Biographical sketch of Roger Lipe:

Roger Lipe is a veteran mentor, coach, and consultant to sports ministry leaders, particularly in sports chaplaincy, with more than thirty years of experience.

From 2021-2025, Roger served as Character Coach Director for Nations of Coaches (NOC). He trained and developed character coaches through NOC programs and events, and networked with other organizations to train and develop character coaches and sports chaplains. 

From 1994-2025, Roger served as character coach or sports chaplain to teams of several sports at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois USA. He also served as chaplain to the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League of professional baseball from 2012 through 2019.

From 1994 to 2021 Lipe served with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in Southern Illinois. He was the Collegiate Representative for Saluki FCA at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and served coaches and athletes in several surrounding counties as well. 

Roger has worked with dozens of colleagues from around the world in the development of sports chaplaincy. His global network of friends and colleagues has enabled him to make dozens of international trips to over twenty nations on six continents to facilitate ministry in sport since 2000. 

Roger was born and raised in Carbondale and currently resides there with his wife, Sharon. Roger was a high school athlete at Carbondale Community High School, competing in football, wrestling, and track and field. He was also a high school wrestling official for 13 years.

Roger committed his life to Christ at 10 years of age and was greatly influenced by the Jesus Movement of the early 70s, as well as by attending FCA camps in his high school years. 

Roger has been profoundly impacted by the short-term mission trips of No Greater Love Ministries since the early 1980s. Fred Bishop, No Greater Love’s founder, continues to be a valued mentor and friend. 

Roger is the author of sixteen books. The latest is titled, Here is Joy - Reflections on Sport and Ministry. 

He is also the author of, Soul Training - Seven Keys to Coaching the Faith of Elite Sportspeople, and Front Lines - Becoming an Effective Sports Chaplain or Character Coach, and Transforming Lives in Sport – A Guide for Sport Chaplains and Sport Mentors, both are resources for Character Coaches and Sports Chaplains. 

Two books of devotions for coaches and their spouses are titled, Coaching: Our Family Business and Whistles and Wedding Rings, Devotions for Coaches and Spouses.

Lipe's most widely read book is titled, Heart of a Champion – Devotions for the People of Sport.

Free to Compete – Reflections on Sport from a Christian Perspective was published in 2013. It is a compilation of the weekly reflections he has emailed to hundreds of sport chaplains and character coaches around the globe since 2007.

The Competitor's Book of Prayer was released in December of 2015. It is a book full of model prayers for a myriad of situations in one's life in sport. 

All of these books are available through Cross Training Publishing at www.crosstrainingpublishing.com. 

These books have been translated into other languages as listed here:

• Whistles and Wedding Rings - Russian
• Front Lines (coming soon) - Russian
• Heart of a Champion - Spanish
• Transforming Lives in Sport - Spanish
• Free to Compete - Ukrainian
• The Competitor's Book of Prayer - Ukrainian
• Soul Training - Spanish, Korean, Hindi, Romanian, Swedish, Ukrainian, and French.

Roger has been married to his wife, Sharon, since 1975. They have a son, a daughter-in-law, and two lovely granddaughters. 

"I mentor, encourage, and inspire sports ministry leaders as they pursue the fulfillment of God's purposes for their lives." 

"I believe lives are transformed as people experience the Lord Jesus' presence and pleasure in Sport."