What do Athletic Trainers and the Philippian Jailer Have in Common?
Acts 16 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It’s the start of the Philippian church. And whenever I read about the Philippian jailer I can’t help but think about athletic trainers today and how they are strategically positioned for missional purposes. Let me explain.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are thrown into jail for “disturbing the city.” At least that’s what the people of Philippi claimed. The reality is that Paul had just forced an evil spirit to come out of a slave girl who was being used as a fortune teller. With the evil spirit gone, she was just…a girl. And her owner was furious. So, yes, Paul and Silas were disturbing the city—in a sense. But they weren't doing anything worthy of being thrown in jail.
The City of Philippi
This is the culture and context of Philippi. It was a prosperous roman colony, populated by Roman citizens. Many of these citizens were retired military men, which potentially explains why the response of the crowd to the accusations against Paul and Silas was to strip them, beat them, and flog them before throwing them in jail.
In Philippi, Christians weren’t given the benefit of the doubt, especially those who were not Roman citizens (Paul would later surprise them with evidence that he was, in fact, a Roman citizen).
Freedom
In the next four verses (25-29), we learn that Paul and Silas start praying and singing, an earthquake throws open the jail doors, the jailer is about to kill himself because he thought all of the prisoners escaped, and Paul tells him to relax, everyone is still there.
The jailer is astonished and wants what Paul and Silas have. He asked what he needs to do to be saved and they told him to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Paul and Silas share the Gospel with the rest of his family and they all get baptized. During this interaction, the jailer also washes the wounds of Paul and Silas.
What does this have to do with athletic trainers? Stay with me, we’re getting there.
The strategic placement of the Christian jailer
I love how strategic God is with who He chooses to use for missional purposes. Remember the culture and context of Philippi? It’s not a city known for being friendly towards Christians. It’s why the Philippian jailer is such a strategic piece to the missional strategy of God.
As Paul moves to new cities throughout Europe to start new churches, what will happen to the new believers in Philippi? What if they get thrown in jail for simply doing the right thing like Paul and Silas did? Who will watch over them in their darkest hour?
The Philippian jailer.
This man, now a brother in Christ, is still tasked with overseeing the jail that will (most likely) house future Christians. As always, God is one step ahead.
The new calling of the Philippian jailer probably looked something like this.
Care for the prisoners beyond your normal responsibilities (treat them as persons, not prisoners).
Share the Gospel with those who don’t believe.
Encourage those who do believe to stay strong in the faith.
Pray for them.
Nobody wants to be in jail. But the jailer’s job was to love people, right where they were, with the love that Jesus showed him and his family.
If you are an athletic trainer hopefully you are beginning to see where this is going.
The strategic placement of the Christian athletic trainer
No athlete wants to be in the training room. While it is a far cry from jail, it still represents a setback from where athletes want to be. It can be lonely, frustrating, and isolating for athletes who are used to being with their team, striving towards a common goal. And they are looking to ATs to provide them with the necessary treatment to get them back on the field.
Let me pause here and affirm a few things about ATs and their profession, lest we minimize their role to simply wrapping an ankle and sending an athlete on their way.
Very few people can do what they do and they are essential to any athletic program. ATs need to be sharp, sage, selfless, skilled and schooled. The job of an athletic trainer is crucial to the well-being and performance of athletes. With injured athletes, they work towards a quick recovery and a safe return to sport.
And I know that they are not just first responders and rehabilitation specialists.
They also help with injury prevention, helping athletes achieve their full potential while minimizing the risk of future injury.
ATs are experts in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. The educate and advocate.
Athletic trainers also play a vital role in educating athletes, coaches, and parents about proper training techniques, nutrition, and injury prevention strategies. They design exercise and conditioning programs that enhance performance. By teaching athletes how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid injuries, athletic trainers can help them achieve long-term success both on and off the field.
If you are a Christian who works as an athletic trainer or you are aspiring to be one, I want to encourage you with this: I believe you are in one of the most strategic places in all of sports to be used by God in significant ways.
Much like the Philippian jailer, you will experience people in their most vulnerable moments. Like the Philippian jailer, you are tasked with overseeing these individuals until they are released from your care. And by doing the job that you are employed and trained to do, you bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23).
But if you are a Christian, you also have an opportunity to provide care that transcends your earthly job description (using wisdom, especially if you work on a college campus). Athletes come to you with the need for physical care, but what if, through engaging with you, they received spiritual care as well?
What could this look like practically? Again, use wisdom and your own context to figure out how to do this well.
Let’s follow the same “new” job description for the Philippian jailer and apply it to your role:
Care for the prisoners athletes beyond your normal responsibilities
Many of you probably do this already, but getting to know the individual models the compassionate care of Jesus. Yes, he healed. But he also accompanied that healing with tenderness, curiosity, and love. A well-placed question or word can provide spiritual care or healing beyond the physical.
The Philippian jailer didn’t have to wash the wounds of Paul and Silas. That wasn’t part of his job description. But his newfound relationship with Christ led to this compassionate care. And compassionate care causes those on the receiving end to experience God in the midst of their pain and brokenness. What type of compassionate care can you display in your strategic position as an athletic trainer?
Share the Gospel with those who don’t believe
What’s the best way to do this? What comes to mind is 1 Peter 3:15. In this verse, Peter says “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
I think there is incredible power when you interact with the athletes in a way that makes them wonder where your joy comes from. They have to experience you differently than other people, enough to make them ask “why are you the way that you are?” That’s what Peter is saying. In those moments, be prepared to give an answer for your hope.
You don’t need to force the issue. Live Christianly in front of them. Show compassionate care. Ask God to move in their hearts enough for them to ask what’s different about you. And when they do, be prepared to respond by telling them about your relationship with Jesus.
I’ll say this again. Use wisdom, especially if you're in a secular setting. I’m not advocating for you to get yourself fired. But if the athletes are the ones asking the questions, usually you’re safe to respond boldly since they are driving the conversation.
Encourage those who do believe to stay strong in the faith
If you know they are Christians, that gives you a little more freedom to pair spiritual rehab with physical rehab.
A.W. Tozer once said, “When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.”
I don’t think they need to hear that quote. But it’s a good one for you to remember as you treat them.
God is using this time in their life to ultimately grow them closer to Himself. Knowing this will help you figure out what type of encouragement they need to hear.
Phrases like these could be helpful encouragement to their soul:
“I know it’s hard, but you can trust God with this.”
“I don’t know what God is up to or why He allowed this to happen, but I can already see you growing as a result.”
“It’s ok to be frustrated. That’s normal and it doesn’t make you any less of a Christian. It just makes you human.”
Pray for them
You can pray for athletes you work with outside of work. They don’t have to be in your presence to advocate on their behalf before God. You also don’t need to pray out loud when you are administering treatment. Silent prayers haven’t been proven to be any less effective than audible prayers. .
What should you pray about? Here are some things I would think someone in your position would bring before the Lord:
Pray for healing.
Pray for wisdom as you treat them and figure out the next steps.
Pray for opportunities to have spiritual conversations.
Pray that they would see something different in you and ask you about it.
Pray that God would give you the right words to say at the right time.
Pray that God would give them peace and contentment and joy.
Pray that God would use this time in their life to draw them closer to Himself.
Regardless of where the athlete is on their faith journey, I think this is a question worth asking: “Besides the obvious (healing of the injury) how can I be praying for you?” It opens the door for further conversation, shows compassionate care, and shows your cards that you are a Christian without being preachy.
A word of encouragement to athletic trainers
I really believe one of the reasons God saved the Philippian jailer was that he could be a blessing to future people placed under his watch. And I really believe Christian athletic trainers are uniquely and strategically positioned by God to show Jesus-like care to athletes who are hurting.
To all of the ATs out there: you are some of the best field missionaries we have within the context of sport.
Keep living faithfully, boldly, and compassionately with the athletes who come your way.
They come to you needing physical care. Keep offering them that with excellence—and treat their soul too.
