When Jason Lewkowicz arrived at Bethel University as Athletic Director in fall 2024, he inherited programs on the verge of something special. By season’s end, the Pilots had stacked national championships, NCAA tournament appearances, and individual athletes competing at the highest levels. But the wins weren’t the story – the way they won was.
In his first staff meeting, Lewkowicz didn’t talk about X’s and O’s. He didn’t discuss recruiting strategies or fundraising goals. Instead, he shared six core values that would become the foundation of everything Bethel Athletics represents.
“These aren’t the only things,” Lewkowicz explained, “but they’re the main things.”
The Six Core Values
1. Model a Philippians 2 Life: Philippians 2 calls believers to walk in humility, considering others better than themselves. It is the same humility Christ demonstrated. For Bethel athletes and coaches, this means the “assist” matters as much as the “basket”, and serving your teammate’s success is just as important as your own stats.
“Good shot or great shot?” Lewkowicz asks. “You had a good shot and gave it up to a teammate for a great shot. That’s Philippians 2 leadership right there.”
2. Footwashing Culture: Inspired by Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13, this value extends beyond the locker room. It’s how Bethel athletes treat officials, opponents, cafeteria staff, and maintenance workers.
“The more we’re thinking about serving others, the less we’re thinking about our own selves,” Lewkowicz notes. “And the more we think about our own selves, the easier we get into our own feelings – where doubt, fear, shame, and guilt can creep in.”
3. Be Salt and Light: Matthew 5 calls Christians to be salt (preserving, flavoring) and light (attracting others to truth). For Bethel, this means bringing authentic personality and creativity to competition while pointing others toward something greater than athletic achievement.
“That light isn’t to attract to ourselves,” Lewkowicz emphasizes. “It’s to attract to Jesus.”
4. Eyes on Jesus: When Peter walked on water, he succeeded because his eyes were fixed on Jesus. The moment he noticed the chaos around him, he began to sink. The same principle applies to athletes facing pressure, adversity, or distraction.
“What I love about that story is Jesus doesn’t leave Peter there to sink,” Lewkowicz shares. “He pulls him back up, and they walk on water back to the boat together.”
5. Fill Your Fruit Basket: The fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – aren’t just Sunday school concepts. They’re daily practices that transform how coaches coach and athletes compete.
“If we’re thinking about those things, it’s going to affect how we coach, how we interact with our athletes, and even how we show up at the grocery store and at church,” Lewkowicz explains.
6. Know Who You Are: Perhaps the most critical value for young athletes: understanding that your sport is something you do, not who you are. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us we’re God’s workmanship, created for good works He prepared in advance.
“To be able to stop and listen to our creator and ask: Lord, who do you say that I am?” Lewkowicz reflects. “God’s given each of us a unique identity and will call us by name if we ask.”
The Results Speak
These values aren’t just inspirational posters in the weight room. They’re lived out daily, and the results are evident:
- Women’s soccer: NCCAA National Champions
- Men’s soccer: Crossroads League regular season and tournament champions
- Women’s volleyball: NCAA National Tournament appearance
- Cross country, swim & dive, tennis: Individual and team national qualifiers
- TONS of success in basketball, baseball and MORE!
But more importantly, Bethel is developing athletes and leaders who understand that excellence in athletics flows from excellence in character.
Application for Your Program
You don’t need to be at a Christian university to implement these principles. Whether you’re coaching middle school basketball or leading a high school program, consider:
- Define your core values – What are the 3-6 non-negotiables for your program?
- Model them consistently – Your athletes will do what you do, not what you say
- Make them actionable – How do these values look in practice? In competition? In the classroom?
- Hold everyone accountable – Including yourself
As Lewkowicz reminds us: “You can’t just say you demand excellence. You have to define what that looks like in practice. You have to model it.”
Championship culture isn’t built on talent alone. It’s built on values that transcend wins and losses – values that shape young people into leaders who will impact their communities long after their playing days end.
“These young people are our future leaders,” Lewkowicz says. “They’re hungry for truth and authenticity. We’ve got to bring that as coaches and staff.”
For more from Jason & Play in Faith – visit our podcast hub at www.PlayinFaith.com/podcast
