Houghton University Athletics

Brian Davidson graduated from Houghton College in 1982 with a degree in Bible and a minor in Physical Education. He went on to get his Masters degree in Christian ministry with a cognate in discipleship from Liberty University in 2015. Since Brian’s Houghton days he has been deeply involved in both missions and sports ministry.  He served for two years at Wesleyan Academy in Puerto Rico as a Bible teacher. From there he went on to become a pioneer in the sports ministry field beginning in his days with Sports Life (early 80’s), then through his time with Missionary Athletes International (1987-2001) where he founded the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club (1991) and continuing on with his co-founding of Sports Friends International (2002), a division of SIM. The Jerusalem of this movement was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but Sports Friends has now spread to 17 countries. Currently Brian serves as the Sport Ministry director for the 41 teams and 727 student athletes with Club Sports at Liberty University. He has also served as adjunct professor of Intro. to Sport Outreach, Global Sport Outreach and Sport Chaplaincy.
 
During his years at Houghton College, Brian was a key part of the Men’s Soccer program where he participated from 1978 to 1981 and, as a team captain, helped lead the team to an overall record of 57-14-7 including two NCCAA National Championships. Brian helped achieve those team records by scoring 14 goals and 4 assists while playing on the field and playing 30 games in goal where he recorded 12 ½ shut-outs. He was a four-year letter winner and served as a member of the Houghton College Athletic Association. He was recognized by the NAIA as an Honorable Mention All-American in 1981.
 
Brian has served God through soccer all around the world including Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East.  He has participated and coached from the high school to the professional level and is held in the highest regard as both a “Soccer Expert” and a “Missionary.”  He has provided numerous opportunities for Houghton College students and alumni to participate in sports ministry work both in the States and around the world. Brian has been featured in two books, “Soccer Heroes” and “Soccer Field, Mission Field.” He has also been inducted into his High School Hall of Fame (Gates Chili class of ‘78) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Hall of Fame.
 
There is no doubt that Brian is deserving of recognition for his accomplishments on and off the soccer field and for his continuing service as a missionary.  However, his most important role and his most influential ministry comes in his role as husband to his wife, Chris (HC 1982 Grad.), and father to his children, Joy, Danielle, Kyle, Johanna, Joshua, Caleb and Gideon. The last three children were adopted from Ghana on 11.11.11.  Brian And Chris also have 6 grandchildren (Elijah, Zechariah, Noelle, Ava, Micah, and Allie).  It has been noted that what a man appears to be in public is confirmed or denied by what he is at home with those closest to him.  The depth of love and respect that one sees in Brian’s relationships within his family authenticates who he is in his work.