what He has promised us, we hold on white-knuckled to what we think is valuable | 14:53
• Returning Home to what matters and pushing in to Him | 21:56
• Closing out a chapter on your life, which previously defined you | 24:28
• It doesn’t matter what your past looks like, God has redeemed you and has a future for you | 28:09
• How can you work love language into discipleship to reach people where they are? | 34:09
• You are redeemed and loved more than you’ll ever know | 35:49

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | FILLING THE VOID

Often times, we as athletes, try and determine our self-worth from accolades, achievements, successes, awards, milestones or accomplishments. But the further we walk down that road, the more unfulfilling it can seem if we’re only doing it for validation from our peers and coaches here on Earth. When we strive for that next milestone, that next award, simply for gaining the recognition that comes with it, we will continue to feel empty. It’s only when we give up our talents to God, and push into honoring him through what we’re doing in our sports, only then are we playing for the true audience of one (that we’re meant to). God has gifted each one of us with different skill sets, and when we use those skills to accomplish anything He is greatly pleased when the glory and honor are given to Him. Make sure you know who you are playing for. 

2 | A PrODIGAL SON OR DAUGHTER

We constantly make the mistake of assuming that we can do it all on our own. We either ignore or can’t fully grasp the promise and redemption that God has for us, and we stiff-arm Him. Breann has a wonderful story of what it was like to pursue love and fulfillment on her own, and how empty that left her. But we’re not alone here, we’re not the only one that has tried to make our own path. And the amazing thing about this is, God wants us to come home to Him. Like the father in the story, he is standing on his porch, peering over the horizon, hoping to catch a glimpse of us as we come back home. It’s not too late, you’re not too far, you’re not too lost for our Father’s love. 

3 | YOU ARE LOVED

He knows every hair on your head, and knit you into existence before your parents even had a name picked out for you. You are His beloved, you have value and He loves you more than you could ever know. Breann points out that a turning point in her one-on-one relationship with her heavenly Father came when she came to understand her value in His eyes. Not the eyes of her coaches, teammates or peers, but in the eyes of her maker. The more we can push into that and understand that it doesn’t matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, that when we accept Christ as our savior we are redeemed and loved by Him. Push into that love, let it surround and fill you up.

SHOW NOTES

Glad to have you back for another episode in our Identity series as we continue on, here on Anchor + Waves. This is a really exciting episode, as two extroverts rile each other up about Jesus. Colin sits down with Breann Fuller, a fellow Colorado State University Ram, a former collegiate swimmer, and current ministry junkie. Breann is full of joy and passion for the lord which you can almost feel throughout this interview.

Colin and Breann talk about everything from what it’s like to get recruited, to dealing with injuries, to walking away from the Lord (because we ALWAYS think we can do it on our own . . .) and coming back to him with more fire than ever! If you’re sitting down when you start this episode, you won’t be by the end. Enjoy!

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Coaches helped call out greatness in me | 4:40
• I was exposed to God, faith and the Bible in middle school. I finally wanted to make decisions for myself around that  | 5:32
• Transition from athletics to Christ being the foundation of your life | 7:42
• I am fully known and fully loved despite my weakness, and despite my failures  | 9:45
• Our most effective ministry was when we took them out of their comfort zone and into the outdoors | 13:45
• A lot of what we do in the outdoors can reveal our weaknesses | 16:30
• The security we gain through technology and our phones, then turning them off is discomforting | 18:00
• Mentorship doesn’t have to look like sitting over coffee pouring through Ruth, but building community and doing life together | 22:49

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | Sports + athletic performance stole my identity

Sarah admits that sports and athletic performance were the first things that stole her identity from Christ. As she asked the questions, “Who am I, and what is my identity?”, she quickly became aware that her identity revolved around performance. She began asking the questions “How does the world see me, and how am I performing?” She found a lot of people’s approval by how she performed. It wasn’t until college that she was able to really understand grace for the first time and get a fuller picture of the gospel. By understanding God’s grace, and the full gospel, she was able to believe fully that, “I am fully known and fully loved despite my weakness, and despite my failures, even when that means failing in a class to the standards I had for myself.”

2 | Revealing our weaknesses

A lot of what we do in the outdoors can reveal our weaknesses. Sarah shares how humbling it is to realize that sometimes we are weaker than we thought and we are not perfect. As students, they too are confronted with the fact that “I am not perfect and maybe I have weaknesses.” This allows us to ask the questions of “How do you reconcile that?” and “How do you allow grace into your life to not be perfect and let the Lord be the answer to that?”

SHOW NOTES

In today’s episode in our Identity Series of Anchor + Waves, we hear from Sarah Thoms, a passionate wilderness adventure-taking soul! She and her husband, Brad Thoms (take a listen on our Uncharted podcast), work with Lifelines, a college ministry that brings young adults to Christ through the outdoors.

Originally from Estes Park, Colorado, Sarah grew up in a home full of sports and the outdoors. As she learned to keep up with her brother’s competitiveness, performance quickly became her identity. Learn how she overcomes performance by finding her true identity in Christ, and the impact her story has in relating to students as she works to be on mission with Jesus.  

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity. Also, as a bonus, Sarah’s husband, Brad, is on this week’s episode for Uncharted!

IN THIS EPISODE

• Our parents deeply influence our passions as we grow up | 1:12
• How do we keep our roots in our faith? Relationship vs. Religion | 4:56
• Integrating who you are as an athlete into your Christian Faith, not the other way around | 9:18
• When “who you are” isn’t a part of your life anymore | 15:29
• A different way to build community and how Sports + Rec fits into ministry | 18:07
• Bonus Stuff, Check It Out! | 22:55

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | WHO YOU ARE, IN CHRIST, FIRST

In today’s episode you hear Katie talk about transitioning from who she is as an athlete, and then working that into her identity in Christ. So often we confuse how that occurs and, mistakenly, we try and have things in our lives fit into boxes. But we are called to have our identity in Christ pour out into all the other areas of our life. Who we are as a friend, as a family member, as a “professional” whatever, as an athlete should all stem from who we are as Christ followers. It should define us above all else.

2 | A DIFFERENT KIND OF MINISTRY

All people develop relationships differently. Sometimes we connect one on one, over a cup of coffee. Bot more often than not, they can feel forced and awkward as a first encounter. That’s generally not how we get to know people! Katie talks about what role Sports + Rec has played in her making friends and developing community and we believe that’s because shoulder to shoulder relationships feel natural. A lot of us athletes grow up playing sports, so when we’re put in the middle of a game, the bond of camaraderie feels natural. Plug into the areas that you feel comfortable and the groups that feel natural and push into deep relationships there. 

SHOW NOTES

We’re really excited for today’s episode in our Identity Series on Anchor + Waves as we have two staff members involved! Wren, whom you’ve been listening to, interviews our very own Katie DeClet. Whether you know Katie from her days in the youth department, the care and counseling center, or on the sports field heading up our co-ed sports and rec activities, she has an incredible passion about her.

Listen in today as she and Wren talk about basketball, the development of faith (and what it really means to own that) along with carrying on through something as we add purpose to journeys in our lives. You don’t want to miss this one!

*Also, make sure you stick around to the end for some awesome bonus material that didn’t make it to the actual interview, or maybe they didn’t know the mics were still on . . . 

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity.

IN THIS EPISODE

• When you grow up in a place with more cows than people | 1:23
• Structure and family dynamics when God isn’t involved intimately  | 4:12
• When we’re not diligent, there can be a gradual shift in where we place our identities | 7:40
• But no matter how far we wander, He’s waiting for us to come home  | 11:21
• Model healthy and impassioned worship, we were designed to worship Him | 15:04
• When you invest in others, God promises to replentish what we pour out | 17:19

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU PLACE YOURSELF

If we’re not actively searching for the face of Christ, this world will swallow us whole. Our worship pastor here at Mission Hills has said then once we walk out the doors of the worship-center, the Devil is there waiting for us. And he doesn’t want to make things easy. If we’re not careful and intentional in where we root ourselves, we will be crushed. Jess has amazing insight on what it looks like to put your whole-self in things that are temporary and how unsatisfying that feels. Be strong and intentional in your faith!

2 | PURSUE GOD FIRST

We were all created in His image and he has known us since before anyone else on this planet has. We are not called to be wrapped up in material things and Earthly matters, we were built and created for eternity! When we pursue God first and make him number one in our lives, everything else tends to fall in line. When we’re close to Him, and we’re trusting in His plan for us, we’re secure in our identities.

SHOW NOTES

On today’s installment of the Identity series here on Anchor + Waves, Wren sits down with Jess Safer from the Mission Hills Church Dove Valley Campus. Wren and Jess connected over their passion for Volleyball and connecting athletics to reaching people who might not feel comfortable setting foot inside a church.

They see competitive relationship building as a comfortable way to connect with those that maybe don’t necessarily want to sit down and develop a relationship face to face. Jess talks about her influences growing up in her faith and what it looked like developing as a Christian athlete, and a few pitfalls along the way. Listen in as Wren and Jess take us through finding out who you are through Christ, and owning that identity.

You can also listen in to our newly launched Men’s Podcast Channel: Uncharted, as we’re currently running a sister-program on that channel for male athletes also called Identity.