Ep. 322 - An NFL Player’s Testimony of Standing for Christ

Jordan Kunaszyk shares his powerful testimony with Ray, Mark, and Oscar, illustrating how his identity shifted from football to Jesus Christ. Growing up, football was Jordan’s life. His dream of playing in the NFL shaped every decision, and his sense of worth depended on his performance. Although he professed Christ and knew about God, his life was characterized by rebellion and sin. In high school, he began cleaning up his behavior to succeed in football, not for the Lord. Despite outward success going into college, he remained spiritually lost, trying to earn his salvation through self-effort.In 2016, during his sophomore year of college, a teammate invited him to Bible study. Initially discouraged and confused, he began wrestling with his need for God. A mission trip invitation helped him experience God’s love tangibly, igniting a desire to grow spiritually. However, he still didn’t grasp the gospel of grace and continued living in a works-based mindset. An emotional church experience began shifting his heart, but it wasn’t until indulging in a weekend of sin that the weight of his rebellion came crashing down. For the first time, Jordan understood his sin, the necessity of the cross, and God’s offer of salvation. Crying out to the Lord, he surrendered his life and was born again.Everything changed. Jordan began praying, studying scripture, and sharing his faith. He discovered that his true purpose was to glorify God, not pursue worldly success. He grew bold in sharing the gospel, integrating spiritual conversations with teammates and witnessing in unexpected ways. Jordan reflects that while running through the tunnel on game day is exciting, the joy of knowing Christ far surpasses anything football can offer. Mark adds that humans are created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but sin leads us astray. True identity is found in Christ alone, who lived a perfect life and redeems us for God’s glory.Jordan emphasizes the importance of prioritizing Christ over worldly pursuits. He encourages young athletes to work hard and enjoy sports but warns against letting them become idols. Even the greatest moments in football pale in comparison to a relationship with Jesus. Jordan recognizes that even those with worldly riches and achievements are spiritually lost without Christ. In closing, Jordan urges others to find their identity in Christ. Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest thirst of the human soul. As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to live for His glory, letting His light shine through us to a world in desperate need of redemption.Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro