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<\/a>Jada Ragan, Mayce Nowlen, and Jenny Luckey<\/p><\/div>\n
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Jada, Jenny, and Mayce never could have imagined where their dedication to weightlifting would take them, and they have story upon story of the Lord\u2019s provision, His hand of favor. At their high school, the \u201cgirls\u2019\u201d weightlifting team wasn\u2019t the priority that the \u201cboys\u2019\u201d team was, and they were pushed out of the weight room numerous times, forced to train outside. The team of 30 young women, gathered from all four grades, stayed committed, and regardless of how they were perceived and treated by others at the school, they were thankful for their coach, Stanley McDonald, who continuously fought for them and encouraged their efforts. Jada, Mayce, and Jenny were also blessed to have the support of their families.<\/p>\n
These young women explain that weightlifting has taught them more about themselves than any other sport or activity has to this point in their lives. Jada had been a volleyball player, while Jenny and Mayce were involved in softball. Weightlifting, unlike other sports, requires a year-round commitment. They explained that if you take time off, you lose ground and have to work so much harder to get back to where you were. Their commitment over the last four years led them to impressive numbers in the competition categories of snatch, clean & jerk, and bench; it was this faithful work ethic that took them all the way to state this year.<\/p>\n
For Jada, even though they were so young when they started this journey together, she has seen impressive growth in herself and her team every year: \u201cGod called us to weightlifting. We wouldn\u2019t be the young women we are without it.\u201d Jada explained that it is imperative to believe in yourself to accomplish your goals. For her, lifting in front of an audience for points was nerve-racking, and she relied heavily on the Lord, even employing self-talk: \u201cGod be the God of my barbell.\u201d Jenny shared how the Lord stretched her by giving her a vision of leading devotions and prayers before every meet. She committed to doing that in her junior and senior years, and through these seasons, she began to see herself positively. She shared: \u201cI\u2019ve always been negative toward myself, but the Lord changed that. I\u2019m learning to trust God; I know that I\u2019m here for a reason.\u201d Mayce echoed the sentiments of Jada and Jenny, adding that she has learned: \u201cYou are who you surround yourself with.\u201d She also explained that in her senior season, she was dual-enrolled and taking difficult college classes; weightlifting in these previous years taught her that she could do hard things. \u201cI have to trust myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Jada Ragan<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Jenny Luckey<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Macy Nowlen<\/p><\/div>\n
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These young women have also learned a lot about their Savior. The team adopted the verse from Psalm 46:5: \u201cGod is within her, she will not fall.\u201d Jada shares: \u201cAs a team, that is what we have always said. You just gotta trust Him at the end of the day.\u201d Mayce explained that in their senior season, there were \u201cmany hills we had to climb,\u201d but we had to \u201cTrust the Lord that it was His plan.\u201d Jenny added that she has been learning to \u201cBe still and know that (He is) God. With God, anything is possible, and He is always by your side.\u201d<\/p>\n
This past summer, the young women had one of their greatest adventures yet. Through a divine connection, thanks to Jada\u2019s father (Dave Ragan, Assistant Superintendent of the Sonshine Network Conference) and Missionary David Hodges, the weightlifting team was invited to visit Peru for three days and share about their lifting techniques and about the God who has made it all possible. This adventure significantly impacted each young woman. Out of the team of 30, 7 lifters, all seniors, traveled to Peru for three days.<\/p>\n