KRISTIN HALL | staff writer
Saturday, March 21, hundreds of excited middle school and high school students invaded west campus for a day of fun, food and worship at the 25th annual Night of Champions. The event, hosted by APU for Southern Calif. teenagers, carried the theme “Rise Above It.” It was centered on Isaiah 40:31, expressing to the youth that no matter what the world gives them, with God, all things are possible.
The event was sponsored in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but teens didn’t have to be an athlete to come to the event or to understand the message. Ed Barron, radio host of “Today’s Champions” asked Olympic athletes Julie Ertel and Brian Clay about their athletic careers and how God helped them overcome struggles in their lives. Performers at the event included the women’s step team, the drama ministry team, gospel choir, Men Without Shirts and the band Day of Fire.
After all of the screaming, jumping and crowd surfing during the band’s performance died down, Grammy-nominated lead singer Josh Brown shared his personal testimony. He explained how he came to know Christ and gave up singing with the secular band Full Devil Jacket in order to praise God through his music.
“I stopped blaming the world for my problems and started to see that God was the only way I could overcome,” Brown said. “The fire of heaven fell on my life and I was changed.”
Prior to the indoor portion of the program, kids were entertained by competitive team games on the lawn, a classic car show, a giant game trailer and free In-N-Out.
Christine, a high school freshman from Glendale said that aside from the free food and games, the night contained a higher purpose. She believed Night of Champions was a good way for high school students to learn more about God. Kids could have fun during the day but at the end of the night come to a place of spiritual understanding and reflection.
Testimonies from 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Bryan Clay and 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist Julie Ertel showed kids that through hard work and mental determination, anything is possible. Bryan Clay opened up and shared how an athletic outlet and the support of his mother helped him overcome a troubled childhood.
Clay told Barron he grew up in a divorced family, and explained how he was cutting himself and went to a counselor who advised him to get into sports as a way to deal with his problems in a constructive way.
“My mom gave me a choice,” Clay said. “Either track and field or swimming. I didn’t want to have to wear spandex, so I chose track. Of course, now I have to wear spandex anyways.”
Bryan does not consider himself a natural-born athlete and standing at only 5’10,” he felt he had to work much harder than his competitors to perform at the Olympic level.
“Everything in life was telling me dreams don’t come true,” Clay said. “You just have to go out there and do it, it’s an amazing thing.”
Two-time Olympic triathlete Julie Ertel told kids of the importance of faith and commitment in overcoming setbacks. She told the audience about how she competed on an all-boys water polo team in high school because there was no girl’s team and how she bounced back from being cut from the Olympic water polo team two weeks before the Olympic games.
“This was the pivotal point in my life,” Ertel said. “It was such a shock and I was not prepared. I had been cut from other teams before, but this was different.”
Ertel explained how she trusted God to help her through, and this led her to start competing in triathlons.
The “Champion of the Day,” was Louis Dimas, a student who gave his testimony on his battle with leukemia. He was diagnosed at the age of 12 in 2004. He shared his struggles of losing hair and losing weight during treatments, and how his friends, family and church helped support him.
After passing the middle of his struggle, he came back to Night of Champions the next year and gave his testimony. He said thanks to the grace of God, he is now cancer-free and no longer has to go through treatments.
“This is my second year coming to Night of Champions,” high school sophomore Matt Parks said. “It is a good chance for kids to see what APU is all about, and fellowship together in Christ.”
Chelsey Soler, a volunteer at the event summed up what she felt it was all about, “The night showed that the real importance of being a champion is a walk with God.”
Thanks to the contributions of numerous sponsors, volunteers and guest speakers, the event was a success in giving kids an opportunity to experience true spiritual change in their lives. Many publicly gave their lives to Christ when invited to come and pray with volunteers.
