For University of Toledo volleyball player Janelle Green, college athletics is about more than choosing a program or pursuing success—it is also a place to grow in faith and purpose.
Green joined Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast this week to discuss her decision to play volleyball at Toledo, her faith in Jesus and her experience at Athletes in Action’s Ultimate Training Camp.
Her story reflects a question facing Christian athletes at every level: Will performance determine identity, or will competition become an arena in which faith is lived out?
Training More Than the Athlete
Athletes in Action has long worked with competitors who want to integrate biblical faith with the demands of sport. Its training programs address the pressure, ambition, discipline and disappointment that accompany competition while encouraging athletes to see their abilities as gifts to steward.
That foundation matters in college sports, where athletes balance practices, travel, academics, relationships and the constant expectation to perform. Wins and statistics change quickly. A durable identity must rest on something deeper.
THRIVE! Perspective: Identity Beyond the Scoreboard
Biblical reflection: Colossians 3:23 encourages wholehearted work offered to the Lord. For Christian athletes, that means pursuing excellence without making performance the foundation of personal worth. Green’s willingness to discuss Jesus alongside her athletic journey offers a starting point for that conversation; the reflection here should not be mistaken for additional statements from her interview.
Green’s appearance also highlights the growing visibility of women who speak openly about Christian faith in college athletics. Their influence reaches teammates, younger athletes and families who are learning what healthy excellence can look like.
Christian faith does not remove the work required to compete well. It can give that work a larger purpose—encouraging discipline without obsession, confidence without pride and resilience when results disappoint.
Green’s full conversation is available through the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network.
Source: Sports Spectrum.
