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THE LORD USES COMMUNITY

Belk looks back gratefully on

relationships he established with a

number of people at CIU beginning

with Track Coach Jud Brooker and

his wife Nicole; Communication

Program Director Dr. Dan Delozier;

English professor Dr. Sandra Young,

who taught him to be comfortable

with his culture; Sport Management

Program Director Dr. Wayne

Rasmussen, who introduced him to

sports broadcasting; and several

close friends who displayed the

love of Jesus.

Meanwhile, Belk helped build

the new CIU track and field team,

has repeatedly raced his way to

nationals, and set multiple school

records. He hopes to combine his

interests in communications and

sports into a sports broadcasting

career. He already has experience

— announcing the play-by-play of

CIU athletic events streamed online.

Today Belk finds his confidence in a

God who has sustained him through

it all. He says that if the Lord can

get him through the dark places he

experienced that first semester, He

will not fail him now.

“If you’ve got faith in the

Lord, what can’t you do?”

Belk asks.

But Belk’s road from that bus ride

to graduation on the stage of

Shortess Chapel was bumpy at

first. It included potholes, curves,

and many unknowns. But most

importantly, Belk’s story is marked

with road signs pointing to the

redemptive grace of God.

Belk grew up in a rough

neighborhood of Palm Beach,

Florida with his mom and two

sisters. His early life was not the

easiest. His mom lost her job, and

the family was forced to give up

their home. He lived in transitional

housing during his senior year of

high school.

The move to college also had its

challenges. Adjusting to the culture

of a small Christian University was

not an easy. Belk found connecting

with fellow students difficult and

felt isolated. His grades slipped and

he fell hard. He thought he let down

his coach, his family and God. He

fell into depression.

During those first few months,

running helped.

“If I didn’t pick up running I

wouldn’t be here,” Belk said. “Track

was my escape. I could run and not

really think about a lot.”

But Belk discovered help all around

him.

THE LORD USES CHAPEL

As he sat in his room alone on

a morning in October 2014, he

seriously contemplated ending his

life. But instead he went to Chapel.

He doesn’t remember specifically

what the message was that day, but

the Lord used it to begin a powerful

work in his life.

By the spring semester, Belk began

to see that the Lord’s work in His

life is not based on his actions,

but on unconditional love. He was

determined to improve. His grades

rose dramatically and the Lord

provided a community at CIU to

give encouragement and support.

THE LORD USES COACHES

Coach Brooker and his wife Nicole

see Belk as something of an

adopted son and have witnessed

the Lord’s work in his life from the

very beginning of his CIU career.

“It was more important for me to be

a father figure and mentor towards

Justin than it was to be a coach,”

Brooker said. “Justin has learned to

use his story to reach others. He’s

gone from the woe-is-me (attitude)

to ‘this is how I am going to use this

to grow.’”

Now that the CIU chapter of Belk’s

life has closed, Brooker has one

message for him: “I’m proud of

you.”

Meanwhile, back in Florida, Belk’s

mother, Sarah Belk, is grateful for

what the Lord has done in her son’s

life through CIU.

“CIU, thank you for everything that

you have done for my son,” Sarah

Belk said. “I thank you from the

bottom of my heart in helping to

mold him into the young man that

he is becoming.”

That is what CIU is about. Accepting

those who

desire to know

the Lord and

teaching them

to make Him

known.

“HE’S GONE FROM THE WOE-IS-ME

(attitude)

TO ‘THIS

IS HOW I AM GOING TO USE THIS TO GROW.’”

–CIU TRACK COACH JUD BROOKER

To the sound of loud cheers, Justin Belk

crosses the stage of Shortess Chapel to

receive his degree from CIU President

Dr. Mark Smith at the December

commencement.

Justin Belk competing

in the NCCAA track

and field finals his

senior year.

Coach Jud Brooker

and Justin Belk at

the Athletics Awards

Banquet.

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