Cultivating the Culture of Brotherhood
Who would think that a 22-5 record wouldn’t be enough? That was the case in 2022 when we were hoping to hear “LeTourneau” called on NCAA Division III Selection Monday. The disappointment from everyone on the team, and on campus for that matter, in those next few hours and days that followed was hard to ignore. For me, it was my first season as the head coach of the LeTourneau men’s basketball program.
When I accepted the job, I read Ephesians 3:20 during my press conference. It wasn’t a coincidence that our church was going through a series called Beyond in the weeks leading up to that moment—I knew God was going to do far more abundantly BEYOND what I could ever ask or imagine. But only if I gave Him control. Only if I was submitted to His direction and purpose.
he temptation within athletics, coaching, and leadership in general is to find your identity and self-worth in your success. So, when the final team was announced and LeTourneau was left out of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, I was devastated, but not just for the missed accolades or recognition. I was devastated that the season was over with that team. I wasn’t ready to be done. I wanted one more practice, one more road trip, one more Chick-Fil-A stop with the guys arguing about who the greatest player of all time is. I would even take one more postgame pizza on the bus.
We often remind our athletes to savor those moments shared together as a team. The relationships and memories will last far beyond the wins, losses, stats, or accolades—it is bigger than basketball. The season runs from October through late February, with everyone hoping it goes into March. That is nearly six months out of the year, with missed family time, holidays, and no real breaks as we span over Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. That is why it is so important to have a program and team built on relationships. If it is only about athletic excellence and winning, the first bump in the road or adversity is going to derail everything. It is hard to find joy in the middle of January during practice #71 if you don’t love the teammates, coaches, and people around you.
We use a phrase quite often with our team: “everything matters, and it’s all connected.” We like to compartmentalize our lives and keep things separate. This is my athletics life, this is my school or work life, here is my family and personal life, and then you have Jesus and God over here too. But that isn’t how life works; we were created for fully embodied lives. All of those parts are connected, and they all matter and affect each other. We often find that if someone is struggling academically, they have neglected or are not doing well in another area which is causing that struggle. If they are not playing well and don’t seem like themselves, there is probably something else going on. I know for me, personally, if I have neglected my relationship with the Lord and not been seeking Him and His Word, the other areas of my life will suffer: my marriage, my family, my coaching and leadership - everything matters, and it’s all connected.
We have a unique opportunity at LeTourneau to help young people grow academically, athletically, and most importantly, spiritually. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:22 that we are to meet people where they are. No two paths are the same, and we must build those relationships to understand and know where to meet them. For example, I was reminded by a former player recently not to forget about the “strong” ones, the ones you think don’t need help. They may portray confidence and be able to hide the fact they are struggling, but they are battling the same enemy we all are, and this life is not meant to be done alone. It was a humbling conversation to hear how he was in a dark, rough part of his life, and I had no idea. That is why true relationship and knowing the full person are so important; I don’t want any player to feel like he is on his own.
“I make this pledge to the Brotherhood. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). We say this together, in unison as a team, before and after every practice and game. It is a reminder of the sacrifice we make for each other.
College athletes must make a lot of sacrifices, especially at LeTourneau where the academic rigor is on another level. The time commitment is probably the most challenging part of being a student athlete and goes unseen by those outside of it. I could list all the things that are required (practices, travel, study hall, weightlifting sessions), but there is an even longer list of things necessary in order to be great and have success. Our pledge is also a commitment to be there for one another and be devoted to one another. That is a big commitment, and there are unfortunately too many examples of tough and challenging situations our young men have had to walk through in which they relied on that devotion and love from their teammates and brothers.
At times, the enemy also tries to speak lies like, “These guys don’t care about what you’re teaching them,” or “They don’t want to hear another scripture, or devotional, or have a spiritual conversation.” I have to fight through that as a coach, but I think Christians also battle those thoughts that we can’t or shouldn’t share the Gospel or speak biblical truth into a situation because someone may not accept it. Are they even listening or are they tuning me out because they are tired of hearing coach talk?
That 2022 season featured successes that didn’t make it into the stat sheet or record books. As we were finishing a life group session with our team one day, I offered a moment to accept Jesus to anyone in that locker room who hadn’t made that personal decision. When I saw a hand raised in front of me, the tears poured down my face. It wasn’t a freshman who was maybe hearing about Jesus for the first time, though that would have been great. It was a fifth-year senior who was coming back from a serious injury. He had sat through countless chapels, life groups, theology classes, and coach talks, but in that moment the Lord showed him that he was missing something in his life, a void that only God could fill, and he made that decision there with his brothers around him. He went on to get baptized with all of his teammates present to celebrate with him. Looking back at all 22 wins (with a few against ETBU), that was still the biggest win of that season. I know that He can do far more abundantly beyond anything I could ever ask or imagine, so I will continue to give Him all the glory and honor for what LeTourneau men’s basketball accomplishes on and off the court.
Embodied Living: 
By: Caedmon Liebengood
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10. This is the verse recited before and after each practice. What does it mean to be a part of this team? It means we live out Paul’s imperative. It means something unlike any other community I’ve been a part of. When you enter into this brotherhood, you become a brother for life. When a newcomer transfers in, or a freshman takes his first steps on campus, he is immediately accepted into this community. There need be no prior knowledge of who this person is—he is a brother who enters into a rich community that is uniquely distinct from any other community one may be a part of. As I’ve journeyed through my years at LeTourneau, being a part of this brotherhood, I’ve learned that it is only by the grace of the Father through His Son Jesus Christ, by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, that I am able to live in this community. Well, not only that I’m able to live in it, but that it even exists in the first place. This brings me to my first point: this community is a gift. Our response is to receive it with a posture of open hands. God has designed us to be in fellowship with Him and others, and it is a gift to be a part of this Godgiven community at LeTourneau. When you read through the New Testament epistles, especially from Paul, there’s a frequent pattern within his letters (even though they are written for different contexts). Take Ephesians, for example. The beginning three chapters reveal the mystery of the Gospel—how our salvation has been obtained solely by grace
through faith. They tell us what our identity is and who we belong to because of the love of Jesus Christ. “But now you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). They explain that through Christ, we have been reconciled back into right relationship with the Father, and we enter into not only a personal relationship with God, but also into a community of believers who together are called to be the united body of Christ, the dwelling place for God on Earth. While the beginning three chapters explain this reality, the latter three chapters tell us what we ought to do and how we ought to live out this good news. What is our purpose? It is here where we receive the “therefore” statements. As Dr. Kelly Liebengood, Dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, often asks, what is the therefore there for? three chapters explain this reality, the latter three chapters tell us what we ought to do and how we ought to live out this good news. What is our purpose? It is here where we receive the “therefore” statements. As Dr. Kelly Liebengood, Dean of the School of Theology & Vocation, often asks, what is the therefore there for? “I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy three chapters explain this reality, the latter three chapters tell us what we ought to do and how we ought to live out this good news. What is our purpose? It is here where we receive the “therefore” statements. of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1). “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Now this brings me to my second point—our team verse, Romans 12:10, is our call as the community of the cross and the way in which we live out the gift of the community we have been received into. It is the mark of a true Christian. After all, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Now this brings me to my second point—our team verse, Romans 12:10, is our call as the community of the cross and the way in which we live out the gift of the community we have been received into. It is the mark of a true Christian. After all, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
The brotherhood is a gift to be a part of, and it is a beautiful and unique opportunity to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re all waking up at 4:45 AM to work out together and push yourself past what you thought your bodily limitations were. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re all standing over your brother who lays on the ground as he’s just suffered a career-ending injury. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re gathered in the locker room after you’ve just lost an ASC championship, and some have played their last ever basketball game. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re picking your brother up who has just lost a family member. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re cracking jokes on an 11-hour bus ride. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re drenching your coach with water after he’s just won his first career game as a head coach. You don’t know what true community looks like until you’re dancing in the locker room after a win. I could go on and on about what it looks like to be a part of this brotherhood, the point being that all praise goes to the Lord because of the incredible blessing it is to be received into this community. Because of the redemptive work of the Father through the Son and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we are called and able to embody this love in this unique community. There’s no requirement to be loved as a brother in this community (other than being a good basketball player and making the team). After all, Jesus came to save the very ones who nailed Him to the cross. Here on the LeTourneau University men’s basketball team, we stay devoted to loving one another with brotherly affection and honoring one another above ourselves
