Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Events

Whether you're interested in conferences or local gatherings, there's an opportunity for you. Explore upcoming events and find your place to serve and grow.

Mission Trips

Explore domestic and global mission trips with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact. Opportunities for students, families, and professionals.

Internships

Explore Cru's internship opportunities—serve globally or locally, develop your skills, and make an eternal impact. Apply today!

Careers

Explore full- and part-time ministry careers with Cru—use your skills to impact eternity. Apply today!

Volunteer

Explore volunteer opportunities with Cru and use your skills to impact lives for eternity.

International

Explore global mission opportunities with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

Leah O'Brien-Amico

My three Olympic gold medals lie banged up in a bank safety-deposit box down the street from my house. Some Olympians carefully handle their medals – leery that they might be mishandled and damaged.

After speaking about my 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic experiences, I let kids hold them and take pictures wearing them. So the medals are hacked up and scratched. But I don't care.

God changed how I view athletic success.

When I started playing softball at the University of Arizona in 1995, I met Julie Reitan. My teammate's love for Jesus was vibrant. And so obvious. Before games she would gather the team together to pray. Julie invited me to a Bible study sponsored by Athletes in Action, Cru's outreach to athletes.

At that Bible study, AIA staff member Doug Gotcher explained how I could know God personally. Though I had invited Jesus into my life as a child, my faith was shallow. Doug opened my eyes to see that I didn't know the first thing about the Bible.

Through Julie's example and Doug's teaching, I committed my life to Christ. In 1997, I prayed, God, I want to learn to play softball for You; I want to give everything to You.

For example, the thought of praying publicly at a softball game – as Julie had often modeled – once petrified me. But after winning the 1997 College Softball World Series, I shouted, "Wait, guys."

I gathered some players at home plate and prayed ... out loud. The prayer was a significant step for me. It was my first time to be bold as an athlete who loves Jesus. Unfortunately, Julie didn't see me pray publicly again.

A few months later she suddenly died in her sleep. At age 21, a diabetic coma took her life. A teammate at Arizona called to tell me the news while I was traveling with the national team.

Earlier that summer I had participated in an AIA camp where I learned more about evangelism. I had wondered, Will I have the courage to talk to my teammates about Christ, or will they think I'm crazy? But after Julie's death I didn't want to die without my teammates knowing the most important thing in my life: Christ.

Endorsements, national championships and gold medals ultimately don't matter. They won't last for eternity. My relationship with God and my family are most important, then softball.

I don't care if my Olympic medals get banged up. They are just pieces of metal.

<a href="/content/cru/us/en/train-and-grow/classics/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html">Next: Would You Like to Know God Personally?</a>

See also:

Leah O'Brien-Amico has a bat named after her: the Worth Leah O'Brien-Amico Fast Pitch Softball bat.

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.