This story appears in FCA Magazine’s March/April 2016 issue. Subscribe today!
Hometown: Elverson, Pa.
Class: Junior
Position: Forward
“… giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” - Colossians 1:12 (NASB)
Coming from a basketball family, Rachel Larson hit the hardwood every day as a youngster. However, the Elverson, Pa., native decided to spend her freshman year at Geneva College away from the court. Now, through Christ’s redemptive work in her heart to see how beautiful the game can be when played the right way with the right people, Larson’s passion for basketball is back.
FCA: You originally weren’t going to play basketball in college. What changed your mind?
RL: My high school basketball experience was very rough. I was burned out and lost my love for the sport. Throughout my freshman year at Geneva, Coach [Lori] Wynn asked if I’d be interested in playing. I said no. In August of my sophomore year, she kept urging me to come to her office. Coach Wynn is a very persuasive person, so I finally went, and I did a lot of praying and talking with influential people in my life. Eventually, I really surprised myself by saying I’d play.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I love it. I had an absolute blast, and I never once regretted my decision to play.
FCA: What did God show you through the decision?
RL: There was a lot of redemption. I didn’t realize the amount of hurt I was having from high school. The redemption of having such a solid, amazing coach in Coach Wynn has just been beautiful. The Lord delights in reconciling all things to Himself and redeeming aspects of our lives. He’s going to do that fully when He comes again in His new kingdom, but it’s so sweet when He does that in little pieces here on earth. I was very thankful for that to be realized in basketball.
FCA: How do you share Christ with others?
RL: I think I have a personality that I need to prove myself and my strength and abilities to define my worth. But three words—“Christ qualifies me”—are impactful to stop my striving. I don’t have to prove my worth to the Lord, I don’t have to prove my worth to other people, because Christ qualifies me for the mission He is calling me to do.
I have a huge desire to take that ministry of reconciliation Paul talked about [in Colossians 1] and make it a reality for others. I have teammates and members of the athletic community at Geneva who don’t know Jesus yet. What I’m really excited for is to live and play with unbelievers and have them encounter the living God through me.
FCA: How have you been involved with FCA?
RL: In high school a friend and I started our chapter. I got involved my freshman year at Geneva, and there’s been a huge transformation. It’s been so encouraging. The momentum has been thrilling and really exciting for us believers who have wanted athletes to really know the Lord.
We have breakfast and Bible study Tuesday mornings as team representatives. Tuesday night is the campus FCA, and each individual team has a Bible study they’re doing throughout the week. FCA has been taking off, and we’re just really excited about it here at Geneva.
FCA: What’s God teaching you right now?
RL: How present He is. If we realize Christ is actually with us, how would we change how we go about our day? If we really thought of Him being in whatever room we’re in, traveling with us, going behind and before us, how comforting and challenging that is to live a life worthy of Him. It’s so Christian-speak to say, “Yeah, Jesus is with you,” but He is fully aware. He is just as real—here and now—as we are. It is something I want to know and live out.
FCA Staff Quote:
“Rachel has done an amazing job at Geneva. She has truly grown in her faith and been an amazing representation of a godly woman. She has assumed a spiritual leadership role both on and off the court on campus.”
-Denny Hyland
Area Director, Western Pennsylvania FCA
-FCA-
–This article appears in the March/April 2016 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue digitally, click here: March/April 2016 FCA Magazine Digital
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Photos courtesy of Geneva Sports Information Office