SLEW Tuesday: No God, No Good

We are continuing the chapel theme for this week: integrating faith in careers. This morning, Tony DaCosta, head coach of the Dock boys basketball team (see below) and senior vice president at Univest National Bank, touched on this topic. He read from Hebrews 11:1. It says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” He pointed out the faithful obedience of the Old Testament characters referred to later in this passage.

Throughout the chapel, he continually emphasized that God came through when he trusted in Him and lived by faith. Tony began by saying that when God wants you to do something, he’ll adjust the circumstances to make it possible for it to happen. Faith and patience became a necessity throughout his life, and he shared two specific experiences with us. The first was when he wanted to get a position on the basketball team of Portugal. He desired to play on the team as a native, but didn’t have the patience to wait on God to find the right documents. He missed an incredible opportunity.

At this point in Tony’s life, he carried around his Bible but confessed that he didn’t really believe it. Later, he was offered a position on a Puerto Rican team, and fully trusted God to work out the details. He began, not only believing, but putting into practice, the things the Bible had to say about waiting on God. (Like Psalm 27:14. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”) He found that when he did, he was able to play on the Puerto Rican team! He only needed to trust God to make the circumstances possible.

The second time his patience and faith were tried was when his wife was pregnant with their son. Twenty-seven weeks into her pregnancy, Tony’s wife was experiencing discomfort and an elevated blood pressure. When his wife was at the doctor’s, all Tony could do was pray. The circumstance was so unknown to him; but he trusted God. They were sent immediately to Temple, and she had to deliver early because she was at such high health risks. His son was born at 1½ pounds, creating a variety of complications early in his life. But over the years, his son has been able to play soccer, go horseback riding, and more. Tony said this story should encourage us to have faith in God.

Though he didn’t share much with us on how he integrates his faith in banking, he did mention the importance of how you treat customers and remembering to remain faithful to God in all your relationships.

Overall, his advice to the faculty and students was that we shouldn’t expect things to go well for us if we’re not making our plans around God, and trusting Him to carry them through. “No God. No good.”

-- Esther Frustino