Youth speaker inspires students to overcome obstacles

After competing on the reality TV show American Ninja Warrior, Jared Greer took the skills and lessons he learned and developed Overcoming Obstacles Ministries as a platform to capture the attention of audiences and creatively communicate the gospel message. (Courtesy photos)

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GRANDVIEW—By maneuvering through Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses, youth speaker Jared Greer creates a distinctive platform to capture the attention of audiences and creatively communicate the gospel message.

During his presentations, Greer showcases the obstacle course challenges as a powerful illustration to encourage and inspire students—letting them know they can overcome life’s challenges and obstacles by placing their faith in Christ.

When Jared Greer served as youth minister at First Baptist Church in Grandview, several of his students encouraged him to apply for the reality TV show, American Ninja Warrior. (Courtesy Photo)

“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,” said Greer, a former contestant on American Ninja Warrior.

“It is definitely a unique outreach experience. During these events, I talk about overcoming obstacles in life through faith in Jesus. I give a clear gospel presentation and encourage people to turn from sin and to believe in Jesus to be their Savior and Lord. I encourage 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.”

Greer, a member of First Baptist Church in Grandview, keeps a busy schedule speaking at events across the country and setting up obstacle course challenges at school assemblies, community outreaches, Vacation Bible Schools, Disciple Now weekends, youth camps, rallies and retreats.

Working with churches to collaborate with their ministry events and needs, Greer 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.

Encourage, inspire, overcome

“We usually use three words at our school and church events to set the tone: encourage, inspire and overcome,” Greer said. “When people are in an atmosphere of encouragement, they feel inspired to overcome obstacles.”

As a former youth pastor, Greer realizes the challenges that today’s students face. After graduating from East Texas Baptist University, Greer served as a youth pastor 13 years in several Texas Baptist churches.

While serving as the youth minister at First Baptist Church in Grandview, several of his students encouraged Greer to try out for the reality TV show, American Ninja Warrior.


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“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,” he said.

The first time he applied, Greer was rejected. But when he applied a second time, he was selected to compete.

“I had a really silly fall, but I kept training and kept applying again for the show,” he said. “I competed on seasons 6, 7 and 11 of American Ninja Warrior, and I competed in Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City. 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.”

While speaking at ministry events and working with churches to collaborate with their needs, Jared Greer 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. (Courtesy photos)

After his experience on American Ninja Warrior, Greer created Overcoming Obstacles Ministries in 2015 and established it as a full-time ministry three years later.

“It started as a fun outreach, and we could tell that students had a blast at the events, 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,” Greer said.

“Besides seeing people getting saved, my favorite part of our ministry experience is the fact that everyone gets to play on the obstacle course. 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.”

 As Greer’s ministry has been expanding over the past few years, other athletes who have competed on American Ninja Warrior and also those who serve in various ministry roles in churches across the country have partnered with his outreach efforts.

“We are so grateful for all the people who have helped make this ministry a reality,” Greer said. “Together, we are seeing people meet Jesus. We have now done almost 400 events with almost 150,000 attending our events, and we have seen 3,155 people get saved at our events.

“I love sharing the gospel, and I love flying through the air. 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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