It’s Good to be a Lion
Big Valley Christian School found a way to turn disappointment into encouragement in a unique way…
In Modesto, California, the 2020 -2021 football season did not started the way the BVCS Lions had hoped. Regardless of the COVID obstacles, the head football coach decided there was action to be taken. Starting September 22, 2020, the team started making a series of encouraging videos that have been sent to other teams currently playing during the fall season. The response has been a great source of encouragement.
“Since we are not able to play right now, we had to find another way to live out our mission, which is to glorify God through the game of football. We weren’t going to let our circumstances alter our calling,” said Brian Berkefeld, Big Valley Christian School’s head football coach. “I saw a video on social media that was sent to another high school and decided to start sending our own encouraging videos to teams that are now playing. I know how hard it has been on my team not to play, and I wanted them to get outside of themselves and turn a negative time for them into something positive for others.”
With the constraints of COVID delaying the California high school football season, the BVCS football team has been putting their energy into practicing with all the appropriate measures as well as making their videos. The players have reached out to eight schools and have received responses from all the schools. The last school replied with a video - which was a great way for the team to be encouraged as they wait to start their season. The plan is to keep making videos through the end of the fall season.
“So much of this type of service and leadership goes on behind the scenes by many of our students and staff at Big Valley,” said David Voortman, BVCS Athletic Director. “It’s awesome to see this tangible example of how our school is impacting the world for Christ. We want our students to get outside of themselves and make a difference in our community and beyond.”
The school community has been inspired to see young people turn disappointment into encouragement. The videos, and the message and heart behind them, are a reflection of the bigger Big Valley Christian School mission. Sarah Boone has three boys on the team and said, “There is great joy in seeing my sons impacted by coaches that are using the game of football to build character traits that will go far beyond the football field.” Big Valley Christian School’s football team has turned their challenging season of waiting into a win off the field as they make a difference by reaching out to other teams with encouragement. Even in these challenging times, it’s good to be a Lion.
You can watch the videos here to see the BVCS football team encourage others. You can also watch the response from one of the teams here.
Big Valley Christian School is located in Modesto, California. BVCS nurtures and equips over 750 preschool through high school students to go out into the world and make an impact for Jesus Christ. You can learn more about BVCS at www.bvcslions.com.
