Spring 2023 Bethel Magazine

Since its beginning in 1958, Bethel University’s athletic department has operated with the mission of keeping Christ at the helm. They are committed to assisting in the transformation of lives into the likeness of Jesus Christ and equipping VWXGHQW DWKOHWHV WR EHFRPH VHUYDQW OHDGHUV ZKR SRVLWLYHO\ LQƄXHQFH WKHLU WHDPV FDPSXV DQG world for Christ. “The athletic department’s culture is the best I’ve seen it in my 30+ years here at Bethel,” says Chris Hess ’93, associate athletic director and head women’s golf coach. “Our campus may look very similar, but there is so much more diversity. 7KDW FRPELQHG ZLWK D &KULVW FHQWHUHG FXOWXUH PDNHV it a very special place to be." With 500+ student athletes, the coaches and directors of BU Athletics hold great responsibility for fostering an atmosphere that sets students up for success both academically and athletically. Ţ:H KDYH IRXU SLOODUV WKDW GLFWDWH HYHU\WKLQJ ZH GR ţ VD\V 7RQ\ 1DWDOL DWKOHWLF GLUHFWRU DW %HWKHO 8QLYHUVLW\ 7KHVH IRXU SLOODUV DUH VSLULWXDO IRUPDWLRQ DWKOHWLF GHYHORSPHQW VHUYDQW OHDGHUVKLS DQG DFDGHPLF H[FHOOHQFH ţ Ţ:H WDON HYHU\ GD\ ZLWK RXU VWDƂ DOO WKH WLPH DERXW ZKDW ZHŠUH GRLQJ to impact our teams, our kids, when it comes to the kingdom,” Natali continues. “We’re very intentional.” 7KDW LQWHQWLRQDOLW\ LV FDUULHG RXW RQ WKH ƃHOGV DQG FRXUWV ZKHUH WKH Pilots play. Pilot athletes are intentional in letting people know that Christ is the center of everything they do, including praying with the WHDPV WKH\ SOD\ D̃HU D JDPH Ţ:H UHFHQWO\ ZRQ D PHQŠV EDVNHWEDOO FKDPSLRQVKLS DQG LWŠV WKH VDPH WKLQJ ZLWK WKDW ţ 1DWDOL UHPDUNV Ţ0DQ\ RI WKH FRDFKHV DQG SOD\HUV PDGH FRPPHQWV DERXW KRZ WKLV ZDV QRZ SDUW RI WKHLU ZLWQHVV WKH\ FDQ XVH WR EULQJ SHRSOH WR &KULVW 7KDW FDQ EH FRXQWHUFXOWXUDO ţ Natali also acknowledges that not everyone comes to Bethel with the mission to play for Christ, but their lives are still impacted by the &KULVW FHQWHUHG FXOWXUH “Our coaches recruit athletes letting them know about chapel and Bethel, but until you get here, you really don’t knowwhat you’re going to see. It’s neat to see their progression over time at Bethel and where they end up when they’re done.” He continues, “There are other instances with student athletes where it doesn’t resonate during their time here, but in God’s timing, PD\EH WZR RU WKUHH \HDUV D̃HU WKH\ JUDGXDWH DQG WKH\ŠOO FRPH EDFN and tell me something’s happened in their life, and they’ve accepted Christ.” “I want it to be an everyday natural occurrence to point back to God,” says Natali. “It happens a lot now, we’re excited about that, but we’ve got a ways to go.” BY ,"3*4 ,*/%*/(&3 PILOTS PLAYWITH CHRIST AT THE HELM 18 %(7+(/81,9(56,7< ('8̌0$*$=,1( Top: #15 Kate Cooper /H˪ Women's Golf Head Coach Chris Hess encourages a player Right : Seniors Miki Stojanov, Life Granville, Filip Segota at the NCCAA National Championship