After a successful 2024 season led by a large group of seniors, the Spring Arbor Men's Soccer team came into 2025 looking for players to step into some crucial roles. Sophomore defender Jeff Palmer was one of those players, and he has filled that role quite well, becoming a staple in the Spring Arbor lineup. A rapid ascent like this for a young player oftentimes can cause a lot of pride, but Palmer has been able to avoid this due to his faith and secure identity in Christ. Not only has he had to fill roles on the field, he has also had to fill roles off of it, using the discipleship of older teammates from last season to begin discipling others himself. He details all these things below:
 
 
How do you connect your spiritual and athletic life here at SAU?
 
"It is often said that it takes a village. It takes a village to get through the challenges and hardships of life. God calls us to cultivate community and the community at SAU is a large part of connecting my spiritual and athletic life. With so many athletes on campus, it makes it easy to live out this calling. The faith-centered athletic culture helps athletes to grow among each other, such as iron sharpens iron."
 
 
Do you have a favorite Bible verse or spiritual practice that encourages you as an athlete?
 
"My favorite spiritual practice during athletics is simply sitting in isolated prayer. By stilling myself before God, I am able to focus my mind on Him and the game that I have to play. The peace and focus that is placed upon me in prayer encourages me as I know that God is on my side in every battle I face."
 
 
What advice would you give to younger athletes who want to keep faith at the center of their sport?
 
"The biggest piece of advice I would give them is to make it an essential part of their gameday routine to sit in solitude with the Lord. Take time before every game to be still and place yourself before Him. In doing this, one is reminded that the opportunity to play the sport that you love is only because of God and what He has done for you so you should do all that you can to glorify Him on and off the field."
 
 
In what ways has being a part of SAU Men's Soccer helped you grow in your faith?
 
"Being a part of the men's soccer program, especially as a freshman, exposed me to many older teammates who were very mature in their faith. This gave me a platform to ask questions and gain wisdom about how to live a spiritually fulfilling life. Not only was I able to ask questions,but I could see with my own eyes how true followers of the Lord lived their lives and learn from that experience. This allowed me to grow heavily in my faith."
 
 
 
How do you wrestle with the struggle of putting your identity in Christ vs. the temptation of putting it in your sport/success?
 
"It is by God that I am able to do all things. I intentionally remind myself that, without God, I would not be able to have success in my sport. Because of this, I can see my sport and my
success within my sport as a way to glorify God and what he has done in my life."