EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published in the April issue of GCU Magazine, available in the purple bins on campus or digitally. "My LopeLife" is a feature in which GCU students, staff and alumni share enlightening experiences. To be considered for My LopeLife, please email a synopsis of your suggested topic to [email protected] with “My LopeLife” in the subject field.
Story by Matthew Harvey
When I was 7 years old, my parents moved our family 7,000 miles away – a move that, at the time, seemed less than convenient.
I didn’t know anything about Israel besides what I heard in Bible stories.
But I remembered feeling I had nothing to lose. I had been home-schooled for the past year and felt comfort in knowing that my teacher, at least, was moving with me.
Then after a long flight, reality started to set in. I was in a country where everyone spoke a language I had never heard and practiced a religion I knew little about.
That night, my family of six moved into our “roomy” two-bedroom apartment. I had a hard time remembering when I agreed to an open-ended sleepover with my siblings, but we made it work.
Slowly, we began to immerse ourselves in Israeli culture.
We learned Hebrew by watching reruns of “SpongeBob,” swam in the Sea of Galilee and walked the streets of Jerusalem. And that year, we drove across the country visiting biblical and historical sites, where we did such amazing things, including floating in the Dead Sea and attending Easter services at the Garden Tomb.
But then tensions began to rise.
Trips to the bomb shelter became a daily routine. I didn’t fully understand the severity of what was happening.
Then one day, my sister and I biked to get ice cream at a nearby university. While we were out, the alarms started to sound. We found a tree, where we hunkered down.
As college students ran by with their books held overhead, we watched the Israeli air defense system, the Iron Dome, intercept incoming missiles.
We didn’t go on another bike ride for quite some time.
Five years later, my parents told us we were moving back to the United States – to Fort Collins, Colorado. I wasn’t sure how to feel. We had been back to the States a couple of times since moving but never for more than a week or two.
With this new change of scenery, it felt like the right time to return to public school.
Life felt confusing, and I often questioned what God’s plan was for me. I began to search for answers in the world around me and lean on my own understanding.
I wanted to make something of myself and carve out a clear plan for my future, and that began with pouring all my time and effort into sports, including basketball.
Around this time, I joined my older sister on a trip to explore Grand Canyon University. I had never heard of it before, but I was eager to visit. When we arrived on campus, I remember being amazed. The culture was welcoming, and everyone was incredibly friendly.
During our tour, I saw a sign that read, “GCU – Find Your Purpose.” The university seemed like a perfect fit for me, so I decided to attend and set aside my basketball dreams.
A couple of weeks before move-in day, I heard of an opportunity to work with the men’s basketball team as a student manager. I immediately scheduled a call and was told I could start on my first day of school.
I remember my first practice so clearly. All the new managers sat on the sidelines to observe. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was eager and ready to work.
As time went on, my appreciation of my role on the team grew. The opportunity to serve our players and help them improve was incredibly rewarding.
Eventually, a couple of players asked if I would be interested in joining their Bible study. I wasn’t sure where I stood in my faith, but I was willing to try. After hearing their testimonies and reading Scripture together, I started to gain a clearer understanding of what faith truly meant.
Halfway through the season, I had the opportunity to sit in on one of assistant coach Casey Shaw’s famous pregame chapels. He shared the story of David and Goliath in a way I had never heard before. I had never experienced someone speaking with such passion and conviction.
After that chapel, there wasn’t a single player or coach in the room who wasn’t ready to run through a wall. I felt inspired and eager to find a faith of my own.
I wasn’t sure where to start or who to ask, so I prayed. I had prayed before, but usually only in difficult circumstances — a sick relative or a broken bone. This time was different. I asked God to guide me and draw me closer to Him.
That same week, a professor assigned a class project to interview a leader in my life. I thought of Coach Shaw.
We went through the required questions, but the conversation didn’t end there. We talked about how he found his faith and the people who helped shape it. He described the first time he truly read his Bible and how the words seemed to leap off the page.
After that talk, I went home, eager to open my Bible and begin growing in my own faith.
I began regularly attending church and, in time, surrendered my life to Christ and decided to be baptized.
My time with the GCU men’s basketball program has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. Having the opportunity to practice servant leadership while building relationships with people I now call brothers and mentors is nothing short of a dream.
I never will forget Israel, where my faith journey began, nor will I forget the lessons I learned at GCU or the people who helped me find my faith.
***
Related content:
GCU News: My LopeLife: Former gymnast stretches her possibilities at GCU
GCU News: She wanted to flip houses, but a D.C. trip flipped the script for public policy major
