One athlete in a family to making it to the collegiate level is accomplishment. Two is considered a feat. Three is nearly unheard of. But four? And, at the same time? That’s the rarest of rare, but that’s exactly the Berends family story.
For Julia and her triplet sisters Janey, Abby and Alex, running has not only unified them as athletes and family, but also stretched and fine-tuned their faith. Active in FCA in high school in Hudsonville, Mich., the sisters excelled on the cross country course and in the classroom to reveal God’s workmanship in their lives.
The Berends siblings (l-r) Abby, Julia, Alex, Janey, and brother Asher
Running first caught their attention in elementary school running club. Janey decided to train for a 5k and her sisters joined in. Julia officially started cross country in eighth grade, and her sisters followed suit two years later when they reached the eighth grade.
The girls developed their skills through the high school cross country program and brought their faith into it as well. The team prayed before meets and shared a close camaraderie. When the sisters progressed into college, they didn’t necessarily expect to find themselves on the course once again.
“I wasn’t planning on running in college, but God really orchestrated this. A lot of things came together,” Julia said.
The family visited Union University in Tennessee for Julia, who soon committed. A few years later, Abby and Janey joined Julia, while Alex ventured on her own to Taylor University in Indiana.
Though college initially looked different in adhering to a more intense schedule and early morning practices, it has taught the Berends sisters to persevere and issued a challenge to grow as individuals while running for a bigger purpose.
“I appreciate my coach and team—we’re not just running for us, we’re running for the school and for Christ,” said Abby.
Their campus FCA urged accountability, so runners meet before practice for Bible reading and encouragement. As the Berends sisters adjust to new checks and balances of collegiate athletics, they stay focused on recognizing why they run.
“God has given me the specific talents and the opportunity to run,” Janey acknowledged. “I’m in a position of influence and I’m trying to be open to whatever God has for me. I’m using the gifts God has given me to the best of my ability.”
(l-r) Alex, Abby, Janey, mom Brenda, and Julia at a meet at Louisville
Abby echoed her sister’s sentiments, “I’m really thankful to run and I don’t want to take it for granted.”
For Alex, who ventured solo to school, the years became an avenue for self-discovery.
“It’s different being away from my sisters,” she said. “But not being at college with them, being my own person, helped me realize more of who I am. I realize how I cope with new social situations.”
This past cross country season, the girls experienced both team and personal success.
Union University came in third the Gulf South Conference and had a team finish of 32nd at the NCAA DII Nationals, with Abby finishing 187th, Janey finishing 211th and Julia 241st.
Taylor University captured the Crossroads League Championship and placed 11th as a team at the NAIA Nationals, with Alex placing 46th.
Seeing the parallels between running and the Christian life, Julia weighed in on her approach to pain versus purpose: “Even when things are hard and you don’t seem to be improving, your job is to run the race set before you and trust God. Be faithful.”
She’s seen God working that trust into running her faith race and adds she’s seen God grow her in ways she never saw coming.
“I want to show Christ to everyone I meet,” she said. “I need to remain faithful to God. Sometimes [life] can be wonderful and sometimes it can be tough. But He will not let us fall by the wayside.”
Photos courtesy of the Berends family