Superfest Inspires San Diegans to Live Like a Champion

Jan. 31, 2012 - PRLog -- SAN DIEGO -- The Rock Church hosted the Second Annual Superfest event on January 28 at Point Loma Nazarene University. The University athletic fields were overrun with children of all ages hoping to learn from their favorite professional athletes. Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell, former players of the San Diego Padres, and Padres catcher Nick Hundley taught baseball clinics. Chargers Vincent Brown, Nick Novak, and Darrell Stuckey led football drills and kicking tactics. Professional boxer Rich Powers and mixed martial artist Frank Lester hosted a boxing exhibit. Olympian Allyson Felix also came to share her story with the attendants at a panel held at the end of the day.

The athletes not only shared the sports they loved with kids who looked up to them but they showed youth how to play like a real champion. Senior Pastor of the Rock Church and former San Diego Charger, Miles McPherson moderated the panel.

“It’s great to see the kids who look up to these athletes learn from them,” McPherson said. “Not only about how to play a sport but how to live for Christ.”

The athletes may come from different fields and walks of life but their motivation was what brought them together on Saturday. Each of them, while being exceptional at what they do, find their strength from something other than themselves. Throughout the day they interacted with the kids and taught them not only sports techniques but also how to live like a true champion and offered advice to the aspiring athletes.

“Stay true to your values,” Felix said. “Stay true to the word of God and commit to that. Whatever else takes off or doesn’t it’s His will.”

Felix was among gifted company, and the stories that came out of the event went far beyond learning a few new skills. One teenager had just lost his father that morning. Gonzalez stepped up and consoled the young boy in his time of grief. Another woman roused her entire neighborhood’s child population and carted them to the event an hour early to ensure they got the chance to learn from these athletes. The star-struck kids had the time of their life.

Teenage softball player Ashley Bischler got to play catch with three of her favorite Padres.

“My favorite part is being on the field with all the players,” Bischler said. “And just enjoying everyone’s company.”

Professional athletes were not the only ones who made the event memorable. Representatives from almost every PLNU athletic team were involved with hosting the clinics. The baseball team helped with hitting and fielding. The soccer team had several games of pick-up soccer going and helped Novak host the kicking clinic.

“To see how many kids come out to learn about the game and learn about the Lord too, it’s unbelievable,” Hundley said. “Great turnout for the baseball team. They’re in the middle of their season and they take a day out of their schedule to do that, says a lot about the players and the coaches.”

As the sunset glimpsed over the Pacific Ocean and everyone packed up, most things returned to ordinary. Gonzalez, Hundley and Bell will leave for spring training in a week. Stuckey, Brown and Novak will continue to train during their off-season. Lester and Power will prepare for their fights next week. Felix will compete in the summer Olympics. But the effect of this day on their hearts, as well as the hearts of the children there, is something that will stick with them for the rest of their seasons, and for some kids, the rest of their lives, is anything but ordinary.

To learn more, visit http://superfestsd.com/

The Rock would like to thank the following sponsors:  Point Loma Nazarene University, Humphreys Homes & Estates, Chick-fil-a, Palomar Mountain Water, The Burger Join, D*lush, Sushiya and Cooperstone Partners.

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ABOUT THE ROCK
The Rock is San Diego’s largest church and the 19th largest church in the nation according to Outreach Magazine's 2009 "100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America" survey. It was started in 2000 by Pastor Miles McPherson, a former NFL player. Over 12,500 people attend the Rock's five Sunday services.

For more information go to www.therocksandiego.org

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Rock Church 2277 Rosecrans St., San Diego, CA 92106 * www.therocksandiego.org