Faith Integration in Athletics at Minnehaha Academy: Forming Servant Leaders Through Sport

At Minnehaha Academy, athletics are about more than performance. Wins matter. Effort matters. Excellence matters. But what matters most is who students are becoming.

We checked in with our Athletic Chaplain Derek Swanson to talk about how sport shapes faith, character, and servant leadership.

1. At Minnehaha Academy, we believe athletics are about more than performance. What does it mean to be an athlete and servant leader in a competitive environment?

At its core, it comes down to how we see the people around us. When our focus is only inward, How am I doing? How many points did I score?, we miss the opportunity to lift up our teammates. A servant leader learns to see beyond personal performance and toward the good of the team. Recently, I spoke with an upperclassman who was challenged to intentionally notice and encourage underclassmen receiving varsity minutes. That shift, from competing for others rather than just with them, became a meaningful way they learned to serve their teammates while still competing at a high level.

2. How do sports uniquely shape students’ faith, character, and leadership in ways that extend beyond the classroom?

Sports place students in situations that closely mirror real life. Over the course of a season, athletes experience setbacks, pressure, disappointment, and perseverance, challenges that are not unlike those they will face beyond Minnehaha Academy. When character and leadership are developed on the field, those lessons translate directly into life after graduation. Research shows that young athletes, especially women involved in team sports, often go on to serve in professional leadership roles. The values shaped through athletics endure far beyond a final season. And this formation isn’t limited to athletes alone. Parents, fans, and communities are also shaped by how we cheer, how we support one another, and how we treat visiting teams and referees. All of these moments create opportunities to reflect Christ’s love.

3. Sports can be a high-pressure endeavor. What do sports reveal about a student’s character that other spaces in school might never surface?

As a coach, parent, and chaplain, I’ve experienced a wide range of emotions on the sideline, and I’ve watched our athletes navigate intense, high-pressure moments. Sports invite students to perform and respond in real time, often in front of peers, teammates, coaches, and parents. In those moments, character is revealed: how athletes respond to adversity, how they treat others when emotions run high, and how they carry themselves when the stakes feel real. That’s the unique beauty of sport, it surfaces who we are and gives us the chance to grow.

4. Every athlete experiences loss, disappointment, or failure. How does faith shape the way students learn to respond to those moments?

We often talk about identity: Is our identity rooted in performance and achievement, or is it grounded in Jesus? When identity is formed in Christ, athletes are better equipped to respond to disappointment with resilience and perspective. Hard moments don’t define them. Instead, they become part of the journey, opportunities for growth, reflection, and connection with others. Faith helps students bounce back more quickly, hold success and failure more loosely, and walk through challenges with hope.

5. For families considering Minnehaha Academy, what does faith integration in athletics  look like in the day-to-day experience of a student athlete? 

Faith integration at Minnehaha Academy shows up in practical, consistent ways. Coaches and teams are encouraged to develop a spiritual game plan that weaves faith-forming moments into their weekly rhythm. This may include team Bible studies, prayer at practices or before games, and intentional conversations around faith and character. Additionally, our athletic leaders participate in mentoring through the Athletic Leadership Track of the Minnehaha Leadership Institute, where they learn how to view sport as worship and leadership as a way to honor God. Faith isn’t an add-on; it’s integrated into the everyday experience.

6. Ultimately, what is your hope for who our student-athletes become—during their time at MA and long after they graduate—because of their experience in Minnehaha athletics?

My hope is that our student-athletes would recognize that every time they step onto a field or court, whether in practice or competition, they are stewarding God-given gifts meant to honor Him. I want them to see that pushing themselves athletically can be an act of worship. And long after their playing careers end, I hope they carry a deep understanding that their identity is never defined by a scoreboard or final result, but by who they are in Christ. That foundation is what will sustain them for a lifetime.

7. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes. Pray for our Athletes and coaches! They need your support, encouragement, and prayers.

About Derek Swanson, Athletic Chaplain
Derek serves as Athletic Chaplain at Minnehaha Academy, providing spiritual care, mentorship, and leadership development for coaches and student-athletes. He holds a B.A. in Christian Ministries from Bethel University and a Certificate in Sports Chaplaincy from Baylor University’s Truett Seminary. Derek is actively involved with Boys Varsity Soccer and the Athletic Leadership Track, helping students grow not only as competitors, but as disciples of Christ.

Photos: Victor Keller