GRANDVIEW, Texas – As a four-time contestant on the reality TV show “American Ninja Warrior,” youth speaker Jared Greer uses obstacle course challenges to encourage and inspire students to overcome life’s obstacles by placing their faith in Christ.
“I love sharing the Gospel, and I love flying through the air,” Greer said. “Our goal is to bring a lot of energy, to bring a lot of encouragement and to bring larger than life obstacles that amaze kids, but most of all, we want to make sure to provide a clear Gospel presentation.”
After his first experience on American Ninja Warrior, Greer created Overcoming Obstacles Ministries in 2015, and now is full-time with the effort. Last year, this ministry saw almost 5,000 salvations at 600 events.
“It started as a fun outreach, and we could tell that students had a blast at the events,” Greer recalled, “but more importantly we could tell that God was saving people and setting people free to overcome whatever obstacles they were facing in their lives.”
As Overcoming Obstacles has expanded, other athletes who competed on American Ninja Warrior and some who serve in various ministry roles in churches across the country have partnered with Greer.
While speaking at ministry events and working with churches to collaborate with their needs, Overcoming Obstacles Ministry is able to offer a variety of indoor and outdoor obstacle courses to choose from. These obstacle courses are designed for all ages to participate, and Greer’s team is able to make modifications to the courses to allow individuals with physical challenges to participate.
“Besides seeing people getting saved, my favorite part of our ministry experience is the fact that everyone gets to play on the obstacle course,” Greer noted. “There are usually several moments where people cannot beat an obstacle on the first or even third, fourth or fifth attempt, but they persevere. The crowd encourages them to keep going, and they eventually conquer the obstacle. It’s such an awesome life lesson.”
It is “definitely a unique outreach experience,” he said, adding that it encourages Christians to “identify obstacles that hinder them from walking with God and obstacles that keep them from using their gifts, talents and passions to glorify God.”
The team from Overcoming Obstacles keeps a busy schedule speaking across the country and setting up obstacle course challenges at school assemblies, community outreaches, Vacation Bible Schools, Disciple Now weekends, youth camps, etc.
“We usually use three words at our school and church events to set the tone: encourage, inspire and overcome,” Greer noted. “When people are in an atmosphere of encouragement, they feel inspired to overcome obstacles.”
As a former youth pastor, Greer realizes the challenges today’s students face. After graduating from East Texas Baptist University, Greer was a youth pastor for 13 years.
While at First Baptist Church Grandview, Texas, several students encouraged him to audition for American Ninja Warrior.
“I grew up playing football, basketball and baseball,” Greer said. “I always used sports to connect with my students. Eventually they encouraged me to try to compete on the show.”
The first time he applied he was rejected, but eventually he was chosen.
“I previously competed on seasons 6, 7 and 11 … in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City,” he said. “There are six obstacles in the first round. I made it to the end of the fourth obstacle on my best run.
“Despite my failures, God opened doors to use the skills I had developed as a youth pastor and as an athlete to start doing live events. I started demonstrating obstacles and getting the students hyped. I was really nervous at first because I had not been successful on the TV show, but God gave me the strength and ability to keep going and to create a ministry from this experience.
“We are so grateful for all the people who have helped make this ministry a reality,” he said. “Together we are seeing people meet Jesus. After the events, people usually come up and tell us stories of how they have overcome obstacles in their life. We love celebrating these stories of God’s grace and power.
“If God can take me and use me to start a ministry like this, then He can use anyone with a willing spirit to further His Kingdom.”
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