By CHELSAE CORDIA
Staff Writer
During the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Home Team Banquet, former Louisiana State University All-American goal keeper, and the first female to try out for a Southeastern Conference football team, shared the story of her journey with Christ.
Georgia native Mo Isom has experienced hurdles such as bulimia, her father's suicide, and a car wreck that nearly ended her life. Isom said Thursday night there was a time when her confidence in her faith hit rock bottom.
But now, Isom said, her relationship with God is stronger than ever. She is a mother, a wife, and a New York Times best-selling author of "Wreck My Life: Journeying from Broken to Bold."
"It's so neat to get to pop into different communities and see the faces behind FCA in those specific and unique communities," Isom said. "So even just talking to people who attend, and people who support, and people who are here for the first time, or athletes, it's really neat to put faces with the ministry and what God's doing."
Isom said beginning with her father's suicide, the consistency and dedication of the LSU FCA leadership team led her to re-establish her faith. Isom was baptized in the rehab pools under Tiger Stadium, which she thinks is "a pretty epic baptism story."
"We didn't even get permission," she said. "We snuck in past the administration and dunked quick."
After arriving Thursday, Isom spoke with members of the Poplar Bluff Mules girls soccer team, which she said she enjoyed.
"Sports connect us so much and so even as a former soccer player I love sitting with current soccer players and getting to talk shop and talk about the sport and unpack why God is relevant to our sport and how we can glorify Him through it," she said.
In 2012, Isom became the first female to try out for an SEC football team when she trained with the Tigers. Isom said she was in the mix with players such as Tyrann Mathieu, "The Honeybadger," and Odell Beckham, Jr., both now professional athletes.
"It was amazing," she said. "The most fun thing about that was the unknown and just working really hard with where God called me to be and what He called me to do and just seeing what unfolded."
Isom trained with the team for 22 months before she tried out for kicker.
"I still had a senior soccer season to play on top of it and then had to wait until August to try out," she said. "It was this journey of not knowing what the answer would be, a yes or a no, but God doesn't always reveal to us the end. He just asks us to step out in faith."
Isom said when she began the process, LSU was in need of specialists for kickers which compelled her "to consider even doing it."
"We had, like two, and one was about the graduate," she said. "All those months later, between freshman and walk-ons and transfers, we had eight specialists on the roster. Because there's a limited number of spots on a football team, I had to be better than the starter if I wanted to make the cut."
Isom said she could kick a 53-yard field goal, but so could the starter. That, and the fact she would only be eligible for one season, ended up earning her a no. She said the rejection was difficult to accept.
"I think its hard when we have nos, especially when we've worked so much into something," she said. "But nos are just words of direction, not dismissal. So I took it and learned so much from it and was grateful for the experience."
"It's still super cool."
Isom has a new book, "Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot," that was released in March.
Three Rivers FCA Board Member Brian Taylor said Isom had a great testimony that resonated with the audience.
"She's a pretty powerful lady," Taylor said. "She's probably one of the best speakers we've had."
Taylor said he continues his involvement with the FCA because of "the great people in the organization."
"When I was in high school, I was in FCA and Coach (Bill) Ray and Coach (David) Sievers were my huddle leaders," said Taylor, who graduated in 1990. "And they're still involved today."
Sen. Doug Libla is a long-time supporter of area students and of the FCA.
"I know the powerful outreach that it actually does," Libla said. "I think it provides a ministry to young people who otherwise may not have an opportunity to be exposed to the ministry."
Libla said he typically provides funding for the group so students can gain experience through opportunity.
"We have a lot of students who may want to go to a summer camp or a leadership camp and their families can't afford to let them go," Libla said. "So my ministry of the ministry is to help on the funding side."