Life
Inside Sandora Irvin by Chris Reese
Sandora Irvin – Founder and CEO BWAP. PHOTO/BWAP
BWAP’s Sandora Irvin had a conversation with Chris Reese, here is an excerpt of that discussion.
The year is 1982. The exact date, 23rd of February; Sandora’s “box”, or life, opened. 30 years later, here we are; dying to know who’s inside that box and why is she so………….
See, no one can finish that sentence when the subject topic stands well over 6 feet tall, and is probably the most proven record setting Horned Frog EVER! (The “Horned Frogs” is the name given to any of the sports teams of Texas Christian University).
It is nearly impossible to sum up a person in words as though her life is just that easy. Before we dive into the actual 1982, up until this present day exclusive, we’re all going to enjoy a crash course on the Way Maker of Sandora Lavett Irvin. That’s Way Maker by the way. A long journey away from Play Maker, aka Sandora’s Uncle, the great Michael Irvin.
So don’t get it twisted as this is not about him. Sandora is highly capable of facing life without any cloud over her head, even though, most of Irvin’s life has been cloudy.
Born With A Purpose
Born With A Purpose (BWAP) is a Spiritual Ministry created to reach young female athletes all over the world, with the message of Jesus Christ, through the arena of Basketball. {Mission Statement}
What is it and where did it come from?
According to Sandora Irvin, “everything in my life played its’ part to get me to who, what and where I needed to be. From this understanding, the “Born With A Purpose” ministry was birthed along with a love and a passion to live out Colossians 3:23-24, which reads: ‘Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men; knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.'”
The picture above is Born With A Purpose in action. In my eyes, the purpose is probably so intertwined with the word Born that basketball’s logic of the “camp” almost matters not. Meaning, we all can see that Sandora Irvin’s mission, or in fact her Ministry, is for us.
However for her,she works to please God. She serves The Most High. She has no problems telling the world of His Love and Grace. From the trials of her life, the strength in developing herself results in promoting the correct ingredients in becoming a complete woman. Even if it means teaching a nice running floater at the same time.
Womanhood in the eyes, heart and soul of Sandora Irvin takes on a definition that makes us wonder. Her Ministry starts from being Born again, which never ends. You ask if that’s possible; she answers, “When does God take a play off? If he doesn’t, I won’t”.
Anyone can minister to a group of young ladies that wants to be the next Sandora Irvin. They can take this group, dribble the life out of each ball and drum into the heads, hearts and souls of the future of women’s basketball that being great is all that will get you to the next levels of the game.
Without the aid of pure leadership, teaching every young woman the ins and outs of the life that God purposely set forth for you truly defeats the purpose of having a purpose. Nothing without God will stay as nothing. No matter how much you put into it. Which is why Sandora Irving ministers with all pride for God as her tongue.
That’s the purpose of the ministry that is Born With A Purpose.
It is also what’s truly inside Sandora’s box! Need more proof?
“In 2006, my second season in the WNBA, I was more prepared than ever. I had worked hard that summer and I had my God, my faith, and my word. The team hired a new coaching staff and I certainly had a spot on the team; I had big dreams for that year. However, it was a very familiar year where I found myself right back on that bench. But even more, I was being ridiculed and targeted because I was reading my bible before games and pretty much all the time. At one point in the training room the whole team started talking about the word, this happened a few times and the coaches were not happy about it. The crazy part is that I did not start it but I took the blame every time.”
Imagine being the “Don’t talk about God anymore” girl. Imagine going home happier that you were told that than being sad about not playing a single second in the WNBA game. Imagine going into a war zone where looking like you love God will get you killed. A bit much?
You have no idea.
The recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to some were/are “Holy Wars”. They’d go as far as to say the name of their Higher Power right before dying and taking masses of souls with them. Would you die for your God? Would you live for your God?
Sandora Irvin is a proven fighter for the name of her God, even though, coming up, being Born With A Purpose looked like Hell!
Chris Reese is a journalist and sports writer. He is also the founder of the Title IX Networks and his blog can be read at: http://titleixnetwork.blogspot.ca/