University of Kentucky gymnast Isabella Magnelli, a native of Suffern, N.Y., once channeled her passion into the things of the world, but after an encounter with God and fully surrendering to the lordship of Jesus, she has jumped headfirst into a faith that has sustained her through challenging times and periods of waiting. As a fifth-year senior and All-American, Magnelli is in her last season as a collegiate athlete after competing in the NCAA Championships in 2024. Recently engaged to Brandon Adams (FCA’s Central KY East Representative), she is diving into FCA, her faith community and a team Bible study where she has seen many teammates come to know the Lord and grow in their faith.

What was your life like growing up?

I grew up in a Christian home, and my dad would pray with me every night, but I didn’t really live it out. We’d go to church, but I’d be on my phone. In middle school, I started getting into trouble, partying and getting into relationships at an early age. I found my identity in relationships and really tried to find my worth through how guys saw me. There was a sense of love that was missing in my life. Gymnastics had taken up my life, and it was my safe place. I was killing it in gymnastics but was living for my flesh.

I didn’t do anything with faith until my senior year in high school. I had committed to the University of Kentucky when I was a sophomore and kept conversations with then-assistant Chuck Dickerson, who was heavily involved in FCA. He always told me that God loves me and had a plan for me in Kentucky, and that was always inspiring for me. I hadn’t heard about FCA before, but I heard God calling me to a relationship with Him and I got excited to get into that godly community. So I stopped hanging around my group of friends because I was getting into trouble with them and I knew I had a great future ahead of me at Kentucky and didn’t want that for myself anymore. I started reading the Bible on my own and building my faith in Christ.

What was something you learned during that time?

Whatever relationship I’m in, my relationship with Christ is my priority, and He loves me the most. That really gave me comfort and peace. When I surrendered my life to the Lord, I didn’t doubt God’s timing or what He had in store for me. He always showed me His way is better. I was obedient to Him no matter what circumstance came my way. I stayed faithful to Him knowing that He had bigger and better plans for me. I stopped taking control of my life.

How did this connect to your gymnastics?

I struggled in the beginning, especially on my best event. I was praying to the Lord and trying to let Him take control, but then I realized that the more I was praying and trying to let Him do it all, at the back of my mind, I was doubting what He could do. I struggled to understand that when I’m up on the beam or when I’m performing, it doesn’t matter how well I do, but that people know where I am with Christ. If I make a mistake, what do I show on my face? I realized even amid my failures, to give glory to Him and understanding that He's still number one in my life. I was able to understand what it means to have a platform for Jesus Christ in a sport, in all the good and bad.

What’s been impactful for you this year?

Last summer, I got to go to FCA Leadership Camp at Western Kentucky University and had the opportunity to pour into kids. I stepped foot on WKU’s campus and immediately felt the presence of God. I was able to lead these girls to either surrendering their lives to Christ or rededicating their lives to Christ, but I was also empowered by God and how He’s been working in my life as well. My faith grew tremendously at leadership camp. It was cool to have people surrounding you who are truly pursuing God. 

I met my fiancé at leadership camp as well; he’s on staff with FCA. It’s been awesome to step into ministry with him and speak at middle and high schools and share my story so they don’t make the same mistakes I did, and to see what FCA is doing from a ministry standpoint.

-FCA-