Sports Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Jesse Bradley Of Grace Community Church Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Maria Angelova
You won’t take people deeper than you go yourself: this is true with faith, commitment, and peace. Set the example. Live it before you teach it.
As a part of our series about sports stars who are making a social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jesse Bradley.
Jesse is a speaker, pastor, author, and former professional soccer player. He graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in psychology and has a master’s degree in theology. His passion is empowering people to discover and cultivate a vibrant hope and enjoy an authentic relationship with God. His website is jessebradley.org and offers many free resources including 7 Hope Habits.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the “backstory” that led you to your career path in professional sports?
When I was two years old, I told my parents that I wanted to be a professional athlete. In college, we won the Ivy League title twice and made it to the NCAA Elite 8. My childhood dream came true as I played in Zimbabwe. My career tragically ended after I took a prescribed medication to prevent malaria and it built up toxic levels in my system. Fighting for my life for a year, it took ten years to fully recover. The pain forged a new purpose in my life. I am so grateful to be able to serve people now around the world.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What were the lessons or takeaways that you took out of that story?
Sometimes in life, the greatest blessings are neither planned nor anticipated. I didn’t believe God existed, but in a college religion class I read the Bible for the first time. It’s ironic to me that I thought it was nonsense and now I follow Jesus. My identity shifted from performance to secure in God’s love. I am a pastor, and I couldn’t be more fulfilled. You might have talents inside of you that you have not identified yet. God made us, and He knows how to draw out abilities that are dormant.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Who do you want to help? How can you help them? What moves your heart and brings deep joy? Those three questions can shape your journey. When you have clear answers and convictions, it becomes compelling. It will take courage, risks, and reliance on the help of God and others to move forward. Surround yourself with an inspiring community.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Mike Helton was in my dormitory at college. He was the first Christian I ever had any conversations with about faith. He was patient as I asked him dozens of questions. I read the Bible and I read his life. He had something I didn’t have. He provided a positive place for me to process. We all need a safe place to think about God. He also provided many resources so I could examine the historical evidence for the resurrection and the reliability of the Bible. Never underestimate what can happen in a healthy relationship. Mike’s friendship changed the trajectory of my life.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about what it is like being a professional sports player?
Professional sports are not as glamorous as they appear. It is a business. There are many pressures to perform well. There are also no guarantees you will stay healthy and have a long career. Have a plan for what happens after your career ends. It is very difficult when you have played your final game. Nothing is quite like the team, the locker room, the crowds, and the championships. It’s very special and a gift to be able to play at that level. It’s worth the sacrifice.
Ok super. Let’s now move to the main part of our discussion. How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you are working on right now?
We have reached over a billion people with the message of hope and a relationship with God. We have seen hundreds of thousands of people decide to follow Jesus. There’s nothing better. Heaven is real. We are also bringing clean water to children in Africa, sponsoring children in Cambodia, and serving Seattle. We are adoption advocates and love seeing kids be placed in forever families. Our church celebrates a multicultural and multigenerational unity. Our website is graceinauburn.com.
What methods are you using to most effectively share your cause with the world?
We have content we provide on many platforms. There is a free video course to strengthen your marriage on revivinghope.com. We also have digital hope campaigns and a popular series called Reviving Hope in 7 Days, with 7 hope habits. All of our content is free. We just want to help people and see lives transformed.
Can you share with us the story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
I saw children living in poverty when I lived in Zimbabwe, and I am motivated to bring clean water to them. My parents were divorced when I was seven, so I want to support married couples in practical ways. No one told me about the grace of God or the evidence for faith until I was a young adult, but it has become so meaningful to share with other people about the goodness of God. When something has been difficult or missing in our lives, it can become a catalyst to provide that for other people. Let your heart break for what breaks God’s heart. Tragedy can turn into restoration and even triumph.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
Ngovleng is the child we sponsor in Cambodia, and it’s special to be connected and build a relationship across the globe. He chose us through a World Vision program. We write letters to each other. We also have had over fifteen families in our church who have adopted children. My family adopted our son when he was five, and he is now twelve. This has been an incredible gift from God.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why.
1) You won’t take people deeper than you go yourself: this is true with faith, commitment, and peace. Set the example. Live it before you teach it.
2) You can’t give what you don’t have: let God fill you with love, wisdom, and truth. God is the greatest source, and relying on Him is healthy.
3) You will go further together: collaboration is the win. Find people who share your vision and passion. Choose your team carefully and prayerfully.
4) You can cultivate habits that are healing and empowering: reading the Bible, prayer, worship, serving, and exercise are daily for me and vital to my self-care.
5) You need to remove low ceilings: do not conform to the patterns of this world. Get rid of small thinking and settling for less than your potential. Take relationship risks, be faithful, and trust God with the results.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I just gave a Ted talk on the power of the second thought. You have thousands of thoughts each day, and the National Science Foundation states that 80 percent of those thoughts are negative. The key is to identify and reject them quickly. Do not believe, harbor or entertain them. You would not let a thief come into your house and serve them a meal and offer your credit card and social security numbers. Many of our thoughts are like hope thieves. Win the battle of the mind. Choose an intentional second thought and replace the negative thinking. The Bible says think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8). Jesus warded off temptation by quoting Scripture. Be intentional with your second thought. Your thinking will transform your inner life which transforms your relationships and ultimately changes the culture. Start and share this hope habit.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Hope is relational. We can cultivate hope too. God gives abundant and indestructible hope. Hope is available to everyone.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Politics, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby (my wife used to work there)- it would be a lively conversation.
How can our readers follow you online?
On all social media platforms, please connect with me @jessejbradley or my website jessebradley.org
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher, and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness, and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Sports Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Jesse Bradley Of Grace Community Church Is Helping… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.