Everyone wants to make an impact in the world, but oftentimes, impact is difficult to see or appreciate in its fullness. 
 
Former Lipscomb associate athletic director, Brent High('96), is an exception to that rule as the work that God allowed Him to do in dreaming up the spiritual formation department within Lipscomb Athletics has had an eternal impact since day one.  
 
"One of my favorite quotes is by author William James where he says, 'the greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that outlasts it,' and I believe we are witnessing that quote come to life through Brent High," said Chris Klotz, director of spiritual formation in Lipscomb Athletics. 
 
"Lipscomb's Spiritual Formation Department exists to train student-athletes and coaches to know Jesus and make Jesus known, and Brent's passion for Jesus and desire to see student-athlete's lives transformed by the Spirit of God has laid the foundation we are still building on today," Klotz continued. "He is a visionary that has demonstrated that the platform of sports can be a vehicle for the Gospel to change generations for eternity. I am so grateful how The Lord has used Brent High to forever change my story, and the trajectory of my life." 
 
A Nashville native and former Lipscomb baseball player, High stepped into the role as Lipscomb's sports information director from 1996-99, where he founded the university's first Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter in 1997.
 
In 2007, High transitioned into the role as assistant athletic director where he focused on development and external affairs before becoming the associate athletic director for spiritual formation in 2011. 
 
In 2012, High led the first athletics mission trip to Honduras, and in that same year, recruited Klotz and Shannon O'Brien, women's director of spiritual formation in athletics and women's soccer director of operations, to help expand this vision. 
 
"When I moved to Nashville to coach soccer in 2012, Brent approached me and Shannon to run with his vision to deeply invest in the lives of student-athletes for the sake of the Gospel," said Klotz. "We were both coming from the Charlotte Eagles in North Carolina, a sports ministry organization that used a soccer ball as a vehicle to share the Gospel, and High empowered us to take on these roles as directors of spiritual formation to care for and walk with student-athletes, in addition to our roles as soccer coaches." 
 
O'Brien echoed Klotz's sentiment saying, "Brent gave me full permission to dream and chase after the vision God had given me to walk out life and faith with female student-athletes. I will never forget when he explained to me that this role would not be a paint by number gig, but instead, asked me to take the brush and paint the blank canvas as creatively as I could. I would like to thank Brent for seeing in me the potential and gifting I had yet to fully become aware of; thank you for empowering me to serve the Lord uniquely in my design here in Lipscomb University Athletics. I am eternally grateful."
 
In 2015, High transitioned from Lipscomb, and like any great leader, the work continued to prosper long after he set the vision in motion. God allowed Klotz to step away from soccer and enter into a full-time role as director of spiritual formation where he continues to work with O'Brien to carry out the vision that God has inspired through High.   

Since the inception of the spiritual formation program in athletics, 112 student-athletes have given their lives to Jesus in baptism while over 700 student-athletes have served on 42 domestic and international mission trips. Serving others is at the heart of the program, and there are local outreach initiatives that are impacting the city of Nashville weekly. On Lipscomb's campus, hundreds of students are being engaged weekly by intentional chapels, student-led FCA continues to make disciples, and countless Bible studies and mentoring opportunities are helping student-athletes grow closer to Jesus. To think this all stemmed from Brent's desire to see student-athletes and coaches encounter the true living God is astounding.
 
"We know that God is leading every detail of this program, but we are so grateful for how it started, and for Brent's obedience and courage to lead by faith," said Klotz. "Brent has left an impact on our community that will continue to ripple into eternity, and we are so excited to see God continue to grow His work!"
 
"There are few men who have had more of an impact in my life than Brent High" said former university baseball player and academy baseball coach Aaron Spragg. "From surviving the straits of Hormuz in Honduras to ball fields all over the southeast, I have seen this man speak truth in love to so many people. Brent's desire to eternally impact every person he comes into contact with has shown me the importance of living life with the end in mind. I admire his ability to build relationships quickly that opens the door for him to ask the important questions about life. While always being ready to provide a listening ear, encouraging word, or truthful statement Brent has made an impact on countless lives including mine.  I am forever grateful for his friendship, wisdom, and example of living to make an eternal impact."
 
High is married to former Lipscomb basketball All-American and Hall of Fame recipient Emily Pleasant ('98). They have two sons, Houston and Hunter.