United

ONE TEAM, ONE HEART, BEYOND COLOR

I've (Ron Brown) lived long enough to know that race is not a theory. It's not an
abstract idea, a talking point, or something we address only when culture demands
it—race is deeply personal. I grew up in a divided world, witnessing injustice u p
close and feeling the weight of prejudice long before I had the words for it. Before I
ever coached football, I learned that unchecked pain hardens into anger, suspicion,
and pride. That's why this book matters. Too often, conversations about race
swing t o extremes: one side denies the problem entirely, while the other defines
everything through it. Neither leads to healing, fosters unity, nor reflects the heart
of God. Scripture offers a better way-one that neither minimizes injustice nor fuels
resentment, but confronts sin, calls for repentance, and offers true reconciliation
through Jesus Christ. That reconciliation is costly, humbling, and transformational.
I know this because I've lived it: when Christ saved me, He challenged how l
saw myself, others, and the world, teaching me that unity is built not on shared
backgrounds or grievances, but on truth, humility, and obedience.

This truth has been reinforced over decades of coaching in locker rooms filled
with athletes from different races, cultures, and upbringings: unity doesn't happen
automatically-it must be built, protected, and centered on something greater than
ourselves. That "something" is Christ. This book doesn't ask you to ignore differences,
choose sides, or adopt a cultural script. It invites you to submit your heart to Scripture,
examine where pride, favoritism, fear, or bitterness still linger, and trust that the gospel
is powerful enough to accomplish what politics, ideology, and human effort never can:
make us one. My co-author, Gordon Thiessen, and I come from different backgrounds,
regions, and racial experiences, yet what binds us is a shared Savior. Whether you're
a n athlete, coach, parent, or pastor, may you leave these pages with a deeper
commitment to steward the unity God has already declared true. Being United is not
something we invent; it's something we steward.

RON BROWN is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions
and a former Nebraska FCA Director. Ron is an assistant coach for the University of
Nebraska football team, where he has coached for more than three decades. You can
find his videos and books at kingdomsports.online

GORDON THIESSEN has published or written more than three hundred books o n
sports and competition. He founded Cross Training Publishing to provide resources
for Christian coaches and athletes. Gordon served 28 years with the Fellowship
of Christian Athletes in Nebraska. You can find his videos and Bible studies a t
crosstrainingpublishing.com