Called Beyond the Court, Unity Christian School

It was a moment the Unity community will never forget. In the middle of a pep rally, surrounded by students, athletes, and the energy of the Lion’s Den, Coach Davy Fisher dropped to one knee. What followed was more than a surprise.

Coach Davy Fisher on one knee in the gym during the pep rally

It was a glimpse into a story that had already been unfolding long before that day. A story rooted in faith. A story built in community. A story that was always pointing somewhere greater.

Now, that story is leading Davy and Taylor Fisher across the world, to the Philippines, where they will step into full-time ministry, using the platform of sports to share the Gospel. But to understand where they are going… you have to understand what God has done at Unity.

Trust God. Follow His lead. He is worth everything.
Davy Fisher

A Story Rooted in Purpose

When Davy and Taylor first came to Unity Christian School, they came with a shared desire, to coach, to teach, and to be part of something rooted in Christ. Davy stepped into leading the boys basketball program, bringing vision, structure, and a passion for developing players beyond the game. Taylor stepped into the role of teaching elementary PE while leading the varsity volleyball program, quickly becoming a steady and impactful presence across campus. But somewhere between practices, school days, and even a PE dance unit… their story began.

“We were dancing together in a PE unit,” they recalled. “Then we went to a wedding together… and the rest was history.” What began as a simple connection quickly became something deeper.

From the very beginning, even on their first date, the conversation turned toward something bigger than themselves. “We talked about the mission field on day one,” they shared. “We didn’t know how or where or when… but we trusted God to lead us.” That trust would shape everything that followed.

Formed at Unity

Unity didn’t just bring them together, it helped form them. Surrounded by a community of believers, mentors, and coworkers who modeled what it looks like to live out your faith daily, the Fishers found themselves growing in ways they hadn’t expected. They weren’t just working jobs. They were living on mission.

“We saw so many God-honoring examples around us,” they said. “We built relationships with people who constantly pointed us back to Jesus.” That influence didn’t stay contained to their own lives. It spilled into everything they did. Into the way they coached. Into the way they taught. Into the way they loved students. “Every day was ministry.” Practices became more than reps and drills. Games became more than wins and losses. Conversations became opportunities for discipleship. They created environments where students felt seen, known, and challenged, not just to perform, but to grow. And over time, something powerful began to take shape.

Coach Fisher with the boys basketball team in a huddle

Coach Taylor Fisher with the varsity volleyball team

More Than the Game

By Sam James

Coach Fisher changed my life in ways that go far beyond basketball.

When I first started pursuing the goal of playing college basketball, I didn’t fully know how to get there. I had the desire, but I didn’t have the direction. Coach Fisher stepped in and showed me exactly what it would take, not just in theory, but in practice. Early mornings in the gym. Extra work when no one else was around. Constant attention to the details that matter.

He was always there, pushing me, coaching me, and helping me grow. Because of him, I became a starter; because of him, I had the opportunity to play college basketball; but more importantly, because of him, I learned what it means to live with purpose.

Coach Fisher didn’t just care about who I was as a player, he cared about who I was becoming. He taught me that leadership starts with serving. That sacrifice matters. That the way you live your life off the court is just as important as what you do on it.

One of the biggest things he taught me was the difference between living for Christ and living in Christ. Living for Christ is doing what you’re told. Living in Christ is wanting what He wants, being so in tune with Him that your desires align with His. That changed my perspective completely. He didn’t just say these things, he lived them.

Whether we were winning, losing, dealing with adversity, or facing frustration, he carried himself with respect and consistency. He treated people the right way, no matter the situation. That’s something I now strive to do in my own life.

He also pushed us in ways we didn’t always understand at the time. Taking our phones on bus rides and making us read. Holding us accountable in practice. Challenging us to be more vocal and more disciplined.

But looking back, I see it clearly, he pushed us because he believed in us.

One of the moments that stands out the most to me was when he trusted me to help coach a younger team and even lead a Bible study. That was the first time I had stepped into something like that, and it meant a lot that he trusted me to lead.

Coach Fisher helped shape me into someone who goes above and beyond, someone who is willing to do more than what’s required. But above everything else, he helped me understand this: Winning games isn’t the goal. Living a life that honors the Lord is. That’s what I’ll carry with me moving forward. That’s his legacy.

He wasn’t here to win games… he was here to harvest souls for the Kingdom.
Sam James

Call That Never Left

Even as they poured themselves into Unity, the calling they had talked about from the very beginning never faded. If anything, it grew stronger. During a marriage retreat, the two found themselves revisiting that familiar conversation, the one they had on their very first date. But this time, it felt different. Clearer. More urgent. “We finally said it out loud,” they shared. “This is what we’re supposed to pursue.” And from that moment forward, everything began to shift.

When God Connects the Dots

Years earlier, Davy had experienced something he didn’t fully understand at the time, a vision of playing basketball barefoot in the Philippines. At the time, it seemed random. Even something to laugh about. But God hadn’t forgotten. Through a series of connections that only He could orchestrate, that moment came back into focus.

A friend moved to the Philippines and became involved in a discipleship-driven church. That church began exploring the idea of building a basketball academy. Davy’s name came up. Soon after, he was invited to lead summer camps. Those camps opened doors. Relationships formed. Trust was built. And before long, an opportunity emerged to step into something long-term. Looking back, the path was undeniable. “The Lord set it all up.”

The goal is to raise up young men who understand their identity in Christ.
Davy Fisher

Stepping Into the Call

In the Philippines, Davy will help lead the development of a basketball academy designed to do far more than train athletes. The vision is clear: To use basketball as a bridge to the Gospel. To develop athletes who are strong in both skill and faith. To create opportunities for discipleship that extend far beyond the court.

Davy Fisher standing on a mountaintop in the Philippines

In a culture where basketball draws people in, the platform for influence is immediate. “People are hungry,” Davy shared. “And basketball gives us a way to connect right away.” Through training, teams, and intentional relationships, the goal is to raise up young men who not only grow as players, but who understand their identity in Christ and are equipped to share that with others. Taylor will step into this calling alongside him, helping build the program, investing in relationships, and serving wherever the Lord leads. “I love being in that supporting role,” she shared. “And I’m excited to see how God uses it.”

Together, they will step into a life where the lines between work, ministry, and daily life are fully intertwined. “Every day will be ministry.”

The Cost of Obedience

But stepping into that calling hasn’t come without cost. Leaving Unity means leaving a place that feels like home. A community that has loved them. Students who have become family. A season of life that has shaped them deeply. “It’s been difficult,” they shared. “There have been a lot of tears.” Tears of sadness; tears of uncertainty; tears of letting go; but also, tears of gratitude. Because in the middle of the unknown, there has been peace. A steady reminder that God is in control. That His plans are good. And that His timing is perfect. They’ve felt it in the support surrounding them. In the encouragement from the Unity community. In the quiet assurance that they are exactly where they are supposed to be.

Sent Out

As they prepare to leave, their prayers are simple but powerful: That the Gospel would take root in the lives of those they serve. That families would be impacted. That students would find their identity not in what they do, but in who they are in Christ. And as they go, they leave behind a message for the community that has walked alongside them: “Trust God. Follow His lead. He is worth everything.”

Impact Beyond Athletics

By Josie Edwards & Ann Claire Whitley

Coach T has impacted us in ways that go far beyond volleyball. From the very beginning, she has taught us that being a strong player is about more than what happens on the court. It’s about discipline, character, and the way you live your life every single day. She constantly reminded us that how we work, how we treat others, and how we carry ourselves should all reflect something greater. More than anything, she taught us to love the Lord in everything we do.

Whether it was school, practice, or just everyday life, Coach T lived out her faith in a way that made it real to us. She didn’t just talk about it, she showed us. Through FCA, conversations, and the way she interacted with every student, she helped us grow in our own relationships with Christ. She taught us something we’ll never forget: that God is our audience. It doesn’t matter who is watching, as long as we are living for Him.

As players, she built our confidence in a way that changed how we saw ourselves. Volleyball is such a mental game, and having a coach who truly believes in you makes all the difference. Because of her, we learned to trust ourselves, push ourselves, and become stronger both mentally and physically.

But what makes Coach T so special is who she is as a person.

She has a way of connecting with everyone. One moment she’s standing beside you on the sideline, speaking truth and confidence into you, and the next, she’s laughing, dancing, and bringing joy to the moment. She can be serious and fun within minutes, and that balance is what made her so impactful. She also built something bigger than a team. She built a culture. She encouraged us to grow in our relationships with each other, to have deeper conversations, and to push one another toward Christ. She showed us what it looks like to lead, to serve, and to truly care about the people around you.

Watching her and Coach Fisher grow together, both in their relationship and in their faith, has been something we will always be grateful for. Being able to witness their engagement, their marriage, and the way they have kept God at the center of everything has been a blessing.

Coach T has left a lasting mark on both of us. She has shaped who we are, not just as players, but as people. She has taught us how to lead, how to love others well, and how to live for something greater than ourselves. There are big shoes to fill.

But more than anything, we are just incredibly grateful. Grateful to have been coached by her. Grateful to have been known by her. And grateful to carry what she taught us into whatever comes next.

A Story Still Being Written

The Fishers may be leaving the Lion’s Den… But their story isn’t ending. It’s expanding. What began in a gym, in classrooms, and on the courts of Unity Christian School is now reaching far beyond those walls. Because this was never just about coaching. It was never just about teaching. It was always about calling. And now… that calling is taking them to the nations.