"The Incredibles: The Legacy Begins – From Court Battles to Kingdom Purpose"

Kevin Varpness

@KevinVarpness

Jill Varpness

@jmvarpness

Nashville, TN

Kevin and Jill Varpness grew up just miles apart outside Minneapolis, both baptized as babies in the same church, likely even sharing the cry room without knowing the future God was weaving. They wouldn’t truly connect until high school, where they shared dances, milestones, and the kind of chemistry that sticks in the back of your heart even when life takes you in different directions. Years later, that connection would become a marriage, a family of 11 children, and a testimony rooted in Jesus Christ that would redefine the very meaning of basketball in their lives.

For Kevin, basketball wasn’t just a sport; it was his lifeline. By sixth grade, he was dribbling to the park alone, searching for purpose, pouring hours into shots and footwork. Winters in Minnesota meant travel ball tournaments, and by high school, he had built himself into a strong, skilled player. But talent wasn’t the only challenge; politics, injuries, and relentless training shaped his path. A locked knee during his junior year brought the first of four surgeries. His senior year, he played with a stress fracture in his foot. Still, he pushed through, lifting, shooting, and grinding. College brought more lessons, being overlooked despite outworking teammates, learning the sting of unrecognized effort, and eventually transferring to a program that appreciated his drive. Yet even there, injury struck again. By the end of his senior season, after years of pain and surgeries, Kevin walked away calling basketball a “children’s game.”

Jill’s story had its own fight. From the driveway battles with boys in the neighborhood to travel ball and the chance to play AAU with future WNBA talent, she was tough and competitive. In high school, she rained a clutch three-pointer in a double-overtime playoff loss that’s still etched in memory. She went on to play both basketball and volleyball in college before transferring to the University of St. Thomas, where she focused solely on volleyball.

They married in 2005, and life quickly shifted. Kevin became an FBI agent, moving the family to Chicago in 2008. Basketball was far from their minds until God stepped in. In March 2010, at a marriage retreat, Kevin and Jill both surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. It wasn’t just a moment; it was a complete transformation. Their marriage, parenting, and worldview were forever changed. They began to see everything, including sports, through the lens of the gospel.

They embraced children as blessings, opening their hearts to however many God would give them. Eleven kids later, their home was overflowing with life, laughter, and purpose. Faith was the cornerstone, but God also began to stir something old inside Kevin, basketball. Not as an idol this time, but as a tool. They realized the game could teach their children perseverance, teamwork, discipline, and love in a way that Scripture alone could not. It would be the proving ground for character, a place to practice living for an Audience of One.

They didn’t just talk about sacrifice; they lived it with unshakable faith. From the summer of 2016 through the winter of 2018, Kevin and Jill sold nearly everything they owned and moved their growing family into an RV, embracing 2 ½ years of simple, mission-driven living. Every cramped night, every long drive, and every choice to live with less was fueled by a bigger purpose: to follow God wherever He led and to raise their children with an eternal perspective. Just two weeks before their twins were born, God provided a house with running water and a warm, reliable place to weather the winter. They stayed there for eight months before Kevin received the promotion that moved them to Nashville in August 2019. The blessings didn’t stop there; God’s hand was unmistakable when they found their current home. The very night before listing it, the owners had prayed that if they were meant to sell, a basketball family would call. Minutes after it went on the market, Kevin and Jill picked up the phone. That call didn’t just secure a house; it confirmed what they already knew. God was directing their steps, providing exactly what their family needed to live out their mission. God blessed them with a home that had a full basketball court and a shooting machine, turning their backyard into a training ground. On the very day their oldest four set DI scholarship goals, Kevin began training them with renewed passion. Practices, tournaments, and workouts became family life. They often had four to five kids playing in a season; this past winter, that number hit eight. The game was no longer about chasing stats or accolades; it was about pointing everything back to Jesus.

Their family verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, hangs over every game, every practice, every road trip: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” For the Varpness family, basketball is ministry. It’s a chance to be light in a sport where so many worship the game itself. They’ve made it clear that identity in Christ comes first, basketball second. The college scholarships, the dreams, the sweat, the training, it’s all for His glory.

Now, with their oldest heading off to college on a full ride, the plan is already bearing fruit. Yet the mission is far from over. In their home, the court lights still glow at night. The thump of the ball, the squeak of shoes, and the sound of kids pushing each other echo like a heartbeat. This is where the next chapter is being written, one basket, one prayer, one lesson at a time.

Because for Kevin and Jill, this is more than just basketball. This is legacy. This is faith in motion. This is the beginning of something that won’t stop when the final buzzer sounds. The Incredibles aren’t just raising athletes, they’re raising warriors for the Kingdom. And the story is only getting started. Stay tuned , there is plenty more to come....

The Incredibles-

@JuliaVarpress -#1

@JaydenVarpness-#2

@KaylaVarpress -#3

@KalebVarpness -#4

@@jessa_varp5-#5

@judah_v6 -#6