You wouldn't think the six-foot-five Sydney Kings and Australian Boomers captain was born to do anything except play basketball but Jason Smith's first love growing up as a Melbourne boy was AFL.
"But after having my teeth knocked out for the fifth time, I started my basketball career when I was about 12," he says.
Jason never dreamt that he would have the opportunity to represent his country in Basketball, let alone at the Commonwealth Games which will include Basketball for the first time when the Games commence in Melbourne on March 15.
"It's a real blessing to be able to represent your country. In sport, there is nothing you can achieve better than that," he says.
Jason grew up going to church, encouraged by his Christian mother, but left as a teenager as basketball became a higher priority.
After Jason returned from a basketball scholarship at the California Lutheran University where he met his wife, Carla, he started returning to his Christian roots.
"I didn't make a commitment to Christ until I was 22 or 23," he says.
The 31-year-old says meeting with chaplains and other Christian athletes in Athens at the 2004 Olympic Games exposed him to the opportunities he had as high-profile Christian sportsman.
"Before Athens, I hadn't been inclined towards the mission side of Christianity. I was more focused on my own Christian development," Jason says.
"But after talking with other athletes who were using their Christianity to influence people and bring people to Christ, I really started to question myself."
When Jason returned to Australia he asked Sydney Kings chaplain Gary Speckman for ideas about how to better witness to people.
"Gary has helped me finding ways to get out there and do some of that work," Jason says.
Sports Chaplaincy Australia (SCA " formerly Sports and Leisure Ministry) National Chaplaincy Co-ordinator, David Tyndall is one of nine SCA chaplains who will make up the team of 45 present at the Commonwealth Games.
"We are keen to build on relationships developed over the last two Olympic and commonwealth Games and draw people to God through our Bible studies," Mr Tyndall says.
Senior Chaplain at Penrith Anglican College, George Statheos will also be in the Commonwealth Games chaplaincy team.
"I have seen ups and downs of what Christians at an elite level have done. I want to get beside Christian athletes to support them in their Christian lives and not let this be a time of Christian void," he says.
Anglican minister and Victorian Senior Police chaplain, the Rev Jim Pilmer is the co-ordinator of the Religious Services Centre at the Commonwealth Games village in Melbourne.
Other Christian competitors going to Melbourne include athletes Scott Westcott, Matt McEwen, Fiona Cullen, Donna MacFarlane, Tanya Van Heer-Murphy and weightlifter Deborah Lovely.
