November 2018 was the end of another round of surprising twists, turns, and travels in my life. I had spent just over half a year serving in Nuremberg, Germany – using fitness and other tools to reach and connect with others to show Jesus’ love in word and deed.

I was prepping to lead another summer tour with News Release Basketball and then God decided to sandwich Revelation Wellness Instructor Training in Arizona in November between theRIVER gathering in Thailand for the month of October, and News Release/YMCA Hong Kong basketball outreach in December. #backpacklife #cantstopwontstop

Revelation Wellness had been on my radar for about 2 years at this point and earlier that year I was gifted with the opportunity to become a Revelation Wellness Ambassador and get my certification. God has been tending to my spiritual, physical, and mental health through Revelation Wellness for years now. When I signed up I thought this will just be another fun tool to offer and apply to my mission field. Perhaps, I was also going into Training a bit blindly and a bit pridefully. But, Training was so much better and more impactful than I expected.

I was eager to apply my RW Training to my work with News Release Basketball tours. Every summer I lead a tour of Women’s collegiate athletes through Europe to conduct kids camps, scrimmage, and connect with professional teams and share about our relationship with Christ.

We coach kids in basketball and spiritual formation, ministering to their love of the sport as well as their need for God. God ministers to me and my leaders, just as much as He is ministering to those we are serving.

Our ladies (leaders, players, coaches – we wear many hats!) are from all over the US, ranging from 18-30 years old. Each comes from a different background, places/understandings/experience of faith and each has her own beautiful, sometimes painful story to share. But they are each precious in His eyes.

Applying many of the topics and tools of RevWell with my NRB team the past two years has been incredible!

One of the main themes that hit me hardest going through my training was actually REST. The word, idea, and action of “rest” fills me with a mix of emotions. It is immensely deep and dynamic and rubs against every fiber of my performance-based mindset.

Rest is the word that confronts many players on our team every year. As high-level athletes, we are well-oiled machines. Manipulated and driven by stats, opinions, and starting spots. We push beyond limits and through injuries. Rest is for the weak. Days off?! PSH. The off-season is where the real work begins. We are numbers, dollar signs and absolutely…

replaceable.

We are investments, and they are waiting for a return. Our value and futures, for most, depend on it. This idea of rest and strength in weakness is not at home in mainstream American Collegiate Basketball culture.

Facing the truth that we need to rest and that we do have weaknesses is always a layer that needs to be shed on our tours. An uncomfortable one, but a healthy one.

To dig into the discomfort and pull apart the layers of fear, pride, and our God-given identity, we discuss how our basketball careers have influenced our identity. We talk about abuses we have experienced and witnessed through our sport. And we begin to diagnose that “this way”, is not “His way.”

Our value and worth as individuals is based on nothing more than the combination of our existence and His deep love for us. No stat line or injury will ever change that. We have a life beyond basketball and God has a purpose for us beyond the game. For many of our players, this is one of their last chances to continue playing basketball competitively. We hope to place them on professional teams in Europe – to fulfill dreams, to adopt another opportunity to use basketball as a platform in which to point to Christ and to continue ministering to the areas and friends that we visit and serve every summer.

My ambassadorship with Revelation Wellness has been an honor and a privilege. It is a logo I proudly sport and a tool I point everyone to. This journey of reconnecting our faith and movement, I believe, is a necessity. And I will continue preachin’ and sweatin’ until my time here is up.

In the comments below, share your favorite verse and an encouraging message with Cassie! 

Cassie Bates is a Revelation Wellness Ambassador and International Missionary.  She is also a newly signed missionary with United World Mission currently in training with them and serving in San Diego with San Diego Rescue Mission. Her hope is to live in a way that boldly invites others into the fullness of life which Christ offers through authentic relationships, community living, acts of service, and fitness/holistic lifestyle coaching. You can read about her work on her website, Small Actions, Big Love!

Thank you for reading along on the Revelation Wellness Blog! Check out the Revelation Wellness Store for our 2019 Fall Collection! Bundle up in a new sweatshirt or gift your friends and family with RW Store gift cards!

Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!

TAMMY’S TOTAL BODY STRENGTH – “RESTORING MY JOY”

Nobody can train the basics enough. Especially when it comes to weight training. The rewards of putting our bodies under resistance are numerous, but the risks are real. This workout will help reinforce the healthy basics.(ADVANCED) (JAMES 1:2-3; RESISTANCE TUBE, STABILITY BALL, HAND WEIGHTS)