Our Journey. His Story.

It's a phrase you'll hear quite often if you hang around the Indiana Wesleyan women's soccer program. Each player on the team has their own journey how they got there and what they get to experience during that journey. All while being able to showcase God's story in their lives to others around them.

This past fall, three players made the decision to get baptized. Three of the many that have been positively influenced and challenged to grow in their walk with Christ. Each of these three have a different journey, but all of them will quickly credit their coaches and teammates as those who have had the biggest influences on their faith.


Deja Edwards is a senior from Westerville, Ohio who in her fourth year in the culture of IWU women's soccer program. Edwards didn't have much of spiritual or church life before coming to Indiana Wesleyan. She tore her ACL the summer before her freshman year of high-school and after lots of prayer from her parents and friends, she noticed the recovery process went quick and smooth.
"I remember this was the time I felt my curiosity about God begin to grow," said Edwards. This curiosity sparked a desire to find a college where she could play soccer, pursue an education in nursing, and continue to learn more about who God was. 

Deja found all those things during her conversations with the coaching staff at IWU. Daniel and Mary Seiffert displayed positive attitudes and a genuine interest in who she was as a person. "They led a program where the foundation was Christ," said Edwards. "And that was what I was looking for."
Throughout her four years in the program, Deja credits her teammates as one of her greatest spiritual influences at IWU. They have shown her what playing for Christ looks like, and how to respond when going through adversity.

Those influences played a huge role in why Deja felt it was time to get baptized. "They showed me that the Lord be there with me through every difficult thing I have gone through. The only way I can stay positive through the tough times is because of God, and I knew I wanted to give my whole life to the Lord. Deja is now excited to use her experiences to show God to others.
 
Madelynn Welker is a freshman from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Maddy grew up in a Christian school and church with a foundational faith. "We moved in middle school to a new district and church gradually became less of a priority for me," said Welker. "My core friend group in high school went to church, and one way of getting to spend more time with my friends was going with them." She began to make her faith a priority again and wanted to seek out a college where she could continue to grow in her walk with Christ.
 
Maddy's conversations with Coach Daniel and Mary during the recruiting process sold her on IWU. "They would tell me things, and then say to go and pray about it," said Welker. "I had never had a coach say that before. I could tell they were very intentional in their conversations with me. Whether I chose to come to IWU or not, they truly wanted what was best for me."
In her first few weeks on campus, Maddy made a quick connection with senior Kenzie Millar. Every senior shared their testimony with the team, but Millar's had a special impact on Welker. "I heard that someone has had similar struggles to me. I was able to talk with her after than about how she relied on the Lord through every moment. That showed me that before I can fix my issues and struggles, I first need to give my life to Christ and surrender it all to Him."
 
Every day with her teammates begins with their focus in the right place. "Whether its chapel and worship before a game or a spiritual reset before practice, we make sure our culture is being fueled by Christ. A foot-washing ceremony during preseason was another highlight for Welker, showing her an example of her teammates putting others first before themselves.
 
Maddy began to talk with her teammates and mentors at church about taking the next step in her faith journey. "I knew I wanted to take that next step because of the people around me. Baptism is just the beginning of my journey and having 31 girls around me to help walk alongside me was confirmation that it was the time to commit my life to Christ and get baptized."
 
"Making that public statement made me realize that it's about so much more than just me. Everyone one this team is at different points in their journey. So many people have walked with me through my experiences, and I know God is going to use me to do the same in someone else's life."
 

Courtney Cockrum is a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana. Cockrum didn't go to church growing up, and a Christian college wasn't a priority in her search to play soccer at the next level. She wanted to go to a place that valued her as a person more than just a player. "One of the things that really stood out to me about Coach Daniel and Mary was that they would always say to me, 'We are going to root for you, no matter where you end up.' That had a huge influence on me and let me know what kind of coaches I would be playing for.
 
One of Courtney's biggest influences during her time at IWU was former student assistant Daniel Baker. "He showed me how to walk with someone through their faith journey and how to show up for them when they really need it. He was an example of how to love someone the way Christ does, and He showed me what true friendship looks like.
 
Cockrum was quick to follow up with a shout-out to her teammates as well. "It would be wrong of me to not mention every single girl on the team. Every single person reflects Christ in so many ways. It's impossible not to feel that love from 31 girls around you who want what's best for you and cheering you on."
 
Courtney emphasized how her teammates do a great job of emphasizing the power of prayer. The locker room is covered in post-it notes on lockers and a prayer wall with note cards pinned up. "Emphasizing prayer refocuses us on the true purpose behind everything."
 
When asked why she felt this fall was the time to get baptized, Cockrum credits the foundation she had built the previous two years. "Last spring was one of the hardest semesters of my life, and I needed time this summer to reset. I read the Bible all the way through during the summer, and we had a special preseason when we came back this fall. I felt that I was at a good point in my faith after building a foundation through my experiences the previous few months. I was surrounded with people that could walk with me though this, and I knew this was something I wanted to do."
 

The success on the field for the Indiana Wesleyan women's soccer program is undeniable. The last five seasons have produced a .707 winning percentage, 34 consecutive polls ranked in the Top 15, and four league finishes in the top three of the standings. However, these individuals are just three of the many with journeys telling His story. A story told not just through words, but lived out in action each day.


To hear more stories on how God is working in and through Wildcat Athletics, please click  HERE.





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