From a young age, Linnell Jones-McKenney knew God had a purpose for her life. As a child growing up in Flint, Mich., God’s presence was evident to Linnell, and she believed He would send her around world, playing professional basketball and inspiring young people.
There was only one problem: there wasn’t a girls’ basketball team at her school, let alone a women’s professional league, in the early 1970s.
“I was bullied,” recalled Linnell. “In class I would gaze out the window and dream about playing basketball, traveling, working with young people and as a motivational speaker. I knew that was God’s plan for me.”
More than 50 years later, God has fulfilled all of Linnell’s dreams. As the new director of the Flint L.I.F.E Center, Linnell is finally realizing the last part of her calling—to not only inspire and motivate kids to go for their dreams, but to do it as part of ministry.
For many years, Linnell’s journey centered around basketball. She was the first girl to play on her elementary and middle school teams, became an immediate star when the girls’ basketball league started in her high school as an all-city, all-conference and all-state player, won a college scholarship, and went on to qualify for the 1980 Olympic team. Although the United States didn’t compete in the Olympics that year, Linnell soon found herself traveling the world as a professional basketball player and motivational speaker. Her dreams were coming true, but something was missing.
“There was something empty on the inside of me,” said Linnell. “So I went back to church. God took control of my heart where basketball had been. I was realizing that God had to be the head.”
After a long career including five hall of fame inductions, Linnell returned to Flint, where she volunteered at her church and worked with local schools at a city-wide afterschool program. She was recognized again and again for her contributions to the community. Still, something was missing.
Although Linnell was working with youth as she’d always known was her calling, she felt stinted. She felt Christ was evident in her life, but working in the secular realm, she wasn’t able to overtly share her faith. Then Major Randy Hellstrom asked her to advise on the L.I.F.E. Center, and as she learned more about The Salvation Army, she began to see God’s hand at work in her life once again.
“You mean I can share my faith openly?” she asked the major. “I can teach the Gospel in all of the programs? You mean we can have character building where we can share Scripture? I think I want to be a part of this!”
Linnell accepted the director position at the L.I.F.E Center in February, a move which she says was confirmed by God opening doors.
“It’s amazing to know how God puts us on a path and as we look back on our lives we begin to see it,” Linnell concluded. “Here I am, 64 years old, and I am doing what God called me to do.”
