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Writer's pictureUncommon Sports Group

USG Community Impact: 2024 Phoenix Impact Weekend Testimonial (Part 2)


Grayson and other USG members posing for a group photo in Phoenix.

On the weekend of October 25-27, Uncommon Sports Group hosted twenty USG Academy participants in Phoenix, AZ, for an Impact Weekend! USG offers a fully-funded Impact Weekend for every individual who completes the eight-week virtual USG Academy. These weekends allow Academy graduates to put what they have learned in the virtual Academy into action, such as networking with present leaders of the college and pro sport industry, fellowshipping with other Christians in sports, and being challenged to grow in their walks with Christ. Read a full recap of our latest Impact Weekend to Phoenix here.


One of our participants during the Impact Weekend, Grayson Rulon, is currently studying at the University of Kentucky and desires to work in strength and conditioning. Below is a testimony of his experience during the Impact Weekend:


"My trip to Phoenix was life-changing, to say the least! I see why Uncommon Sports Group names this weekend trip an “Impact Weekend.” I joined USG back in May this year and missed my Impact Weekend for Team 39. So all I was thinking was that I joined another club to put in my bios on social media. I obviously learned a lot about being a Christ-centered leader in the sport industry in the future, but I really didn’t think too much about being a part of USG.


My coach gave me the chance to go to Impact Weekend in Phoenix, AZ this year in October. After going on this Impact Weekend, I realized the importance of Uncommon Sports Group for my future work in the sport industry as a Christ-Follower. All through the community that I got the opportunity to connect with. “Connected” is one of USG’s three core values. They are committed to Christian fellowship and accountability. The Fellowship on this Impact weekend was breathtaking. I met many people on this trip that are going to be relationships/friendships for the rest of my life. 


This Impact Weekend also was very important for Professional Development. Not only did we have tours at Universities in AZ and professional teams, but we also got to sit through panel sessions. Most of the employees leading these panel sessions were also members of USG. I did not realize how many members there are of USG across the country. But these panel sessions were so influential because they showed us that Christians are working everywhere. They really boosted the confidence of all of us on the trip to show us that we are not alone. I was personally very thankful that I got to talk to a couple of the people leading the panel sessions to get connected with the Strength and Conditioning coaches at each of these organizations. 


I’m going back to fellowship. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us how we are to be equally yoked. It tells us that if we are not equally yoked, the fellowship is unrighteous. It is very hard to find those equally yoked relationships in our day and age. Outside of church, being a college student has made it very hard to find those relationships. Getting involved with USG will for sure give you equally yoked relationships. I evangelized and shared the gospel with a couple of the people on this trip to check to see if they understood the gospel and were saved. I was very thankful that everyone I talked to was indeed saved and had faith in their eternal life in heaven. Especially during the group Bible study we had over Acts 2:42-47. We read about the early church's fellowship with one another. Whether it was eating meals with each other, or just breaking bread together. This taught us that we gained fellowship from something as small as reading God’s Word together. This passage really showed why fellowship with the congregation is mandatory."


 

Seeing how God used this Impact Weekend to challenge, encourage, and grow the participants in their faith and careers was encouraging. We are grateful to Grayson for his testimony and commitment to serving Christ through the sport industry!


If you're interested in learning more about Uncommon Sports Group and how we can come alongside you as a Christian in the sport industry, click here to see how you can get involved.

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