In 2008, Hayle Swinson began attending Truett McConnell University, a Baptist college in Cleveland, Georgia. It wasn’t because she cared about religion, but because they gave her a soccer scholarship. She didn’t care if she had to attend weekly chapel services. It seemed worth it for the opportunity. And after her first year, the school’s Christian mission had its intended effect on her: She “gave her life” to Jesus.
While that was happening, Bradley Reynolds, a pastor from North Carolina, was hired as the school’s vice president by his former colleague Emir Caner, who now ran the school.
Neither story was all that unusual, but their paths crossed pretty quickly during Swinson’s second year at the school. Reynolds and his wife would invite soccer team members to their home for dinner and Bible study—and he soon became a Bible mentor of sorts to Swinson herself. They would hold study sessions alone in his basement.
Swinson eventually graduated and stuck around the area, helping coach the soccer team and doing a mix of other jobs around campus.
While that was happening, Bradley Reynolds, a pastor from North Carolina, was hired as the school’s vice president by his former colleague Emir Caner, who now ran the school.
Neither story was all that unusual, but their paths crossed pretty quickly during Swinson’s second year at the school. Reynolds and his wife would invite soccer team members to their home for dinner and Bible study—and he soon became a Bible mentor of sorts to Swinson herself. They would hold study sessions alone in his basement.
Swinson eventually graduated and stuck around the area, helping coach the soccer team and doing a mix of other jobs around campus.
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