By Sara Hammond, Louisville Cardinals
Born: April 13, 1993
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Ky.
College: Louisville
Twitter: @SaraHamm10
Notes:
-2013-14 First Team All-American Athletic Conference
-Member of the 2013 NCAA National Runners-Up
-2011 Kentucky Miss Basketball and
McDonald’s All-American
“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men…” – Colossians 3:23
As the preacher’s kids in the small, rural, farming community of Mount Vernon, Ky., my siblings and I spent most of our childhood in church. I look back with fond memories of those times. I was the youngest of three children and surrounded by plenty of godly influences—especially my parents—directing me on a path to knowing and loving the Lord. Having a strong Christian foundation in my home taught me the characteristics of a Christ-like life—knowing right from wrong and being a servant to others by putting them first.
Don’t get me wrong; we were also a very competitive and sports-oriented family. When we weren’t in church, we were either in a gym or shooting baskets on the hoop in our backyard. I started playing organized basketball when I was five years old in our little league program at our elementary school. I competed in other sports, but basketball was always my first love. You could say I was following in the footsteps of my dad, who played college ball at Kentucky Christian University, and my older brother and sister, who played throughout high school.
All of those hours spent with a basketball in my hand led to a great prep career, including the tremendous and humbling honor of being named Kentucky’s 2011 Miss Basketball. Receiving the award was a blessing from the Lord, and I was even more excited for the recognition it brought to all of the people who helped and supported me along the way, including my family and our community.
With that said, the honor also swung the college recruiting doors wide open for me. One of the top priorities my family and I looked at with each school was the opportunity for spiritual development and people who were going to encourage me to grow and mature in my relationship with Christ. Seeing how far I’ve come since then, I’m grateful that God led me to the University of Louisville.
Like most freshmen athletes, I expected to contribute to the team immediately. But, like most freshmen athletes, that didn’t happen. I hit a low point that season when things weren’t going my way. I started second-guessing my abilities and even wondered if playing basketball was part of God’s plan for me. It took the entire year to realize I needed the Lord then more than ever.
I may have been baptized when I was 13 years old, but it wasn’t until I turned 19 that I truly gave my life over to the Lord. I was entering my sophomore year, and I got on my knees and asked Him to use me however He wanted because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.
Once that happened, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I dove into His Word on a daily basis and played with a new sense of freedom knowing I didn’t have to do everything on my own. I was going to do my best and let the Lord take care of the rest. Once I surrendered that pride and ego of things having to be about me, the floodgates opened. It was a terrific year both on the court (making it all the way to the national championship game) and off the court (getting involved with the Louisville FCA and being taught and encouraged by our FCA leader, Chris Morgan).
Now, as a senior, I’m relying on the Lord and seeking His guidance in how to lead the younger players on our team by being an encourager and supporter and showing them love.
I hope people see something different in me, a light shining for Christ focused on making a positive impact on those around me. God has given me this platform for a greater purpose than just scoring points and being the best player I can be. The awards and accomplishments are great, but they don’t compare to the relationship I have with Christ and knowing one day, after I leave this world, I’ll be united with Him in eternity.
–This article appears in the January/February 2015 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue in its entirety digitally, click here: Jan/Feb 2015 FCA Mag Digital
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