How the Impact of a Coach Changed a Life | Episode 001 with Nate Safe

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:57:38 GMT

In a culture that is constantly asking, "What do you do?" it can become easy for our answer to that question to become our entire identity. But what happens when that identity is no longer who we are? That was the wrestle that Nate Safe had after his football career at NDSU ended. His identity, which was fully wrapped up in the answer "college football player" was no longer true.

In the first episode of the Stories of His Glory podcast, North Dakota FCA State Director Nate Safe shares how God rebuilt his life after the idol of football no longer satisfied.

When the Idols Fail

Growing up, Nate’s identity was wrapped up in football. As an offensive lineman for the NDSU Bison, he did all that he could to excel on the field.

But when his playing days ended, Nate struggled. He was a year out of college, married, and failing at his first real job. Nate faced the hard truth, his identity was wrapped up in football, but that identity was no longer who he was. When the cheering stopped and his career ended, Nate had to figure out who he was when he wasn't an athlete.

From Head Knowledge to Heart Faith

During that season of life, Nate’s kept thinking about his high school coach, Ted Schultz. Coach Schultz was a star tight end at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and had come to faith through FCA while there. As a young high school football coach, Ted lived out his faith. He treated his wife well, he cared for his players, and his life had a joy Nate recognized he didn't have.

Nate grew up in church and knew Bible stories and the right answers. But he quickly learned that head knowledge is not the same as saving faith. It wasn’t until his football idols shattered that the gospel finally clicked. He stopped seeing Jesus as just a moral teacher and started understanding the life-changing grace of the cross.

Today, Nate’s identity is no longer tied to his place on the depth chart, but is rooted in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. His top three roles are: a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to his wife Alice, and a father to his three boys. Everything else flows from that foundation.

Concluding Challenge

Nate’s journey from a former college football player to a ministry leader proves that God redeems our failures. He takes the things we thought were wasted and uses them for His glory.

We all face the temptation to build our identity on things that will eventually fade, whether it is our careers, our achievements, or the approval of others. But those things will always leave us empty. Only Christ provides a foundation that lasts. Before we can point others to Jesus, we must let Him reorient our own hearts.

Listen to Episode 1 of Stories of His Glory on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website to hear all of Nate's story. If you are in North Dakota and want to see every coach and athlete come into a growing relationship with Jesus, visit fcand.org to get involved with FCA today.

Local Area FCA Blog

How the Impact of a Coach Changed a Life | Episode 001 with Nate Safe

When the Idols Fail

From Head Knowledge to Heart Faith

Concluding Challenge