Missionary Spotlight: Leslie Geist

August 31, 2018

Leslie began her adventure with SportQuest in 2013 as a participant in the SportQuest San Diego project. During that experience,… Read more Missionary Spotlight: Leslie Geist

Leslie began her adventure with SportQuest in 2013 as a participant in the SportQuest San Diego project. During that experience, she came to realize that everything we do in our lives can be for the glory of God, including our sports and hobbies. The next summer, she returned to San Diego, and as she spoke with other SportQuest alumni about their experiences in Belgium, God began to put that small European nation on her heart. In the summer of 2015, she decided to come to Belgium as an intern with the SportQuest Belgium team. During this experience, she realized how much she loved what SportQuest did in this small country and how their work contributes to the Kingdom of God. In November 2017, Leslie moved to Belgium and officially became part of the SportQuest Belgium team. Once an intern herself, now she is the Intern Coordinator for other young people who come to serve in Belgium, and she does the accounting for the Belgium team among many other things.

Tell a little about yourself and where you’re from.

My name is Leslie Geist, and I am 23 years old. I am from Wichita, Kansas, but in November 2017, I moved to Leuven, Belgium. I have loved this new challenge of living cross-culturally where every day is an adventure, even if that means something as simple as walking down the street to the bakery and ordering bread in another language. Outside of SportQuest, you can find me reading books at coffee shops, cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats, or exploring the Belgian countryside to find sheep.

What made you choose to serve with SportQuest Ministries?

After my senior year of high school (2013), I attended my first SportQuest project in San Diego. This experience opened my eyes to how God can use any of our passions in life to bring Him glory, and for me, that was sports. I returned for the second summer to San Diego, and it was then that I felt the tugging on my heart to participate in the following year’s Belgium project. My first summer in Belgium was an exciting time, though I also experienced quite a bit of confusion, fear, and doubt. However, I couldn’t help but love serving in this country that seemed so spiritually void. I knew this time in Belgium would be more than a one-summer experience, but I wasn’t sure exactly what that might look like. Then at Urbana 2015 (a missions conference in St. Louis), I very clearly heard the Lord speak and guide me to full-time ministry with SportQuest in Belgium. Several months later, at the end of the following summer in Belgium, I was given the opportunity to return after my final year of university to join the SQ team full-time. It’s incredible to look back over these past five years and see how it all led to this time, and I’m excited to see where the Lord leads in the coming years!

What is one story from your ministry in Belgium that you can share with us?

One of my favorite moments was when, on the last day of our summer project, I had a chance to sit down with one of our campers and talk about the Bible. Earlier in the week, this camper had asked how to be a follower of Jesus, and throughout the week we dissected that question. On the final evening after our SportQuest night, we were able to dive into deeper conversation about how to read the Word and meditate upon it. It was amazing to see someone who had come to SportQuest for years take some huge steps forward in following the Lord and truly desiring to know Him better!

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

The biggest challenge this past year has probably been adjusting to this new chapter of life post-university and working full-time in a different country. I am so thankful for the many supporters I have had around me, cheering me on and helping me as I navigate this next step of life. I am looking forward to this upcoming year as I now feel much more adjusted and at home in Belgium.

What are 3 prayer requests?

  • For strength to run with the momentum after this summer and dive into follow-up and discipleship with the kids that we built relationships with during our recent project.
  • For wisdom as we work to establish a youth program for our local church and start a SportQuest project in Leuven.
  • For humility to daily surrender to Christ and glorify Him in all that we do.

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