ANCASTER, ON. - Athletics at Redeemer University is more than success on the field, course, ice or court. To be a Royal means to be a champion for Christ, placing the highest values on faith, influence, teamwork and excellence. Royals programs have the privilege of competing in a Christ-centred environment, growing spiritually, excelling academically and pursuing excellence in their competition.
Mycah Winsor joined the Royals men's soccer program in 2021-2022. Winsor shared 'Coming to Redeemer, I wanted to see if I could play soccer beyond college' However, Mycah's time at Redeemer would change his plans for the better in ways he did not expect. His experience quickly became more than just a pursuit of sport—it became a pivotal season of spiritual transformation.
Shortly after Mycah arrived on campus, he began to attend and serve in various ministries around Redeemer and the city of Hamilton. Throughout the years, Mycah's passion for ministry began to grow. "God revealed where my true passions were," Mycah commented. He continued to share that "I really wrestled with where my true passions were, with not knowing what to do, nothing got me passionate. Once I surrendered (to God's plans), I found that God was calling me to ministry, and I finally had a passion for something." That calling soon translated into tangible opportunities to serve and lead within the Redeemer and Hamilton communities.
Mycah's passion for ministry is evident in his life. Winsor serves on the leadership team for Redeemer's Chapel, where he works with a team of students, staff and faculty to coordinate the University's weekly chapel services. Mycah also co-leads the men's ministry on campus, "Common Ground," with his fellow men's soccer teammate and best friend,
Hunter Packalen. Off-campus, Mycah has been thoroughly involved with his church, People's Church Hamilton. One of the ministries he volunteers for and interns with at People's Church Hamilton is PC Sport. This initiative has been especially meaningful to Mycah, aligning his love for sports and his heart for outreach. PC Sport is a free sports league for children in the Hamilton area where they get to learn and participate in sports with no financial barrier.
In addition to Mycah's community involvement, Winsor has been a vital leader on the men's soccer team since he joined the program. Winsor shared, "Participating in sport together gives you the opportunity to build trust and relationships with people in a natural way and serve them. Serving people can happen every day in practice." Being a Royal provides countless opportunities for God to work in our athletes, through coaches, teammates, staff and the greater community. Mycah continued to reflect on Soccer being an area of his ministry.
"Over the four years, the hours spent in training, travelling, team lifts, meeting with the guys, there are so many hours and time to get closer to these people I wouldn't have met otherwise, and it translates off the pitch. It's built relationships that have guys come to me with tough stuff and pray with them, It has allowed me to do things I wouldn't have been able to do."
Mycah's passion for soccer has provided him with the opportunity to serve those around him and share his faith. He added, "(Men's Soccer) gives me the opportunity to serve people and lead by example. People learn about me and what I believe by how I act and handle myself." Mycah's leadership has been a tremendous influence on the men's soccer program, however, the program has also been a key influence on him.
God has used soccer to work in Mycah's heart and reveal the path he has in store. "Soccer has provided me with some of the most influential relationships and friendships I have. It opened the door for me to meet these people that I get to journey my faith with." Winsor continued to share how his faith has continued to deepen while playing soccer at Redeemer. "It's been interesting to see the sign of God's provision. Coming here, I wanted to see if I could play soccer beyond college. It's so different now, it's shown that I don't actually want this, I've had to surrender to God's plans and what I thought I wanted to do." Mycah added, "One of the biggest things is the blessing it has been to be on a team I love. God has revealed things about myself through this team."
As Mycah prepares to take the next step in his journey, the impact of his time at Redeemer is unmistakable. Mycah's involvement with Redeemer men's soccer has not only blessed the people around him, but it has allowed God to work in his life and reveal his plans for him. The Royals look forward to supporting Mycah as he enters full-time ministry.
