Player Ministry Spotlight - Trent Senske

This week we have identified and got together with Trent Senke a Football/Soccer Player Minister from the USA. We threw some questions his way, so we hope this may encourage as you get a glimpse of how God is working in other areas of the world. Take this opportunity also to pray for Trent in his continued service through Player Ministry. See what you think.....

Name: Trent Senske

Age: 21

Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN USA

Brief football playing history:
Played Prep football in high school for 2 years at Eden Prairie High School and was awarded All-State honors. Also, played 4 years with Bangu Tsunami Football club. In 2006, began playing footy at Creighton University. Has played with Cleveland City Stars Reserve team, while working on mission alongside Ambassadors in Sport in Cleveland. Also, participated in Spain Tour 2009 in Granada and Sevilla. Trained for a brief stint with Bormujos FC in Sevilla as well.

Position: D/M

Current Club and where: Creighton University

Previous Club: Cleveland City Stars

Testimony:
For 18 years, I lived for my own fame through football and sought to “make a name for myself” (Gen 11:4). I was a decent person and able to keep up appearances with many, for a long time deceiving even myself. Yet my heart was evil from the start, only seeking to build a tower in my own honor. When I transitioned to collegiate football God began to humble me. Jesus painfully broke through the walls of defiance I had build up against him (Isaiah 59:2). I had hoped so long in myself and my ability, which I for the first time began to admit was completely limited. But then, the mighty hand of King Jesus showed me a hope that would not fail, and by his grace I put confidence in Him (Romans 5:3-5). I found him to be a man with character nothing could break, not even death itself (Ps 119:165;1 Cor 15:20-22). Slowly but surely, I repented repeatedly...and grew in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ. I have come to see that Jesus is the cornerstone of all life, and that everything good and right and true comes from him, works through him, and is to him (Eph 3:20-21; 1 Pet 2:6-8). Now I am building up his name with praise and seeking his glory for he alone is worthy(Rev 4:11). I still sin, fail, fall down, repent, and get up again. However, the aim of my life as a saint in his kingdom is to proclaim his excellencies for “he has called me out of darkness into marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9).

How do you use football as a tool to share Jesus christ?
I use football as a tool to make conversations and have influence on my teammates. Christianity usually gets you a bad rap in the changing room or on the party scene which is usually my teammates scene. Nonetheless, every one of my teammates sees Christ in me because he lives in me (Gal 2:20) and they continually seek me out for guidance, encouragement, friendship and in some cases prayer. I play for Jesus’ glory and humbly train hard so that all may seek how I imitate the excellence of Christ through football. Through football I also have a platform to speak into the lives of other university students who are supporters of our team.

What is player ministry to you?
Simply put it is the ministry of reconciliation that God has given me: “that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” It is an honor to preach Jesus Christ and kingdom redemption through his offer of reconciliation in all that I say and do as a footballer. “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”

3 Key aspects of Player Ministry?
PATIENCE
Football ministry is slow and often frustrating. You must be patient with teammates and friends by letting God work in their hearts and not counting their progress as your success. Your goal is to build a relationship with them and help them build one with Jesus. Don’t be looking for converts, aim long-term and make lifelong disciples(1 Thess 5:14; Matt 28:19,20). Take them along with you, invite them into your life to do and serve God as you do. Don’t just talk to them, apprentice them like Jesus did his disciples.

PRESENT YOUR BODY
Much of your ministry is going to be non-verbal. That means you must preach “Jesus Christ is Lord” by your actions, using words only when necessary. Be moved by the spirit to speak; don’t just bombard someone with words they will most likely reject. Again let God soften their hearts through your actions and words. Then maybe, they too will give glory to God (Romans 12:1; Matt 5;16).

PRAYER
Someone once told me that if you ask a person “So, how’s your prayer life?” you can get a good picture into their spiritual health. He also said a great way to amp up your prayer life is to pray about the mission God. We always seem to be passionate about our ministry yet never prayerful about Gods ministry. Commit that passion to prayer. Righteous prayer is powerful enough to encourage God’s emotions to mercy and grace(Exodus 32:11), and is certainly fruitful in softening the hearts of our teammates.

What/Where next?
One more year at Creighton University and then wherever God leads. Getting a job seems to be a requirement and the strong encouragement from Jesus to me at the moment. I need to take responsibility and build up a solid foundation financially as well as spiritually in order to move towards marriage in a God honoring way.

Prayer points?
University Campus Ministry: that God would raise up strong young men we could led, nurture, train and send out as disciples and laborers for the kingdom of God.
Teammates: that God would soften their hearts and keep me faithful influencing them.
Me: that Jesus would reign ever more clearly in my heart and transform me into his image. That I would be faithful to the ministry that I have received from Jesus and preach the gospel of the grace of God. Also, that I would with all the might and grace given me press on seeking to “know him and the power of his resurrection” (Philipp 3:11).

Thanks so much Trent for sharing your heart with us. Please feel to use this Blog to ask Trent or 90+ questions about anything that has been shared during this player profile.