Siblings, Sports, Salvation
Coleman and McKenzie Bryant are siblings. Both are athletes and attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. They both left for college believing they were Christians, but they were not.
Coleman, a wrestler, tore his ACL during his sophomore year. He shared, “Because of surgery, everything I had been living for was taken away.” A Campus Outreach staff member named David Springer shared the gospel with him. Coleman recognized that he didn’t really know Christ. He admitted, “I don’t desire anything about Him! I just desire the things that please me.“Coleman continued spending time around the ministry, eventually surrendering his life to Christ. He committed his remaining two years at SEU to share the gospel with his teammates, praying they would know Jesus and live for what truly matters. During this time, he realized that his sister was also not saved. He invited McKenzie to go with him to the Summer Leadership Project and prayed that she would understand the gospel.
McKenzie admits that she saw a marked change in her brother and knew it involved the ministry of Campus Outreach. McKenzie agreed to go to Summer Project with him, wanting similar changes in herself. Early in the summer, she became a Christian. “I let go and went all in, and my heart has been completely different since then,” says McKenzie.
McKenzie attended her second Summer Project as a leader and is back on campus this fall, ready to see the Lord use her on the soccer team. Her strong conviction and commitment show in the natural way faith fills her conversations with teammates. She is a natural influencer, and the entire team attended church with her during their first week back on campus. Like her brother before her, she wants to see her teammates living for what truly matters.
God brought these siblings to Himself and is using them to reach many more with the gospel — multiplication at work! Their incredible life-change shines through to those around them. Pray that God would change the hearts of more athletes and students like Coleman and McKenzie on campuses everywhere.