by David Fawcett
In the world of college basketball, Chase Johnston is a relative unknown. He’s not an all-American, a player of the year candidate or a future NBA lottery pick.
But for one moment during the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, the High Point University guard became a viral sensation by using his play on the court to draw attention to Jesus.
It was subtle, but effective. And people took notice.
Most will remember him for his game-winning layup (and the fact it was his only successful two-point attempt this season) in High Point's 83-82 upset win over Wisconsin March 18. Or they will remember his long-range 3-point baskets with defenders draped all over him. And that's fair. Those were big-time shots.
But before a nationally televised audience at one of the United States’ most popular athletic events, he also generated conversation for something else that grabbed people’s attention: He wore No. 99 on his jersey and wrote Acts 20:24 on the back of his sneakers.
In the past, typical college basketball jersey numbers ranged from 0 to 55. Although players can now wear a number up to 99 following a June 2023 NCAA rule change, no one does.
But Johnson bucked convention. He switched from No. 1 last season to No. 99 this season and did so with a specific purpose.
It gave the future minister a chance to reference Luke 15 and Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep where the shepherd leaves the flock of 99 to find the one lost sheep. It also gave him a chance to answer people when they asked why he wore such an atypical number.
It was a perfect conversation starter. He met people where they were at by using something more relatable, but fleeting, like basketball, as a point of entry to talk about something more eternal, like Jesus.
The Bible verse on his sneakers also drew attention and provided another opportunity to pique people’s curiosity and share Jesus’ message. Acts 20:24 is about being content with God's call on your life, whatever that might be or where it leads. It's about being used for God's glory and nothing more. Johnston’s actions reflected that approach in a humble, but powerful way.
Johnston’s references might go somewhere, they might not. But no matter what, they offered the chance to plant a seed by prompting someone to inquire about the number or the Bible verse and then let God do the rest.
“I wanted people to ask me about it, wanted another opportunity to share the Gospel,” he said after the game.
Johnston is a great reminder for all of us to see how God works through people in all circumstances. It might be a basketball game. It might be your workplace. It might be at the pickup line at your child’s school. You never know.
But when the chance comes, be ready and willing just like Chase Johnston.
Longtime All Saints’ parishioner David Fawcett is Sports Editor for InsideNoVa.