Katie Chrest will be in Prague, Czech Republic this June as one of 18 women on the Women’s US Lacrosse Team who will represent our country at the World Cup. Sixteen teams from around the world will be competing over ten days for the top trophy in the world of women’s lacrosse.
The Greater Baltimore Church of Christ is very proud of Katie, not only because of her athletic achievements, but because of her zeal and energy as a member of God’s team of disciples. Though she has only been a disciple for a year and a half, she has made a big difference here, and currently co-leads a young single women’s family group.
Katie is very excited about playing for the United States in the world cup, “It is cool that after becoming a disciple (August 21, 2007) I was able to pursue my dream of playing on the world cup team, but now I can do that with God on my side. I have been able to pray and face challenges along the way knowing that God is with me.” Of the final tryout for the world cup team this January, Katie says that she had prayed specifically to be able to play confidently. She went into the tryout not being sure if she would make the final cut. Her teammate and roommate that weekend told her, “You always play well, but I haven’t seen you play this confidently in a while.” God answered her prayers.
The youngest of five children in the close knit Chrest family, Katie has four older brothers. Katie had to “keep up or get left behind” growing up. Two of her brothers, Tim and Kevin became disciples in the Greater Baltimore Church in 2004, and began praying for their little sister. At that time, Katie was a star college player at Duke. Among her many awards and records in her outstanding collegiate career are: ACC player of the year in 2005 and 2006, Duke went to the final four both of those years. Duke won their first ACC championship in 2005 and that year Katie was awarded the most coveted prize in college lacrosse – the Tewaaraton Trophy (equivalent to the Heisman). Katie still holds Duke’s all time records for most career points, most career goals and most points in a season. She was also an All American player for three years, and has been part of the US National Women’s Lacrosse program since 2003 (she was an alternate on the 2005 World Cup Team).
As Katie saw the changes in Tim and Kevin’s lives over the years, and as her college career was coming to a close, she began thinking about what was next in her life, and what was the deeper purpose in her life beyond lacrosse. Katie says, “I had been thinking about God, but not in a serious, committed way because I had been so distracted and consumed with lacrosse and my teammates.” For a year after graduating in 2006, Katie stayed on at Duke and completed an internship in the athletic department in fundraising development. While there, Katie began doing Bible studies with Leslie Garrison of the Triangle Church. Katie laughs as she says that, “Leslie was not athletically minded, so she didn’t see me as Katie Chrest the lacrosse star, but as a woman needing and trying to find God.”
In the summer of 2007, Katie had many coaching offers but decided to return to Maryland to be near family and the Baltimore church, so she accepted a position with the University of Maryland. Shortly after returning to the area, Katie was baptized. Katie notes that, “having to be so committed to lacrosse has helped me in my Christianity. In lacrosse I learned discipline, commitment, being on time, using my talents for the team and knowing my role; which all help me now as a disciple.”
As she heads to Prague this summer, Katie prays “to be a light for God, using me and the gifts he has given me.” She prays the team will win and she is praying for open people and to “fearlessly proclaim the gospel.”