Claressa Shields to share her personal faith journey

FLINT, Michigan — Undisputed women’s boxing world champion Claressa Shields will share the importance of her personal faith as part of a Youth Motivational Experience at Joy Tabernacle Church on Sunday, June 30. 
 
“It is her faith that helped her transform,” said Pastor Robert McCathern. “She will be speaking to the youth of the city in sharing what has made her a champion is her faith in God.”
 
Shields, 25, is a Flint native and hometown hero. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, occasional Sports Illustrated model, and middleweight women’s boxing champion. She has openly talked about her own childhood and the abuse she endured. 
 
The theme of the Youth Motivational Experience is “Victory through Faith.” The event coincides with Joy Tabernacle’s regular 11:30 a.m. Sunday service time.
 
The event is free and open to all ages. McCathern encouraged whole families to attend together. 
 
The event will also celebrate the first graduates of the Claressa Shields Community Project summer boot camp program, which she founded through the Urban Renaissance Center located inside Joy Tabernacle. 
 
More than 50 children attended the first session of the summer bootcamp. The second session is set to begin on July 1. 

Related story: Claressa Shields launches community project aimed at helping Flint kids

Sponsors include Dairy Milk, Boxraw, Urban Renaissance Center, Happy’s Pizza, Domino’s Pizza, Roma Pizza, Culver’s, Kroger, VG’s Grocery, Terrel’s BBQ, Flintside, Shields family and Crockett Family.