Megan Sadler is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is currently raising financial support to intern at Athletes in Action's World Training and Resource Center, where she will be a part of AIA Campus Ministry in Ohio.

Sports have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I found great worth and value in my athleticism while growing up. In high school, I was the top soccer player: played varsity in eighth grade, broke school records my senior year and went on to play at North Carolina State University. I grew up knowing about Jesus and accepted Him as my Savior at a young age, and I desired to use my talents for His glory. But I had no idea what that really looked liked until I got involved with Athletes in Action on campus at NC State.

Upon arriving in Raleigh to attend NC State, I thought I would continue the same success on the soccer field as I did in high school. However, in 2004, after my freshman year of battling through injuries and for playing time, the highs and lows of college soccer began to weigh me down. Some fellow athletes challenged me and my roommate to attend AIA's Ultimate Training Camp in Los Angeles, Calif., that year.

I had no clue what the camp was about. People just said it was amazing so I went, and that week changed my life. It was then that I felt God slowly break down my walls and open my heart to see where I had been placing my value and worth. I had been placing my worth in soccer and I was striving to please my coach, my parents and myself, rather than Christ. My performance on the field ultimately dictated how I viewed and felt about myself.

At camp that summer, I realized my Savior loved me regardless of my playing time or my success. My worth is not found in sport but in Christ, and He is the only One I need to please. I began to see my relationship with Christ in a whole new light. Instead of trying to work and please Him, I began to rest in His view of me-that I am dearly loved, chosen, righteous and victorious in Christ ( Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Peter 2:9).

I continued to be involved with AIA each summer during college. In summer 2005, I participated in AIA's Soccer Project in Vancouver, Canada, and the next summer, I returned to intern with AIA at their headquarters in Vancouver. I also traveled with AIA on a soccer tour to Brazil and Paraguay.

Through these summer opportunities I grew in my faith in ways I had never experienced before. I slowly began to experience freedom over the next 3 years of playing- the pressure of pleasing people was finally lifted off of me. When I was declared ineligible my senior year due to injury, it was through my time with AIA and the lessons and people that God had brought into my life that helped me get through it. My ideas of what I thought college soccer would be were nothing like what they were because of injuries and inconsistent playing time. In all honesty, I thought I was going to be a "big time" athlete but God had other plans.

I had no idea that God would strip me of my love for soccer, and in return, I would know and experience Him in ways I never had before. I faced some of the most challenging circumstances during my four years but it has led to the biggest transformation of my life. God has used AIA to open my eyes to what it truly means to follow and serve Him and "not have any other gods before Him" (Exodus 20:3).

Photos:

Top: Megan competes against the University of Delaware.

Middle: Playing with kids in Paraguay.

Bottom: Megan tells her story in Brazil of how Christ has changed her life.

Each month you will be introduced to a life changed through Athletes in Action. If your life (or someone you know) has been greatly touched through your involvement with AIA, please send an e-mail to communications@aia.com. 

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