He Equips the Called / Guest Post by Corey Owens

In the hockey world, my story is very different from most of my teammates. To understand where I’ve come from and how God has worked in my life, it helps to go back to where it all started, my childhood. I’m from a town called Swedesboro in South Jersey, and I was incredibly blessed to grow up in a family that valued a relationship with the Lord more than anything else. I have two brothers, Matthew and Joshua, and from a young age, hockey was simply something I did.

My brother Matthew was a very passionate hockey fan. My dad, on the other hand, had grown up playing baseball, so hockey was completely unfamiliar territory for him. The only connection he had to the sport was a family friend who played street hockey. Honestly, street hockey wasn’t something I enjoyed until my dad introduced my brothers and me to ice hockey. I was about twelve years old when I stepped on the ice for the first time, and I instantly fell in love with the sport. Hockey quickly became something special to me, and it gave me some of my greatest memories growing up.

In the hockey world, starting at twelve years old is extremely late in the game. However, I saw it as a great opportunity to prove everyone wrong. I quickly picked up skating at a very rapid pace and continued to get better. At this point in my life, hockey started to become my god. God was no longer the Lord of my life. Throughout the next six years, hockey was my idol. I found myself placing my identity in how I played. For most players, that is something they probably struggled with at some point in their lives.

I spent such a long time wrestling with God. I ran so far from God that by His grace alone, He took the one thing that I cherished, hockey. COVID-19 was a time when the whole world went on a pause. I started to realize that the girlfriend I had at the time wasn't the best influence in my life. Along with the crowd I was hanging around. My teammate was paralyzed in our game, and it really shocked me. I was so angry at God that he would allow something like that to happen to one of my friends.

I decided to stop playing hockey, along with losing all of my friends, because I didn't want to go out with them anymore. I was absolutely crushed that everything that I found my confidence in was taken away. Instead of running at the feet of Jesus, I decided to run to find my identity in a career. My life was dedicated to training to become a Navy SEAL. During this time, I was training every day to complete my dream to potentially compete for a spot in the selection process called BUD (Basic Underwater Demolition). Before signing a contract to go into the Navy, I did a physical examination. While I was at the physical, I failed because of a minor hearing loss. I lost all hope in my life. Everything that I once found my worth in was all gone.

At this moment, I knew something needed to change. I decided to stop running from the one thing that was going to make me whole.

JESUS!

I gave my life to Christ after a long fight. I always knew the truths, but never wanted to follow. Once I gave my life to Christ, I still struggled as God was chipping away at my old sin habits. At this time I decided to go to community college and work at a hockey pro shop. For the next two years I didn't step on the ice once.

I decided to come to an open hockey skate one afternoon with my friends. A local college team pulled me aside asking where I play. I proceeded to tell him I haven't been on the ice in two years. He expressed his interest in me possibly playing for his team. I really thought and prayed about it. God put it on my heart to go try out for the team. I worked extremely hard. I would be skating two times a day and working out. I ended up making the team and doing super well that year!

During my time there, I heard about Liberty University and what it stood for. I instantly fell in love with the school and the rink. I decided to take a leap of faith. I would be competing with kids who not only have been playing hockey their whole lives, but most of them played high-level juniors. I was in a really difficult spot. I felt like God was calling me to play at Liberty, but to be honest with you, I did not feel qualified at all.

That summer, going into the prospect camp, I did really well. I was told by the coaches that they weren't certain I was coming and that they couldn't give me an offer at the time. I decided to trust God with the uncertainty of making the team and going to a university where I knew no one. That summer, I gave everything I had to training and trusting God with the rest. At tryouts, I played my heart out for the Lord. The last night approached, and I was just excited to know if I was going to make it or not. After tryouts, I had a meeting with the coaches and they expressed to me that I would have to pray about it one more day. Finally, the next morning, I got the call that I made the team. I was so excited and extremely blessed.

During my time at Liberty, I have grown as a man, and my faith has grown with the Lord. I am so thankful for all of the memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. I write you this story in hopes of giving you light. In life, we are going to seem unfit for the job, team, relationship, etc., but I am here to tell you that when God calls you to be somewhere, you NEVER quit.

God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.

There are so many times in my life where I did not feel worthy or qualified for where God was calling me to be. I hope you find strength in the Lord even when it may be really hard to trust in Him.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9