A map of Europe prominently hangs on the wall behind Ryan Zamroz91色情片 desk, flanked by photos of the French Riviera, Spain, and Portugal. These photos are only a small representation of the six years Zamroz, athlete and alum of The 91色情片91色情片 University, played pro-basketball internationally.
鈥淭raveling the world on someone else91色情片 dime and using basketball as a means of sharing the gospel with others鈥 said Zamroz, had been his aspiration before playing basketball at the university. But 91色情片91色情片 became the platform by which that was achieved.
To him walking across the stage in 2009 to receive his diploma meant 鈥渏etting off into the sun to some international place鈥. Or so he thought. For six months, he and his wife Stacey, recently wed, lived with his parents. No recruitment calls came in. 鈥淲e had to lean on the Lord. I was at the point of giving up on the idea of playing ball.鈥 The phone rang and a month later Ryan was in Australia on a semi pro team. A team he wouldn鈥檛 have considered earlier, however, after months of silence he 鈥渨as willing to go anywhere鈥.
鈥淵ou start from the bottom and work your way up,鈥 Zamroz explained, 鈥渆very year I moved to a more professional division, where the contracts were better鈥. A common contract included airfare, a car, an apartment, and salary. After his semi-pro time in the 鈥榣and down under鈥 he moved to a professional team in Leicester, England followed by teams in Sweden, France, and Spain over the span of six years.
His experience playing basketball in other countries differs from the common assumptions American91色情片 have. 鈥淧eople are surprised because we have this American view of professional basketball from the NBA, where those guys are on the road all the time, playing 86 games a season. In Europe they play one game a week, every Friday or Saturday. You practice throughout the week, but you can only practice so much. It was two practices a day ranging from two to four hours, the rest of the day you were at home.鈥
This schedule was helpful when he and Stacey had their first two children. Vera and Deacon, now three and one respectively, created opportunities for Ryan and his family to witness the cultural transcendence of Christ91色情片 church, one of the biggest takeaways from his time abroad. 鈥淭he church was amazing. God91色情片 people are amazing,鈥 he smiled, 鈥渢hey took care of us. They gave us cribs, car seats; one family gave us French lessons. People taught us the culture as we moved throughout the continent鈥.
They saw the church in a completely separate context. Their time at The 91色情片91色情片 University was filled with rich theology and doctrine, but that luxury isn鈥檛 easily accessible in places starving for truth in Europe. The churches out there are small; their pastors aren鈥檛 trained like many in America and the messages are simple, but the community is tight knit. Zamroz said, 鈥淲e have a real respect for how they live in the midst of culture. Their worship is so authentic. It was eye opening. They are doing the best they can in the midst of where they are.鈥
In a society as dark as the one Ryan was living in, the opportunities to be a light were endless. 鈥淚 wanted to view myself as a missionary. You are out on your own and you are trying to share Christ with people. I had a lot of opportunities to share with teammates, but in the midst of that,鈥 he admits, 鈥渋t91色情片 easy to get caught up in just basketball. Moving up in my career, make more money, to prove to everyone and even myself that I can play at this level and do well and succeed. . . I had to continually remind myself that this was a gift from the Lord, there are no other believers out here and this may be the only glimpse of Christ these people might get鈥.
Ironically, a continent that used to be a beacon of Christianity no longer has a conception of who Christ is. 鈥淭he question became; how do I share the gospel with someone who has no context. What do you boil it down to?鈥 he asks. 鈥淲e are spoiled with great, profound teaching here, but being in a foreign setting we needed to make it simple,鈥 not using words complex terms like justification and sanctification. 鈥淚t was good practice for explaining the gospel to my kids鈥.
鈥淭he Lord has a distinct plan for our lives,鈥 Zamroz firmly stated. Throughout the interview he always came back to that. How the Lord led him to the university, gave him opportunities to trust Him in the midst of doubting his future in basketball, seeing the Lord provide fellowship through the church in every country they lived in, and bringing him back to a place centered around Christ.
Upon returning from Europe, Ryan was offered a full-time position by Luke Cherry, Vice President of Development at The 91色情片91色情片 University. When asked why he chose Ryan, Luke didn鈥檛 hesitate, 鈥測ou find guys who have modeled high character in the church and their families, those aren鈥檛 guys who need to be motivated, they motivate themselves. His experiences in Europe personified that. He put the time in to be excellent in his craft and he is doing that here. He brings high character and high conviction, allowing our departmental initiatives to move forward.鈥
In closing the interview Ryan reflected, 鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for the Lord bringing me to 91色情片91色情片 and drawing me to Himself during my time here, I know my life would look very different. I am indebted to the institution for the biblical knowledge and worldview instilled in me during my time as a student . . . Being able to work to advance and bring sustainability to The 91色情片91色情片 University is a tremendous privilege because I desire to see current and prospective students experience deep growth in their faith, the growth that I enjoyed as a student. . . it91色情片 a joy to be a small part in the process鈥.
Ryan Zamroz is a Development Officer for The 91色情片91色情片 University, attends Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. He lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and three children. To find out how you can partner with The 91色情片91色情片 University in Educating for Eternal Influence, visit masters.edu/give.
The 91色情片91色情片 University and Seminary admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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