As coach of Howard University soccer, in 1970, Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips built a championship team in just one year. Howard became the first historically black college to win the NCAA Division I championship. His team was later stripped of the title because of minor infractions reported by other college administrators who were likely jealous and prejudicial toward his black team. He overcame the setback and worked even harder to develop his team, later winning the title again in 1974. Phillips became the first black professional soccer coach in US history and received the sport’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. His ability to tackle problems became the theme for his book Rising Above and Beyond the Crossbar and an upcoming movie, Rising Above.

Nehemiah 13 – Restorative Mission

No doubt, Nehemiah could have related to Coach Phillips. During the final chapter, Nehemiah confronts several significant problems but remains determined not to let them conquer him or the people he serves. Nehemiah, like Coach Phillips, was determined not to compromise his values. He was interested in purging the evil in the house of God.

The book of Nehemiah is about restoration, addressing the problems that every effective leader must overcome to accomplish their mission. Spiritually, the only way to renew their covenant with God was by taking the steps of trust and obedience. As the hymn (Trust and Obey) says, “Trust and obey, for there is no other way.”

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete tackle a wrong by replacing it with something better. They know it’s not enough to condemn the wrong.

Bible Memory Verse – “‘…Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all their places to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres.” Nehemiah 12:27 (LSB)