Samantha's Road to Rio
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Hi! My name is Samantha Kinchen and I am a 19-year old, female boxer who is making a run at the 2016 Olympics. I began boxing at 12 because my little brother Thomas inspired me to and 7 years later, I am a 5-time National Champion and a bronze medalist at the 2013 Youth World Championships.
On February 8th, 2015, I made the decision to ask Jesus into my heart and FULLY receive Him. Jesus had been pursuing me my entire life and when I finally answered His call, He became my best friend. Before, boxing had always been my foundation. I lived through boxing and all of my decisions were made based on the affect it would have on my life in the ring. When I fully encountered God Almighty, I realized that my foundation no longer needed to be on a fleeting sport, it needed to be on the Rock Himself! Ever since, boxing has been a blessing and not a burden.
For most of my boxing career, I have fought at the 152lb-weight class. However, for the 2016 Olympics, the only weight classes that are available are 112, 132, and 165lb. For this reason, I initially decided to wait for the 2020 Olympics with hopes that my weight class would then be added to that list. Little did I know that Jesus had different plans in mind.
I had thought about the possibility of the 2016 Olympics before but it had always been to enter into the 165lb-weight class because it was easier to gain a few pounds than lose twenty. About a month ago I sensed God was directing me to put my energy into entering the 132lb division and not waiting until 2020. I kept saying, "But, Jesus, that is impossible!" To which He responded, "Samantha, my name is Jesus. Did I not rise from the dead? Did I not make the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear? Nothing is impossible with God." This brief but intense journey will not be easy but I have a peace about the decision and feel that God's power will be ever present and He will be honored throughout the process.
So now, my journey to the 132lb-weight class has begun. The last qualifier is the first week of September, so I have roughly 3 months to see Jesus make this happen. I am having to quit my job and the expenses of new food plans and training regiments are proving to be an immense challenge. However, I have no worries that my God will be the Provider that He promises He is in His Word.
Recently, I got to go to the Olympic Training Center because I am on the US National Team and we were training for a duel match against China. While there, I got to reconnect with gold medalist, Claressa Shields. She and I had been friends for a while because she was on the 2013 Youth World Championship team with me. I had made it my mission to show my team Jesus and just how amazing and loving my God really is. God provided the opportunity for me to share the gospel and I got to see Claressa become God's little girl and accept Jesus Christ into her heart!!! Getting to lead her to Christ and see the reunion of Father and daughter was the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed. I truly know that this is why God is calling me to make this drastic change in my life path. He is entrusting in me the mission of finding His lost children and leading them back to Him.
It would mean so much if you would help support my mission. Our goal is $7,000. This will help cover expenses such as the last female Olympic Qualifier in Baltimore, Maryland, September 5-12 (includes registration fees, lodging, and meals), and then all of the training and meal plans, as well as my normal living expenses that I will no longer be able to pay for because of quitting my job. Any form of support will help, even if it's just joining us in prayer for the resources to be provided and for the power of Jesus to be seen!! Thanks for checking this out and reading my story and I CANNOT WAIT to see Jesus SHOW UP and SHOW OUT during my journey to the 2016 Olympics!!
On February 8th, 2015, I made the decision to ask Jesus into my heart and FULLY receive Him. Jesus had been pursuing me my entire life and when I finally answered His call, He became my best friend. Before, boxing had always been my foundation. I lived through boxing and all of my decisions were made based on the affect it would have on my life in the ring. When I fully encountered God Almighty, I realized that my foundation no longer needed to be on a fleeting sport, it needed to be on the Rock Himself! Ever since, boxing has been a blessing and not a burden.
For most of my boxing career, I have fought at the 152lb-weight class. However, for the 2016 Olympics, the only weight classes that are available are 112, 132, and 165lb. For this reason, I initially decided to wait for the 2020 Olympics with hopes that my weight class would then be added to that list. Little did I know that Jesus had different plans in mind.
I had thought about the possibility of the 2016 Olympics before but it had always been to enter into the 165lb-weight class because it was easier to gain a few pounds than lose twenty. About a month ago I sensed God was directing me to put my energy into entering the 132lb division and not waiting until 2020. I kept saying, "But, Jesus, that is impossible!" To which He responded, "Samantha, my name is Jesus. Did I not rise from the dead? Did I not make the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear? Nothing is impossible with God." This brief but intense journey will not be easy but I have a peace about the decision and feel that God's power will be ever present and He will be honored throughout the process.
So now, my journey to the 132lb-weight class has begun. The last qualifier is the first week of September, so I have roughly 3 months to see Jesus make this happen. I am having to quit my job and the expenses of new food plans and training regiments are proving to be an immense challenge. However, I have no worries that my God will be the Provider that He promises He is in His Word.
Recently, I got to go to the Olympic Training Center because I am on the US National Team and we were training for a duel match against China. While there, I got to reconnect with gold medalist, Claressa Shields. She and I had been friends for a while because she was on the 2013 Youth World Championship team with me. I had made it my mission to show my team Jesus and just how amazing and loving my God really is. God provided the opportunity for me to share the gospel and I got to see Claressa become God's little girl and accept Jesus Christ into her heart!!! Getting to lead her to Christ and see the reunion of Father and daughter was the most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed. I truly know that this is why God is calling me to make this drastic change in my life path. He is entrusting in me the mission of finding His lost children and leading them back to Him.
It would mean so much if you would help support my mission. Our goal is $7,000. This will help cover expenses such as the last female Olympic Qualifier in Baltimore, Maryland, September 5-12 (includes registration fees, lodging, and meals), and then all of the training and meal plans, as well as my normal living expenses that I will no longer be able to pay for because of quitting my job. Any form of support will help, even if it's just joining us in prayer for the resources to be provided and for the power of Jesus to be seen!! Thanks for checking this out and reading my story and I CANNOT WAIT to see Jesus SHOW UP and SHOW OUT during my journey to the 2016 Olympics!!
Organizer
Samantha Maria Kinchen
Organizer
Lexington, KY