Brad Minns: Returning Serve on Tough Opponents

Sharing the Victory Magazine 4-03, by Jim Rickenbacker

The wins of Brad Minns -- over a variety of obstacles in his 37 years--seemingly eclipse the potentially devastating losses he's experienced. Minns had a succession of setbacks, starting the loss of his hearing at age three.

Tracing his assent to the nation's No. 1-ranked deaf tennis player, a standing he's held for nearly two decades, invariably takes one back to his early years. As Jim and Fran Minns were raising Brad to blend in with other public school kids, they turned him to tennis.

Both school and sport brought considerable challenges. His hearing aide, a bulky box of wires, met everything from snubs to downright cruelties. Tennis, too, initially came with the expected difficulties of hearing instructors' voices and Minns' inability even to return the ball.

With the help of family, friends, and most of all, God, Minns was able to overcome the obstacles life presented. "I had a lot of love and encouragement at home" says Minns. "In the beginning, I didn't have a champion's mentality. I pretty much wanted to stay home, lock myself in the house and be by myself. Mom, Dad, and (older brother) jim always were pushing me. They wanted me to go to school, to not be afraid of others and to do my best. But after school, I couldn't wait to get home and be where all that love and affection was."

"The good thing, as I look back, is that all those struggles helped shape my character and helped me become the person I am today."

Growing up with a sound work ethic eventually yielded a tournament triumph at age 13, just as Brad was getting hooked on bodybuilding. He soon rose to No. 1 in singles and doubles at the University of Toledo.

Following college, Minns began a successful modeling career that's spanned the spectrum from Nike to local department stores to television. He stays active in that, as well as his 22-year career as a certified tennis pro and strength conditioning coach.

In 1995, just as Minns' life was revving up, he and his fiancée split, leaving a void even a man of his upbeat disposition couldn't ignore.

But Minns was determined to work his way out. He did so with a friend who modeled genuine Christianity and sported T-shirts with Scriptures on them. The message on one (Revelations 3:20) intrigued Minns: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."

"It was in those moments (in the gym) that I knew Jesus was speaking to my heart, asking to come into my life and be my Savior," Minns said. "I was really ready."

Life changed dramatically for Minns. The enthusiasm he used to reach the top of his field in tennis and strength training has been incorporated into sharing his faith.

"Whenever you meet Brad, the joy of the Lord resonates off of him," said Del Wright, FCA multi-area director in Central Florida. "He has a Godly spirit about him that is contagious. He's a magnet for drawing people to Christ!"

Minns ad his wife of two years, Ginny, speak to FCA groups in their adopted hometown of Orlando. His personal mission remains the same: Maximizing the spiritual and physical well-being of all those with whom he comes into contact.

 

 

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