Upstate New York FCA

AROUND THE STATE - 2021 NY FCA Motocross & Off-Road Family Training Camp

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:42:07 GMT

Another year in the books of FCA Motocross & Off-Road Training Camp NY is complete and what a year! This was year 7 of NY camp and year 2 of transitioning from a kids’ training camp to a training camp that included the whole family! FCAMX Camp is 4 days/3 nights every August up in Remsen, NY on a private training facility that property owners Dan & Jodi Hudon built just for FCA!

The families stay overnight on site in their campers, train motocross and off-road during the day and attend our ministry program each evening. This year we had over 240 people in attendance that consisted of kids, moms and dads riding and over 60 volunteers. We brought in 22 top level trainers from all over the country to help in our training program. This consisted of local experts as well as pros that race on the national level. This year was special as Pro Free Style Pioneer Ronnie Faisst from Kansas joined us for training and ministry. Ronnie pioneered the sport of Freestyle MX back in the early 2000’s with Brian Deegan, Mike Metzger and Travis Pastrana. Ronnie was a several time medalists in the Gravity Games, XGames and traveled the world doing events with Tony Hawk, Metal Militia Nuclear Cowboys, and The Warped and Dew Tours. Ronnie was featured in many Freestyle MX videos and on ESPN. In 2008, he gave his heart to Jesus and now combines his love for Moto with his love for Jesus. Ronnie was a great addition to this year’s FCA MX & Off-Road NY Camp!

Our ministry program is our purpose and focus. Each evening was filled with worship, testimony and great preaching with Pastor Frank Thomas and Ronnie Faisst sharing his testimony. The message of God’s love through Jesus was shared and a time of altar ministry with opportunity was given on the last night. It was a great time of ministry, and many responded to the Lord’s invitation on the last evening. Each year we collect comment cards on the last day with many questions but 3 specific questions to their time involved in the ministry program. 19 people commented they received Jesus as their personal savior for the first time, 31 recommitted their life and relationship with Jesus and 20 said they are now more aware of what God requires and the need for salvation but did not make a decision (seeds!). Over 240 people heard the Love message of our Lord!

We will finish the year with a few more events, attending year end award banquets for 3 different racing associations and we just finished with the Syracuse Stadium Cross at the NYS Fairgrounds. We are invited to these events and given the opportunity to pray for the event, share about the FCA ministry and specific events we are doing throughout the year. In the Spring, we will start up again with hauling the FCAMX trailer to area racing events where we set up, do track side ministry and have chapel services on weekends. We are very blessed and excited to be able to share the message of God’s love through His Son Jesus with well over a thousand people each year through FCA and the sport of Motocross! Thank You Jesus!

For more information on FCA Motocross & Off-Road in NY contact Ed Stratton at estratton@fca.org

TWO EDGED SWORD

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:24:38 GMT

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO LISTEN!

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" Hebrews 4:12

AROUND THE STATE - UPSTATE LACROSSE TRAINING CAMP

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 18:42:06 GMT

FCA Upstate Lacrosse kicked-off the summer season with Training Camp, which according to our players, “It’s the best weekend of the year”. While this year will look a little different, the smiles from our coaches, athletes, and staff will bring a since of nostalgia and joy. Over the course of 2 weekends, we will be hosting 18 teams, which covers over 300 athletes and 54 Coaches. The goal of training camp and our lacrosse club is that we wouldn’t just grow in our skills and performance on the field, but that each coach and athlete would have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church on and off the field. The lacrosse has been excellent, and fun. It’s been great to see the players so excited to see each other again after a crazy year of uncertainty, obstacles, and isolation. For me, the best part of Training Camp so far has been, how God is moving in our Huddle time, and the conversations that are taking place. This year our National FCA theme is Pursue. It’s based out of 1 Timothy 6:11 that states: “Purse righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” The Pursue theme has fostered deep conversations about what our players are pursuing, and most importantly to tell them the greatest pursuit of their life is after Jesus, well after training camp is over.

- Katie Tutak | Upstate NY FCA Lacrosse Operations - Girls Director

CALL

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:35:03 GMT

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:12-13

While it may seem hard to believe, in today’s world, phones are still the number one communication device that we use. When they were first created, the ability to pick up the phone and talk to someone who lives anywhere changed the world in a dramatic way.

In my line of work, I spend about 90 percent of my time on the phone, or constructing a plan for who I am going to call that day. I love it because it is a way to connect with people. My reasons for a call vary: I might want to invite someone to do something, or need something from someone, or maybe I need to communicate with someone a feeling I have for them, or even just to order take-out! While my reasons for a call may differ, all of them denote that there is a relationship I have with someone.

When I reflect on my daily schedule, I ask myself, “How much of my time do I spend calling on God, the most important relationship I have above all others?” When I have questions and need answers about a relationship or a life situation, do I call on Him first, and Him alone?

Calling on God is not about “checking off” the Ten Commandments, it’s a way of connecting with Him and seeking His will for our lives above all else. In Romans 10 Paul reminds “everyone,” … Jew and Gentiles alike, that when we call on God, He is rich to us and we will be saved. So, why wouldn’t we want to call on Him for everything?

If we are not sensing His richness in our lives, and security in our eternal purpose, we are probably not calling on Him. When we as Believers call on Him for our strength and His richly blessings, then He will be glorified and we will be saved.

WHO AM I?

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 16:37:19 GMT

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15

Recently, I had a rare opportunity to go to Wegmans by myself, without any of my three young children in tow. I was looking forward to getting through the list in a more efficient manner than normal. While in the checkout line, the cashier who was a young woman began to share about the disparaging remarks that had been directed to her by not just one, but two of the prior customers. She offered these remarks to me unsolicited which told me that she was really hurt by what had taken place.

I offered the first thought that came to mind and so I said, “What people say to you is not a reflection of who you are.” She looked at me and asked, “Are you some kind of inspirational speaker?” I told her that I wasn’t, but that I really believed what I had just said to her. As she continued to load the cart, my mind quickly drifted back to my eagerness to be on my way. As I left the store and made my way through the parking lot, the verse from 1 Peter came to mind, “… you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.” (1 Peter 3:15). I knew that in my haste to finish my shopping, I had missed an opportunity.

Some other responses began to run through my mind about what I could have, and should have said when she asked “who am I”. Sometimes, as Christians we can spend a lot of time “preaching” to people who may not be ready to hear it. But here, this young woman had noticed something different in me, and had specifically asked me about who I was, and I failed to let her know that who I am is a reflection of God at work in me.

This incident was a reminder to me that if I am living it, and am asked about it, I must have an answer prepared that both pleases and glorifies Him. I am not holding on to the guilt I felt that day, because I know God has all things in hand. I share my experience to encourage us to be prepared to give Him the credit when someone notices something “different” about us.

AROUND THE STATE - DAN MOORE

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 19:29:23 GMT

Student-athletes from around the Rochester area meet every other Wednesday via Zoom for group FCA ministry to come together and talk about faith and how it relates in the lives of student-athletes. Adrienne Cali of Roberts Wesleyan has done a magnificent job of getting athletes together for these FCA group huddle meetings. I must give a shout out to the SUNY Geneseo student-athletes as they represent a super majority of attendees! Go Knights!

Members of this group take turns sharing the lead to minister to the group. I was asked to lead the FCA huddle group a few weeks ago. I asked the group what topics or questions they wanted me to present on. The question 'why do bad things happen to good people?' was the topic to prepare and minister on. This question is perhaps one of the most difficult questions to answer in all of theology. I was intimidated by this question, especially because I do not have a background in theology. I am the women's and men's head cross country coach at SUNY Geneseo with a degree in psychology. What do I know about theology? I was raised in a Bible believing household and grew up going to church and part of youth groups. This was my theology training, but I was not formally educated on the topic. What did I just get myself into?

I am sure we all have experienced pain and suffering at one time or another, and perhaps some are even going through a hardship right now. Like most, I have experienced extreme hardships. For example, my sister went to be with her lord and savior Jesus Christ after a seven and a half year battle with brain cancer in 2015. She was as "good" of a person as I have known and I thought it was completely unfair that such a "bad" thing happened to such a "good" person. So the question 'why do bad things happen to good people?' especially hit home for me. This journey I went on ignited something deep within me that I cannot quite describe. I now have an insatiable appetite to learn more about theology and research tough questions that are difficult to answer. If you know me, I am a big 'why' person. I don't just want to know the answer, but I want to know why. I don't think I ever really understood why my sister was taken at such a young age, especially because she was a faithful follower of Jesus and she could have done some much more good in this world. I simply just accepted this as God's will and put my faith in Him and that everything would work out because the Bible states that "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Knowing this didn't help me to help others who did not share the same faith as me ask the question why my sister got a brain tumor and died as a result. This journey of researching and presenting to the FCA huddle deepened my faith. I truly enjoy exploring God's word more than ever. I am spending more time in his word and in prayer. I am so thankful for how God is using the FCA ministry to deepen my faith and walk with Jesus. I am happy to share the results of my findings about the question, "why do bad things happen to good people?"

Please email me at moored@geneseo.edu and I am happy to share!

I also meet weekly with Cody Foster in a small group coach's huddle. We worked through the entire chapter of John, analyzing and challenging each other with tough questions. We are now working through the book Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden. I look forward to meeting with this group every week because I learn so much from each member of the group. I deeply appreciate what each member has to share and how we each bring our unique perspectives to the group. This is one of my favorite parts to my week. One of the biggest takeaways from this group is that "God does not call the equipped, but he equips the called." Cody said this to the group in one of our weekly meetings and that has really stuck with me. Now more than ever, I feel that I am being called to be a messenger of God's word and to share the good news of the Gospel. This group is equipping me to help gain confidence and boldly share the good news of Jesus. I am deeply thankful and appreciate everyone in the small group.

THE ADVANTAGE

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:01:35 GMT

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

Having the advantage over your opponent in sports or in life is an interesting place to be. On one hand, it is exactly the position you desire. On the other hand, you know just how fragile the position is and that it can be lost at any moment even with the slightest misstep.

I can remember as I was running the only marathon I have ever attempted to run in my life feeling as though I had the advantage. After completing the first twenty miles in three hours, I was feeling great and had my goal of completion under four hours in sight. With 6.2 miles remaining, I hit the proverbial “wall” and any advantage that I felt I had was suddenly gone. It took me one hour and twenty-two minutes to finish the race. I had clearly lost the advantage.

As Jesus was preparing his followers for his departure, He described how in leaving them it would actually be to their advantage. Conversely to earthly or temporary advantages, this advantage would never leave his disciples. The Holy Spirit would allow Christ’s message of the coming Kingdom to go forward in ways that would not have been otherwise possible if Jesus hadn’t completed His mission.

Easter brings so many emotions with it. From despair in the death of Christ on Good Friday to the waiting and mourning of Saturday to the elation of the resurrection on Sunday, we see the fullness of the gospel revealed. Today, the Kingdom of God is expanding to all nations and to every corner of the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is easy for us to see now that it truly was to our advantage that Jesus would give His life for each of us.

That said, you may be feeling as though you are disadvantaged at this present moment. Perhaps, you have been in a season where you have seen little or no progress in some areas of your life. I know that for me, the daily challenges of being a great husband, father of three and being a great Christ like example in the world today can leave me feeling as if I have lost my advantage.

My prayer for us today is to be reminded and hold fast to the great promise Jesus made to all who follow him. His promised Holy Spirit is alive in us and is the only advantage we will ever need. By His Spirit, we know the truth and can live each day with purpose and hope. By His Spirit, we always have the advantage.

UNREST

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:21:39 GMT

Matthew 26

Currently, some of our FCA teammates are reading one of Martin Luther King’s last books called Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community ? Here, Dr. King maps out the racial tensions that were occurring 54 years ago, and espouses that as a society we have a choice about how we view one another and respond to those who might not “look” like us on the outside. In his writing, Dr. King states “We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence or violent coannihilation. This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.” In addition, we believe that Dr. King would agree that going beyond coexistence is essential. It involves not just nonviolence but compassion and empathy.

Much of our societal unrest hasn’t changed much since Dr. Kings time. Racism continues to be one of our most divisive issues in our nation. But, my Christian brothers and sisters, we cannot allow the messaging of the world to seep in and create a negative mindset. Instead we must look at the opportunities that exist to love people. As Christians, our response to such a polarizing issue should be to live as Christ lived, and bring hope to a world that is broken and torn apart by the sin of racism. Jesus’s death and the promise it gives us for eternal life brings joy, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7) that those around us will recognize. Unlike the world around us, if we remain confident in this truth our hearts will not remain in a state of unrest.

The world wants to complicate things, but there is a very simple answer when it comes to loving your neighbor. That answer can only be found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture points us to what it looks like to follow Dr. King’s approach of non-violence fueled by a greater purpose. In Matthew 26, while Jesus and his disciples are in the Garden of Gethsemane, when the Romans arrive to arrest Him, Peter, coming to Jesus’ defense, draws his sword. But, Jesus scolds him, and tells him to put away his sword. Even at that very moment when Jesus knew he was soon going to be unjustly tortured for no good reason, Jesus did not want violence, and was willing to lay down His own life out of empathy and love for a hurting world.

As we look to Jesus’s example, our prayer is that he would use each of us and that we would biblically make the choice of nonviolent coexistence that Dr. King spoke about. In doing so we can recognize and support those who are hurting in a way that ultimately points them back to the One who provides hope.

LIKE CHILDREN

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 16:10:32 GMT

Read Luke 18: 15-29

My three children are of the ages where they can all sit on my lap. They have no agenda or specific wants, other than to just be there, in a place where they feel secure and loved. I certainly know that this will not last forever, but I am holding onto it for as long as I can. In these moments I am reminded of the many stories in the Gospel of Luke that tells us of the security that only Jesus can provide.

In Luke Chapter 18 we see children trying to approach Jesus, but His disciples, wanting to give Jesus a break from the crowds, attempt to stop them. But Jesus teaches them, and the crowd surrounding Him, that He wants people to desire to come to Him, like little children, to have their needs met, just as my young children come to me for their safekeeping.

In this chapter, Jesus also teaches a young ruler about eternal life. Desiring to know what good thing he must do to have eternal life, the ruler asks Jesus, “What must I do to be saved?” Jesus then tells him that to have life, he must be willing to give all he has to the poor and follow Him, and then he will have a treasure in heaven. The young ruler was not willing to do so. Instead of walking towards Jesus for his security, he walked away.

We can say we want to follow Jesus, but if it’s not going to cost us anything, and if we don’t willingly come to Him, then we will be like the young ruler who walks away. We must set aside any other security we have in other things and come to Him, and trust Him for all our needs. We need to ask ourselves if there is anything we are putting our security and satisfaction in other than God, because that will likely be the very thing that prevents us from God’s protection and His will for our lives.

AROUND THE STATE - WILLIAM PAYNE

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:54:22 GMT

I was pastoring at the time when I first heard about FCA. I had been in ministry for 10 years when I was told about the opportunity to invest in athletes and coaches at Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I played basketball and football growing up, and loved the idea of bringing the gospel to young men and their families. In March of 2018, I began my career with FCA at the University of Syracuse.

Shortly after the first year, the coaches began to see how I was making a difference with their teams. A growing interest in bible studies began to form, and trust began to build. My pastoral background and my desire to make an impact on the lives of those kids, especially with African American men, began to merge together. I work with all of the men’s sports teams at the university, but I began to travel the most with the basketball team.

Back in 2019, I was going to every game and every practice with them, and I loved it. I remember one particular game when we were playing Duke, and I had a one-on-one with a player. We had a beautiful talk and felt the Lord’s presence there with us. Duke is not an easy team to beat, and by the grace of God and a great turn out by that particular player, we pulled out a win! The young player gave a short testimonial at the end of the game, and I watched how the coaches and players could see that I was the real deal. God was planting seeds and He needed me there to water them.

FCA is constantly investing in me, encouraging my own faith to grow. Ministry isn’t always easy. Often times we invest so much into those around us that we forget to devote time for ourselves. FCA holds me up, reminding me that I have people who are investing in me, rooting for me, praying for me.

God consistently shows up. He opens doors with players, coaches, and donors, and I find such joy in it. There is a mantra I’ve always had since I started my role at FCA- “Love athletes for who they are, not what they do”, and I strive to do that every day.

William is FCA Campus Director at Syracuse University and has been there since March of 2018. He is married to Melinda and has 4 children.

PRAISE

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 20:29:16 GMT

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

At the beginning of each year, I pray and ask God for direction in an area in my life where He wants to grow me, refine me and sanctify me. In considering the word He gave me this year: praise , I ask myself, “What does it actually mean to praise God, and, “Is my relationship with Him one that includes it?” In essence, I’ve been challenged to continually give thanks and praises to God for His grace and goodness.

As we get to know who God is, we can see His goodness and love in the works of others, such as the woman in Proverbs 31 who is honored for all that her hands have done and whose “works bring her praise at the city gate.” Nothing can be added to the simple beauty of this admirable portrait of someone whose labors for her rewards are that of praise.

In my work, I tend to be the type of guy who sets a plan and says, “This is what I’m supposed to do,” and then I go and do it. From there, I plan out the next “to do,” and so on. This is typically the way I operate, which can distract me from focusing on those with whom I live and work. As I meditate on the word praise this year, I want to think of ways I could be praising God, as well as encouraging and affirming others for the works they are doing to bring Him glory, so that my labors are a reflection of God in me.

Through many trials in his life, David becomes so intimately connected with God that he develops a heart like God’s. We see David, often called “a man after God’s own heart,” praising Him. In Psalm 150, David exudes continual praises to God, ending with, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” My desire this year is to spend more time getting to know Him, so that my praises for Him will always be at the forefront of my mind and on my lips, praising Him and affirming those who glorify Him for all He is!

JUST SHOW UP

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 23:03:27 GMT

Read: Luke 8:26-39

Shortly after Jesus feeds the 5,000, He gets into a boat and heads to a foreign land opposite of Galilee. There, He encounters a demon-possessed man who is naked and homeless. The moment Jesus arrives, the man knows Jesus is special, simply by the fact that He was willing to show up. Jesus asks him, “What is your name?” Here, Jesus goes to a place where no one else wanted to go to be with this man, and He makes it very personal.

After Jesus heals the man, the people return and see the man is sitting at Jesus’ feet. Fearing His power, they ask Jesus to leave, and as he gets into his boat, the healed man begs Jesus to take him with him, but Jesus says to him, “Go home and tell how much God has done for you.” And the man obeyed.

If we are trying to find direction for today, we can look to the man who didn’t know a thing about how to reach a town who, after he had been set free from his demons, was willing to sit at Jesus’ feet and wait for direction. Jesus showed up, took care of the man’s needs and encouraged him to share all that He had done for him with others. Today, as we witness so many needs, we can take the opportunity to step away from our places of comfort, and extend ourselves to others by God’s grace. What great examples we have been given to follow!

NOISE!

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:12:50 GMT

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and

not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

My junior year of college I had the opportunity to play college football against the reigning FCS (Division IAA) National Football Champions, the Montana University Grizzlies, in the first game of the 2002 season. Missoula, which is home to the Grizzlies, is in the middle of the mountains and due to the acoustics that are created by the stadium and by the nearby mountains, there isn’t a stadium in the country that produces a larger volume on game day… and their stadium only holds 21,000 fans; there are many more stadiums in the country that hold far more fans.

During the game, there was a point when my coach was telling me what he wanted me to do when I got back on the field, and I couldn’t hear a word he said without bringing myself in very close proximity. The noise in the stadium was completely deafening.

As I remember that experience now as the loudest physical noise, I consider the “noise level” we are experiencing today. Although many places are shut down and many people are shuttered, I feel that our world may be the noisiest it’s ever been, even deafening, and that trying to remain focused and quiet to hear God’s voice can be really hard.

At that football game, it wasn’t until I leaned in very close that I could hear my coach’s direction. In this New Year filled with much uncertainty in our world, I know that I need to be hearing from God, perhaps more than ever. Am I willing to try to go deeper with Him? Are you? My prayer is that God would give us the desire to get close enough to hear His voice and to understand the plans He has for us today.

A GRACIOUS FATHER

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 19:09:26 GMT

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

There is a chapter In Paul David Tripp’s book Grace-filled Parenting that spoke to me recently. Tripp shares how God can use us to show our children what a gracious and loving Father we have, One who will progressively deliver them from the hold that sin has on them when they willingly acknowledge their disobedience and come to Him.

Traditionally, at our house my wife and I have stockings hanging fireside before Christmas day, while our children’s stockings don’t appear filled until Christmas morning. In recent years, my six-year-old son Jacob has become more curious, but he has been told to not look inside his stocking until Christmas morning. To this point, the kids have been very compliant. This year however, a few days before Christmas I heard something in the living room. When I walked into the room, there was Jacob looking up at me. Without me ever saying a word, I saw in his eyes that he knew he had done something wrong. Jacob has a strong moral conscience(must be from his mother) and he knew in his own heart that he had gone against his parents’ instruction. Because I saw his remorse, I desired to help him get through it by telling him how he can come to God for forgiveness when he does things he knows are not right in His eyes.

The challenge Tripp presents is if I model how God wants us to respond to Him to my own children, then they will see how they can receive God’s grace. Though my son was wrong for not listening and obeying, as his parent I was able to show him what a gracious and loving Heavenly Father we have if we are willing to come to Him.

We all have times in our lives when we don’t need someone to point out when we’ve done something wrong, because the Holy Spirit will reveal the things in our life that are not of God. If we are willing to come before Him, and relinquish control of our lives to Him who has everlasting love for us, we will always be able to receive His grace and sanctification.

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:29:15 GMT

“Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”

1 Timothy 6:11

As we all look ahead to the New Year, reflection and optimism typically fill my mind. In one way, the turn of one day on the calendar is an opportunity to reflect on the year behind us and in another way, it is an opportunity to dream about what may take place in the next twelve months. Our theme in 2020 was 100% which was a challenge for each of us to give 100% of ourselves to God. My goodness, was there ever a year that challenged us more to give up everything to Him?

For 2021 we shift our focus and theme for the year to ' Pursue' . In this short verse from 1 Timothy 6:11 we can see the writer’s encouragement to us as to how we are to live in this crazy and unsettled world. However, we must not fail to mention that in all of our pursuit of God, He pursues us even more. He pursued us so much that He was willing to send His only son to earth to rescue you and I from our sins, so that we may have a relationship with God forever!

May God continue to reveal His love for you in the year ahead and may you always be reminded in the big movements and the small ones that His greatest desire and pursuit is you!

AROUND THE STATE - ADRIENNE CALI

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 15:19:01 GMT

In December of 2019, God helped me identify the need for an FCA ministry at Roberts Wesleyan College, which is located just outside of Rochester, NY. Shortly after that revelation, I met Femi who is the assistant athletic director. Femi approached me after a coach’s meeting and shared with me her involvement with FCA and the impact it had on her when she was a student-athlete at Grambling University. A few months after meeting she offered to continue to meet with me. In those meetings we did some brainstorming, it was such a huge encouragement to me. We met a few times during the winter 2020 semester and that is when Covid-19 hit. While this was a huge set back and a disappointment, we were determined to not let that affect the ministry and what we believed God had called us to.

Even though the campus was closed to the community, I was still invited to lead small group type team huddles for coaches and athletes. It was difficult and challenging at first, but we learned rather quickly that this was an opportunity to be creative and find new ways to do ministry. Those ways included huddle meetings and connecting over Zoom. We connected through e-mail and even used good old fashioned phone calls.

At FCA we use the E3 method of Engage, Equip, and Empower to disciple coaches and athletes. In this season God opened doors for me to be able to engage, equip and empower close to 90 coaches and athletes to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Through God's presence we helped our coaches and athletes focus on how Jesus Christ relates to them athletically and their spiritual lives. This is what Anna, a volleyball player, had to say about FCA:

“FCA is a community that empowers student-athletes and coaches to grow in their faith and knowledge of Christ.”

Even though this year has been challenging God showed up mightily and touched the lives of many coaches and athletes at Roberts Wesleyan College. Should I have expected anything less?

Adrienne Cali

FCA Campus Representative

Roberts Wesleyan College

acali@fca.org

MOVIE TRAILER

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 17:50:43 GMT

In my house, I am notorious for the stories I tell my children at bedtime. Some nights are better than others, but for the most part, they are well received. My children choose the characters, which have included Princess Elsa and Luke Skywalker to name a few. Then, I create a story that revolves around these characters, which, most often, are ridiculous tales which make the kids laugh. Recently, my kids have become more interested in movies as opposed to their normal twenty-minute kids’ shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Wild Kratts. Often, they want to hear what a movie is going to be about, so I shared with them that they could watch a trailer to learn more.

Shortly after one of our movie nights, I realized how much this new information had registered with my inquisitive daughter Vivian, whose four-year-old mind never stops working. It was one of those nights where story time wasn’t high on my list, and I was thinking about all of the things I needed to accomplish before the day’s end, so I decided to shorten the story. At its conclusion, Vivian called me out, telling me it wasn’t good enough and too short. She actually called my story a “trailer” in her sweet Bostonian accent.

This made me wonder why we don’t slow down to take advantage of the moment. Instead, we show “trailers” of our lives, doing this for a few minutes or that, and not allowing ourselves to develop the stories of our lives which are really about our relationship with God and with others. God doesn’t want to see the trailer of our lives that reveals just the best parts. God wants the unedited version, which takes time, however He patiently waits for us to pour out every part of it to Him. Psalm 139:23 reads, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” It is my prayer that you and I will slow our lives down enough to take the time to show Him the full-length version of your lives.

AROUND THE STATE - MICHELLE MALARA

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:28:34 GMT

Three years ago, God helped me identify a need to minister to the football coaches’ wives whose husbands spend so much of their days and evenings on campus during the season. While it has been such a blessing for the wives, and for me personally, God has done so much more with it than I ever expected He would.

Typically, we rotate among the women’s homes weekly sharing a meal and studying God’s word. When the Covid pandemic hit, I felt like it was going to be a step back, but the ladies wanted to continue to meet, so we began “zooming.” God continued to work mightily in unexpected ways during this time. In isolation, some of the women have had to endure the loss of a loved one, or personal struggles. God has opened doors for me to be able to encourage them in their homes. As we continued to study together remotely, the husbands and children of the households are now hearing God’s Word, too. Following one of our study times, I received this message in our group text.

“Soooo just a little quick praise. Weslie asked for a Bible to read because she heard all of us on zoom during our springtime Bible study. And I’m currently sitting and listening to her read it aloud from her bedroom. Pretty cool!” - Adrienne Caton (bible study participant)

God ‘s favor has been on this campus. This women’s Bible study, which started as something that could fill a need for these women, has developed into so much more than that. God has shown me that I shouldn’t be surprised when He does something miraculous, but that I should expect Him to do something because I believe He will, and because of who He is!

Wait patiently for the Lord.Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord

Psalm 27:14

GONE FISHIN'

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:02:30 GMT

I’m a “let’s have a plan type of guy.” Before taking on a task I usually ask myself, “Do I have the best possible resources and a strategy to carry it out?” In the final chapter of the Book of John, God showed me something I often miss when it comes to taking action.

It is the third and final time that Jesus appears to His disciples following His resurrection. Early in the morning as He is standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He sees His disciples fishing. During His three years of ministry, Jesus had taught his disciples to become fishers of men, yet, they still are not getting it and have returned to their old way of life. Jesus shouts out to them, “Have you any fish?” To which they respond, “No.” He instructs them to cast their net on the other side of the boat, and when they listen to Him to their amazement they bring in 153 fish, and yet the net was not torn! When the disciples listened to Jesus, He provided them with the capacity to catch the fish, even with a net that, in their eyes, was too small and not strong enough.

With his question, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” he is not being accusatory, He is just checking in with them. Oftentimes when we are presented with something He wants us do we might say, “God, that’s a nice idea, but I can’t do that. I’m not ready for it. I don’t have the capacity to do what it is you really want me to do.” But God says, “Just go do it.” Here, the disciples didn’t have all the right equipment, but He provided it.

Clearly, the disciples needed a new fishing strategy, but it had to come from Jesus. When Jesus tells them, “Bring me some of the fish you have just caught,” He reminds us of the part we play in winning others to Him. He has a part in it, but we have a part as well. When we choose to wait for His guidance and follow it, He will show us how to become His ambassadors.

I wonder how many “fish” we could catch if we went fishing for men, rather than for fish. In Matthew 4:19 , Jesus says, “ Come, follow me and I will show you how to fish for people .” Metaphorically, we have a part in reaping the harvest of souls for Christ.

John reminds us in his final chapter about Jesus’s desire for us to trust and follow Him in the limited time we have on earth. Just as Jesus’ time on earth was short, we, too, are here for only a while. Are you ready to follow Him right now when He says, “Come, follow me!” even if you think you aren’t ready? Are you willing to trust in His plan, not your own?”

LIVING WATER

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 14:59:06 GMT

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

In the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4, Jesus is traveling back to Galilee from Judea, when he decides to make a stop in Samaria. There, He encounters a woman who has come to the well for water. When she realizes who Jesus is, she knows she had been thirsty for much more than the water the well could provide.

Jesus does not initially offer her His living water, instead he asks her a question: “Where is your husband?” He is not able to give her hope in the living water until she admits her own sinfulness in her past relationships. The moment when the woman realizes her brokenness becomes an inflection point in her life. She then returns home where she begins to tell people her testimony and through her story, God transformed an entire village to believe in him.

I was struck by how often we hear God calling us while we are in the middle of wanting something else for our lives. He will wait patiently for us to admit our sin and realize the need we have for Him. Several years ago, I experienced an inflection point when I found myself in a situation that appeared hopeless after causing someone dear in my life tremendous pain. I had made many bad choices, but it wasn’t until I finally admitted I had done something wrong, when things turned around in my life. Like the woman at the well, I had to come to the end of myself before I was able to focus on what He wanted to do in my life.

My encouragement and challenge this week is for us to consider an area of life that needs to be released to God. Are you holding back any intentional or unintentional sin? He is there to take it from you and only his grace can allow for true healing and restoration. His living water can be yours today!

Sacrifice

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:59:43 GMT

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13

This week I have been continuing my reading in the book of John. In Chapter 15, Jesus commands us to love each other so much that we would be willing to lay down our life for another. When Jesus tells us this, He doesn’t just mean writing someone a birthday card, or a sympathy note, He really wants us to live sacrificially for others.

As someone who will always have the game of football in my DNA, I often find myself drawing analogies to the game, particular during football season. Throughout high school, I enjoyed playing the more high-profile positions on the field, and as team captain, there were many instances when I could enjoy the limelight and feel like “it’s all about me.”

Jesus’s sacrificial command to live for others made me think of my college football years at University of Albany, where my position on the field changed significantly. As a freshman, I started out as a running back, however, it quickly became apparent to my college-level coaches, that it wasn’t the position for me, so I was given two choices: I could play on defensive line, or I could not play football anymore. Not a hard choice! The defensive line is predicated so that every defenseman fills a spot to prevent offensive penetration. There is not much glory in it. It is pure sacrifice. Here, the player’s mindset shifts from “it’s all about me,” to “the team is greater than me.” When on the line, our defensive coordinator, Mike Simpson, would always tell us “do your job… and your job is not going to be pretty.” He knew that doing our job, required us to sacrifice stardom.

Following each game, we watched a lot of film. And the tape never lies.

In reviewing the film, it is easy to see whether a player’s actions were motivated by selfishness or sacrifice. If you did your job, you got praised and rewarded. I got to the point where I wanted to be rewarded, so I needed to continue to lay down my own plan for the team’s plan during every game.

When they replay the film of my life, will they see me living my own way, or will they see me “laying down my life for my friends,” by sliving sacrificially for Christ for the sake of all to come to know Him? I pray my actions will be ones that were not flashy, grand or self-serving, but those of a sacrificial person who loved and cared for people for the sake of others coming to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

DAVE PARKS
STATE DIRECTOR

AROUND THE STATE: ZACH LIMA

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:55:52 GMT

When I came to RPI as a freshman, I knew I needed to get more on track with putting God first in my life. Oliver Kaijja, our lacrosse team captain was one of those people who steered me in the right direction. Oliver invited me to come to FCA and told me: “We’ll train you up, make you a better man and follower of Christ.”

Oliver became my mentor and encouraged me to start coming to the FCA meetings. What I liked about FCA is the people there weren’t looking for anything in return, they were there to help you, look over you and guide you. They didn’t really care about the sports-related things as much as they wanted to help me stay connected with God, and help me get over all the challenges we face along the way. The FCA model is unique to most clubs. Few athletes in college go to clubs, because they are so busy with sport, but FCA is tailored to athletes by looking for the best time to get all of our student athletes together.

If it weren’t for Oliver’s leadership and the initiative that he took to bring others to FCA, there are many students who would have never had the opportunities that FCA provides on RIP’s Campus. Paul and Krysten Zaloom are a couple who also helped make FCA’s presence here a home. They helped start FCA here at RPI are my home away from home. While the players come and go through the years, Paul and Kristen have remained a constant FCA presence at RPI. They often spend their Sundays preparing a meal and we all come that evening to fellowship with one another.

A lot of our athletes don’t know how to take the initiative to join or look into a club, and it’s at the bottom of the list for most of them. I have tried to encourage them to come to our FCA meetings, and have found if I can get one, then another comes, and it sparks more interest for others to join our meetings. In my final year at FCA, I continue to “recruit” some of the younger players to get involved with FCA. It is time now to keep that spark going and pass the FCA torch on!

Zach Lima is a senior mechanical engineering major at RPI. He plays long stick midfielder for RPI’s men’s lacrosse and is from Chatham, NJ.

Connect With Amber Johns

School Days

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:50:50 GMT

John 12:8 “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

Living such a short distance to our children’s elementary school gives my wife Kate and I the opportunity to walk our son Jacob to and from school. I know this may sound like some great quality family time but most days, for a six year old, this walk looks like Jacob getting excited about finding dead frogs/snakes/etc…on the road and me feeling the pressure of the day piling up as we stroll down the street together. Last week, it was Kate’s turn to pick up Jacob and it couldn’t have been a better day. I was slammed at work…back to back to back zooms and phone calls with my email inbox piling by the moment, I was relieved that I would have a few extra moments that day to help solve the world’s problems…or at least that’s what I like to believe of myself ��

Then the text came through from Kate…we have all been there…plans have changed and she needed me. In my mind, I had no time for this…not today…there were too many important things that needed to be done. A bit frustrated to say the least, not at Kate, but at the situation and that life in general presented the daily challenge of so much to do and not enough time to do it. I’m sure you can identify with me here in your own life and circumstances. Then, the question remains, what are we to do in these situations?

In John 12 we see an example given by Jesus of how to approach our “self created full lives” that we live. We see an act performed by one of Jesus’ closest friends that has helped to reorient me personally. Just days before the passover festival and the beginning of Jesus’ public humiliation and eventual death, we find Jesus in the home of Lazarus having dinner. Lazarus had just been raised from the dead which was the final trigger for the Jewish leadership to plot to kill Jesus. Tensions are certainly high, there is much to do in preparation for passover and each of Jesus’ disciples must be feeling the pressure of the world as it is becoming more and more risky to associate with Him.

However, in the midst of this chaotic time, we find Mary once again, having the right perspective and approach to her relationship with Jesus. She takes some expensive oil and uses it to clean the feet of Jesus and is immediately criticized for wasting this valuable resource by her peers. Jesus speaks up and reminds us in verse 8 of such a crucial and often hidden truth in our lives. Jesus is not displaying a lack of compassion for the poor, on the contrary, he is reminding us that our work here on earth, even righteous causes like caring for the poor, cannot take priority over our relationship and love for God.

In that moment of plans changing before my eyes and suddenly realizing all that I would not get done for the day, I had a choice to make. I could either listen to the Holy Spirit which was telling me to put aside the things I thought I needed to get done or keep plowing ahead and ignore the opportunity to love and serve my family who needed me. When we hear from the Lord and choose to obey he doesn’t always confirm for us right then and there why He had us do something in a different way…but sometimes he does.

As I picked up Jacob from school excited to see him, he greeted me with the response that every parent wants to hear…”I want to go back to school”. Part of me glad that he loved the day but the other part of me asking, “does my presence here even matter”. My typical routine is to grill him with questions about his day to which he usually obliges. This time I heard the voice of the Lord again though still feeling frustrated that I had to alter my day and walk in silence with my son when “the world needed me”. It was as if He was speaking John 12:8 to me in that moment.

As we neared home having walked nearly the entire 12 minute walk in silence, Jacob slipped his hand in mine and started to tell me of his entire day and how proud he was of his many accomplishments and friendships that he had made. It wasn’t instant gratification for the choice I made in listening to the Lord, but it was pretty close. God is always speaking to us and my prayer for you and me is that we will take the time to hear Him. There will always be more to do that can ever get done, but if we fail to prioritize hearing from the Lord, we will labor in vain and miss the presence of the Lord to be fully known in our lives.

DAVE PARKS
STATE DIRECTOR

Who are you?

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 23:22:07 GMT

In the Book of John Chapters 7 and 8, the people of Jerusalem are completely divided about who Jesus is. The words Jesus uses cause some to fear Him, and others to believe in Him.

Some believe he is a Prophet, while others believe that “Surely He is the Christ,” (John 7:40). Both groups notice that there is something different about Jesus by the way He speaks. He speaks with authority, stating, “I am not here on my own, but He who sent me is true. I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me.” (John 8:28) And, He speaks with love, power and compassion as He offers those who are willing to believe in Him “streams of living water from within.” (John 7:38)

When you are asked the question, “Who are you?” How do you respond? Like Jesus, we are defined by the words we use. But, in order to know who we are, we must first know who Jesus is, the Son of the Father, the One who created us. We can’t answer the question, “Who are you?” without first being about to answer the question: Who is Jesus?

As a classic rock fan, The Who’s song Who Are You? comes to mind. Its lyrics describe a musician who has led a vagabond lifestyle of uncertainty and meaninglessness. He realizes that even after the acclaim from an illustrious career, he is still unsure of who he is. Seeking answers, this tired and worn-out musician says, “Eleven hours in the Tin Pan (Alley)…God there’s got to be another way… Who are you? You know I really want to know… my heart is like a broken cup.”

While the song was penned in 1978, the question asked is an anthem for today’s world where people are still searching for purpose and meaning. Neither the world, nor Daltry’s song provide an answer to the question, however Christ does. If you believe Jesus is who He says He is, then when people ask you, “Who are you?” you can, with certainty, respond: “I am His workmanship, and it is on His authority that I speak.”

DAVID PARKS

STATE DIRECTOR

Coaches Highlight: James Marsh

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 01:09:00 GMT

I recently retired after 35 years of coaching. My coaching career began when I was 18 years old and a youth coach at the YMCA in Gloversville NY. Until I retired, I was always happiest in my life when I was involved with sports and sharing that passion with kids. Being able to share life lessons which transcend the classroom, but which can be imparted through team sports, fuels my desire to continue coaching.

Some of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a coach include watching girls graduate and go to college; having young ladies come back and tell me, “You’re the closest thing to a father I ever had,” and when suburban schools, players, coaches, parents and administrators compliment our teams on their conduct and demeanor… and winning championships!

FCA is an instrumental part of my coaching. I appreciate the ministry’s multi-layered model where coaches learn how to reach out to athletes and their families to share the love of Christ. FCA became involved with my program following my return to coaching after battling Stage 4 cancer. I questioned my ability, and whether I would ever be able to coach again. FCA reinforced my connection with God, and bolstered my conviction to continue to coach. There are many wonderful coaches who could have benefited from an association with FCA.

To this day, even as a retired coach, FCA includes my athletes and me in their programs. I have witnessed young ladies grow in leadership and team building skills from their involvement in the summer camps. What I have learned from FCA will hopefully be a part of the legacy I wish to leave: Coach Marsh was a guy that cared much more about the well-being of his girls, than he did about winning a basketball game.

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Coaches Highlight: Matt Brazill

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:33:00 GMT

Matt Brazill, Former Liverpool Girls Basketball Varsity. Currently ESM Youth Sports Instructional Basketball Director.

I have been coaching for over 14 years, starting out as a volunteer assistant for ESM Boys Varsity where I played during high school. I worked my way up coaching modified girls’ and boys’ basketball in New York and Arizona, and after a year of JV girls, I became the varsity girls’ coach at Liverpool from 2014-2018.

I am not only driven to coach by my love of the game, but, as an educator, I have the desire to teach, build relationships and positively impact the youth in my community. It’s rewarding to witness a group of individuals come together as a team and sacrifice for each other, love each other, and compete every day to get better. Some of my fondest memories include seeing the team bond on trips to Disney or Washington D.C, and hearing them sing on the bus rides home.

The FCA coaches’ huddle is instrumental in helping me feel valued and supported as a coach. While our world promotes “winning at all costs,” FCA allows players and coaches to work through their “hills and valleys,” both athletically and personally. I value having a group of believers who are willing to listen, pray and reflect with me, and Bible studies to share the word of God. As coaches we have to put on our own “oxygen masks,” as they say. The huddles help us be fulfilled physically, mentally and spiritually, and help us promote the values and principles we want our players to have. Shanay Bradley, our FCA area director, helps bring cohesion to our team through team building exercises where players develop life lessons that we reflect upon throughout the season.

FCA is a program I wish I knew about while I was a student-athlete in high school. I struggled with my identity and was overly consumed with fear and peer approval. FCA provides a safe-haven for students who are struggling with their own walk at Liverpool High School. At the end of my career, I hope to be remembered as a coach who didn’t care who received the credit, who promoted the team over the individual, who fostered a culture of personal accountability, and valued relationships over the result of the scoreboard.

Liverpool High School Huddle is a part of Syracuse Metro which is led by Syracuse Metro Area Director Shanay Bradley. For more info on FCA in Syracuse, click here .

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The Journey

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:14:00 GMT

In the Book of Acts Chapter 27, it was decided that Paul and 275 other prisoners would make their way from Adramyttium to Rome. Paul was facing trial as the accusations against him were the result of him preaching the Gospel. This would have been an incredibly long journey, which ironically gave Paul the opportunity to continue his mission to bring encouragement and the Gospel to those in his presence.

As they continued on the journey, Paul warned that it would be dangerous and that it would bring great loss to the ship, cargo, and even their own lives (Acts 27:10). Paul was ignored and the captain chose in that moment to not care for the individuals on board. There was a great amount of loss in that storm and as the storm continued to rage on, many stayed below deck for days, grew hungry, and had even given up hope (Acts 27:20-21) That is when Paul also made a choice, a choice to encourage, to not give up hope, and to fully trust in the one who was present in every step of this circumstance. Paul encourages the men by explaining to those that were there, were not lost and the only thing they will have lost is the ship. (Acts 27:22) He continues to encourage them by preaching the Gospel and letting the men know that God made a way and gave him this time with them.

Without the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul would have never been able to maintain his calm in the storm and provide hope that the Gospel provides. There were 275 other prisoners on board and Paul seized the moment as an opportunity to minister to, provide encouragement, and point them back to the only one that could save them.

There is so much we can take away from this journey but I wonder if along the path to our final destination, we remember that God wants to use us in all circumstances to provide encouragement and the hope that is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My challenge to us would be that we would ask God to encounter someone or a group of people along your journey that you would choose to impact for Christ!

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Coaches Highlight: Scott Mariglia

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 22:16:00 GMT

I began coaching basketball when I got my first teaching job 5 years ago with the intent of helping young athletes develop into men. While winning is always great, the bonding experience I get to develop with the players is the real joy!

I didn’t realize that so many professional coaches and athletes are members of FCA. The ministry is much more widespread than I had realized. Its mission to minister to coaches directly, and indirectly to the athlete through the coach, helps me grow as a coach. And, the traits and attributes emphasized during weekly huddles help my team grow spiritually, as well as athletically.

The biggest challenge I face as a coach is balancing the intensity, passion, and desire to win, with the self-control and patience that comes with being a follower of Christ. FCA’s mission of teaching the coach how to teach the player has helped my growth as a coach and a person. The Coaches’ Marriage Retreat was such a blessing for my wife and me.

FCA reminds me that I am not just a coach, but something greater, a minister of the Gospel. I want my players to remember me as an encourager, a good strategist, and a role model who loved the Lord above all else.

FCA in Buffalo, NY is led by Buffalo Metro Area Director, Jake Hannon. For more info on FCA in Buffalo and Jake Hannon, click here .

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Mission Impossible

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:44:00 GMT

While reading about Paul’s missionary travels in Acts Chapter 23, I was encouraged by the promises God makes to Paul during his missionary journeys. Here we find Paul jailed in Jerusalem after his return from Rome where he has been preaching the gospel. Paul longs to return to his homeland Rome, however, God tells him to stay in Jerusalem, and continue to preach to the Jews, after which he would return to Rome: “Have courage for you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify about me in Rome,” promising Paul that he will be returning to Rome, but just not yet.

The Jewish leaders’ opposition to Paul begins to escalate, and they want to break him out of jail and kill him. When Paul’s nephew discovers their plan, he informs the Roman governor who foils their plan. Eventually, Paul returns to Rome and continues on his missionary journey, where he encounters opposition, life-threatening storms and imprisonment. Through all 10,000 miles of Paul’s travels, God is with him as his ministry continues to influence millions.

In the Book of Joshua, following the death of Moses, Joshua finds himself in a situation similar to Paul’s when he is appointed the Israelites’ leader. But, God’s plans will not be denied, and though Joshua lacks confidence, three times in the first nine verses God commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” because He will be with Joshua wherever he goes. And, Joshua goes on to lead the Israelites in conquering the land.

I can relate to how Paul and Joshua felt at times during their respective ministries. When I stepped into this ministry eight years ago, there had never been a strategy to develop FCA in New York, a predominantly post-Christian culture with an aggressive approach to remove God from most public institutions. Over time, I could have viewed all those things as reasons to give up or be discouraged. But, during quiet times with God, I was reminded of his command to reach all nations and preach the gospel, including New York State, one of the least Bible-minded states in the country. God has shown me that if He calls you to do something, even if it’s not easy, have courage and keep praying and trusting because He will get it done. And now we are seeing FCA in every upstate town in New York. Click on our staff page to find out what God is doing here now: http://northeastfca.org/who-is-fca/staff/

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Game Plan

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 03:44:00 GMT

During my coaching years I usually watched between 80-90 hours of film weekly to prepare the game plan for the coming week. In my earlier years of coaching, I would often use the same plan again and again against different opponents, which usually proved ineffective. I learned that I couldn’t just show up with the same plan, but that I had to account for the different nuances of each team and include variations in the game plan.

I find this interesting as it pertains to the ministry of the disciple Paul, who spent much time preparing to share the gospel using his gifts of eloquence and persuasion. In Acts Chapter 19, Demetrius the silversmith is experiencing a loss in the demand of his statues of the goddess Artemis. This is due to the growing number of Christians who are converted through Paul’s message that, with Jesus, there is no need to worship other gods. With his source of income at stake, Demitrius mobilizes the people to start rioting. A mob mentality ensues to the point where most of them don’t even know what they are rioting about (see Acts 19:32).

Paul’s solution to their confusion is to address the assembly in the public forum to persuade them to believe the gospel. In this case, Paul’s usual M.O. of persuasion proves ineffective. The disciples, fearing that Paul will be killed, convince him not to address the people and leave town. They knew that although the church in Ephesus was becoming strong, there were still those who were either not ready or unwilling to hear the gospel.

Just as a coach needs to evaluate each opponent before establishing a game plan, as Christians, we cannot share the gospel in a cookie cutter fashion. Instead, we have to take the time to analyze our audience and hear from the Holy Spirit. We must be solid and consistent on what we believe the Bible says about the nature of our heavenly Father, while at the same time be willing to adapt the message to each unique setting and person. If we think we can run the same play over and over again to different audiences, and are not open to the Holy Spirit’s direction on which “game plan” to use, then we will miss the opportunity to impact others for Christ.

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Coaches Highlight: Veronica Tearney

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:12:00 GMT

Veronica Tearney , Director of Strength & Conditioning (Nutrition and Spirit Program) at Syracuse University

I first began coaching in 2000 as a graduate assistant coach in the strength & conditioning department for track and field at Syracuse University. Over the last 20 years I’ve had experience working with a variety of sports, including swimming, lacrosse, tennis, soccer, and ice hockey.

Through strength and conditioning I consistently and repeatedly challenge student-athletes to push through their physical limits to achieve a higher level of athletic fitness. During these workouts, walls come down and a level of vulnerability is revealed. As a coach, this gives me an opportunity to impart information, advice, and let them know that I care by not just breaking them down physically, but by giving them the tools, information and encouragement to grow from the challenges within each workout.

During workouts I also get to hear about what’s going on in their lives outside of athletics. This is often the most energizing part of coaching for me. The student-athletes help me stay current with the pulse of this generation, and I can help them connect many of the principles of training, competition, and athletics to overall life success.

It’s rewarding to see student athletes be transformed by something they’ve learned from me and implemented into their own lives, as well as hear from former athletes who are still doing the workouts I made for them several years ago.

It has been a challenge, at times, to integrate faith into my coaching. I never want to push someone away or stop someone from coming to me for help because they think I will judge them. It’s also difficult to stay within workplace rules and regulations when there is no clear line between doing or saying what’s spiritually right versus what’s permitted. FCA is a visible resource of support. The coaches’ huddles are a starting point for conversations among co-workers and other believers. They provide me with a safe space to air frustrations and share my fears, failures, and victories.

FCA has provided a different experience from what I expected. What I thought would be a rigid Bible study fellowship was instead a network of encouraging believers with a shared passion for athletics and lifelong, life-changing friendships.

It is rewarding to see athletes with no solid foundation of faith slowly transition from finding fun and acceptance from alcohol and unhealthy relationships, to realizing joy and fellowship through faith in Christ. I hope my legacy will be that I cared more about the person inside the athlete, than the athlete inside the person.

Syracuse University FCA is led by Collegiate Director, William Payne. For more info on FCA at SU, and William Payne, click h ere .

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Coaches Highlight: Doug Porterfield

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 13:57:00 GMT

My desire to be involved with the development of young people is what has driven me to coach for the past 30 years. I have coached for 25 years at the high school level, and am in my 5 ^th season at Roberts Wesleyan College.

The most rewarding thing for me as a coach is watching the student-athletes I have had over the years find, pursue and achieve their dreams in life, and find their place in the larger community as they lean into their identity in Christ

Being at a Christian college, I have many Christian influences in my life. FCA’s resources and coaches’ huddles provide new opportunities to discuss common issues and create a professional base of coaches who eventually become friends. The student huddles help provide leadership opportunities that help develop my players both physically and spiritually.

FCA’s ministry equips me with more resources to implement their multi-layered mission of ministering “to the coach and through the coach.” When my athletes remember me, I want them to say: We had a great team, and a coach who really cared and still cares.

Roberts Wesleyan College FCA is led by campus representative, Adrienne Cali. For more info on FCA at Robert Wesleyan, contact Adrienne Cali via email: acali@fca.org

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Names

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 11:06:00 GMT

My lips will glorify you because Your faithful love is better than life. So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:3-4

The arrival of our third child is approaching. We don’t have a name yet, and we don’t even know the gender. Our society values names, and I too think they are important. We named our son Jacob whose “wrestling match” with an Angel of God causes change and renewal in his life, and now at age five he is beginning to understand the meaning behind his name. And although we had no idea what she would become, our daughter Vivian, meaning animated and lively , is already living up to her name!

Every act of naming has meaning. Throughout history, we have named places and iconic symbols after people to recognize their achievements. But, what is the value of a name? As I consider my own name, I have often thought of David as an honorable man in the Bible, yet he is also a person with many flaws. Names, specifically human names that is, will almost always cause us to be reminded of people for their virtue as well as their failure. Thus, people in our world often become elevated or dimonized undeservedly.

These verses are a clear and direct reminder that there is only one name that should ever be lifted up to a place of honor. The Psalmist writes with conviction and passion – “ at Your Name”. He is speaking directly to his Creator, God and Father and putting His name above all others. It makes me think…Do I have as much reverence for the name of God as I do for my own name or the names of other people? It is my prayer for you and me that take time daily to lift up our hands to glorify the Name Above All Names because “his faithful love is better than life”.

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Coaches Highlight: John Berardicurti

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:43:00 GMT

My journey with FCA began when I started attending the FCA overnight camps. I was amazed at God’s influence on athletes and coaches. The FCA leaders at the camps demonstrated, and allowed me to see for myself, the impact coaches can have on athletes through their prayers and actions. Later, I attended FCA group discussions, about the FCA Coaching Pyramid, and realized that caring and loving our athletes was the way to show them how to use the tools in the toolboxes God had provided for them.

During my fifty-five years of coaching, the biggest struggle I have had in integrating my faith into coaching is myself. I need to have the courage to share the thoughts and feelings that God has given me with the players and coaches at the appropriate time.

Presently, I am an assistant soccer coach for my grandson’s FCA U14 Fury travel team, the Nazareth College men’s team and the Rochester Lancers pro indoor team. On each of these teams I have witnessed God, on His time schedule, impact players and coaches. I coach now to use the game to teach life lessons and why we should be grateful to God for our skills and abilities. I want my players to understand that building relationships as Jesus did, by caring and loving their teammates and coaches, is what will bring them everlasting joy and happiness. I hope my legacy as a coach is, “He cared and loved us!”

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Favoritism

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:25:00 GMT

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritismbut accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:34-5

Today’s current events have caused me to reflect on my days of coaching. Oftentimes, players would talk about who they believed were the coach’s favorites, and a coach’s consistent response was always, “I don’t have favorites.” But in reality, a coach usually does have favorites. And, while I am not proud to admit it, I had favorites, too. When I consider why they were my favorites I realized it had nothing to do with those who were the best, the smartest, or the most popular, it was those players with whom I had spent the most time; and, as an offensive coordinator, it was the wide-receivers, running backs, etc. When you spend time with someone you get to know them and see their heart, and as you do, your love for them grows.

For Peter, his favorites are those with whom he could identify, which in this case is the Jews. In a vision, God tells Peter to visit Cornelius, a Gentile who is a centurion in the town of Caesarean. Peter is puzzled by God’s directive because Gentiles are people who are not traditionally viewed as equals by the Jews, and it is against Jewish law to associate with Gentiles. But Peter is obedient, and during his visit with Cornelius, who is described as a devout and God-fearing man, he learns that God does not show favoritism, but accepts all those who do His will.

What Peter learns by following God’s will can be a lesson to us all. If we don’t follow God’s directive to go to those uncomfortable places where we haven’t gone before, then we will have favorites. As a coach I could have worked harder to know the other players, because that’s the only thing that absolves favoritism. God wants us to develop relationships with all people, and begin to see their hearts and love them just as He does.

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Coaches Highlight: Bjorn Webb

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:31:00 GMT

Sports & Fitness Ministry Director at Watermark Wesleyan Church. Hamburg Boys Modified Soccer Coach

The coaches I have had during my years playing soccer have had a great impact on my spiritual life and athletic career. Now, I want to be able to share some of that with younger athletes. As a coach, the most rewarding thing for me is to see my players learn and grow as individuals through sport. It is rewarding to see them excel as players, students, musicians, brothers, sons, and members of society.

The relationships I have begun to develop with FCA leaders have helped me feel valued and appreciated.

Seeing what FCA stands for has helped me to shape what I stand for as a coach. The “why” we play sport has transformed why I coach. I want to see my players understand how the Gospel of Jesus Christ will change their thinking about “why” they play sport. I coach and pour into the lives of my players, because of the love of Christ and what he has done for me. I hope that my players will come to know Christ as well, and that someday I will be remembered as a coach that loved them as Christ does.

Buffalo Metro FCA is led by Area director Jake Hannon who has been serving there for 5 years. For more info on how you can be a part of what God is doing in the Buffalo area, please contact Director Jake Hannon via email: jhannon@fca.org

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Witness

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 02:20:00 GMT

Acts 1:7-8

“It is not for you to know the times or dates that the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Today, there is racial unrest, with emotions and tensions at a high. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought both death and isolation. As Christians, what is our responsibility as part of “the Church?”

I have the privilege of working with an incredible staff here in Upstate, New York. They are men and women called by God to lead coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. We have a diverse team and three of the staff I serve alongside are African-American. Over the past two weeks our entire staff has had many conversations surrounding the impact of racism in America and how we should respond as witnesses for Christ. These conversations have allowed our team to grow, heal and most importantly show compassion for our black and brown brothers and sisters who have been hurt and are hurting. In all transparency, we have discovered that there are no clear and easy ways to combat this issue, but each of us are in agreement that it will be by the power of Christ given by the Holy Spirit that we can fight this evil together in the days ahead.

Responding compassionately is the model Jesus gave us time and time again as we look to His word for direction. In our day, even during this socially distant reality, compassionate responses are still possible. Prayer, writing letters, providing a meal or a phone call or text message, listening to another person’s experience and perspective —are all ways we can be a witness for Christ to the world and specifically to those hurting and in need of hope. In a court of law, a witness is someone who testifies with conviction about something for which he can give an account. If we believe Jesus Christ is who He says he is, and did what He said he did through His shed blood, we can be confident that no matter what the situation, we can speak with conviction about the impact of His resurrection in our own lives to bring hope. By demonstrating God’s love in these ways, He can heal our relationships and the world. May God’s grace be upon you today as you represent and witness for Christ in your life.

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Coaches Highlight: Taylor Rivera

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 01:29:00 GMT

As a volleyball player during my high school and college years, I learned many valuable life lessons that have made me the person I am today. In college I was a member of FCA and it helped me build stronger, more reliable relationships with trustworthy adults that guided my path. And now as a coach at Pittsford Sutherland, I want to be available for God to use me this way in the lives of others.

I am fairly new to FCA from a coaching standpoint, yet even as a new member my voice and participation is valued. FCA has provided me with a new network of people that help support me so I can support my athletes in return. From my first zoom meeting with other local coaches I felt like there was an instant connection. Their passion for Christ and for our athletes feeds my soul so I can feed into others! I did not know what to expect, but I am grateful for this community I now have.

I coach to impact the next generation athletically, academically, personally, and spiritually. The most rewarding part of coaching is watching young athletes grow into strong, independent young women, ready to take on the world! I have a deep desire for my legacy to tell a story about a coach that loved people and cared about them as a whole package, not just as a volleyball player. I pray that the players on my team know that they are more than just another athlete: they are family. I am excited to see the plans God has in store for our family!

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Seconds

Tue, 26 May 2020 22:29:00 GMT

In the same way let your light shine before men so that they will see every good work and glorify our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Last week, I watched the documentary Breaking2 , which chronicled the lives of three elite marathon runners. The project was an experiment created by Nike to see if one of the runners could break the two-hour marathon barrier. In November 2016, the runners began six months of a scientifically advanced, rigorous training plan. Then, on May 6, 2017, the privately held race took place at Italy’s Formula One Autodromo Nazionale Monza race track where Eliud Kipchoge’s first place finish was clocked at 2 hours and 25 seconds– just one second behind for each mile had cost him the record!

As I watched the post race interviews, it was interesting to observe the lives of these three runners, and hear what motivated each to want to break the record. One wanted to be the greatest. The next had great pride for his countryman and wanted to do it for his country. But, Eliud Kipchoge described running as his life’s calling, and explained that he was running for a greater purpose. What separated him from the other runners was that he was confident he was going to accomplish his goal eventually, because he knew God had called him to be a runner.

Two years later, on October 13, 2019, Kipchoge ran a marathon in less than two hours. His time, 1:59:40, is the fastest any runner has ever covered 26.2 miles. He had finally achieved his goal. He had learned the value of seconds and had committed every second of his life to his life’s calling: to glorify God.

Kipchoge provides an example to us as Christians to ask ourselves: am I committing the seconds of my day to Him? Are my actions reflecting Christ’s light in such a way that people see my every good work and are able to look through me to see God? Maybe there is something I need to add or reduce to my “training” to ensure I am able to glorify God in every way of my life.

As we live with the hope of eternity to come and our desire to see more people come to know and grow in Jesus, it will be the sum of all the “seconds” we accumulate over our lifetime that will make the biggest difference in the end. Each day is a gift and an opportunity to do something, as small as it may seem, to help advance the kingdom one step at a time.

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Coaches Highlight: Griff Graves

Sun, 17 May 2020 16:53:00 GMT

The Bible says in Hebrews, “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.”

Running with endurance. I know a little something about that.

As a student athlete, FCA gave me a foundation and perspective that has carried me through some refining times. Confidence and an identity grounded in Christ powered me through my years of running competitively.

This understanding of endurance and identity led to coaching cross country and track & field at Appalachian State, Florida State and Syracuse, and FCA was a huge part of this success. I’m so thankful for those early perspectives that led to an ability to see kids, just maybe, a bit like how God sees them.

I know, firsthand, how good habits can be transformative. FCA encourages good habits on and off the track. But FCA goes even deeper. Our identity is so much greater than the sports that we play or the success that we achieve. It’s a personal heart change and then the endurance to keep on running.

I’m thankful for the consistency of the leadership at FCA. Everyone who has poured into me through FCA over the years has been an amazing vessel for God’s Word. They take time with all of us – no matter the popularity of the sport. And their clear message continues to speak volumes every day.

Trying to be a well rounded coach would be even tougher without truly knowing who I am in Christ. The freedom that these kids experience from knowing who they are gives me some of the greatest joy of all. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to impact young lives. And I’m blessed to run alongside an organization like Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

So, let us run with endurance in the race that lies before us!

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Where is the Church

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:01:00 GMT

What does the word “church” mean? To many, the word connotes a building that is a place of worship. As Christians living in today’s COVID epidemic, we can no longer gather on Sundays in our churches, yet the church hasn’t gone anywhere, it lives inside us in the Holy Spirit, and it has been and will always be about God and His people.

While we find ourselves outside of our church buildings for an extended period of time, and at home in close proximity to our neighbors, we have an even greater opportunity to live out the second greatest commandment that Jesus gives us in Mark 12:31: “ Love your neighbor as yourself .”

And, as we live among our neighbors in ways that are holy and acceptable in God’s sight, we can, when given the opportunity, respond to the apostle Peter’s challenge in 1 Peter 3:15: “ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect .”

As a body of believers living in today’s circumstances, we are reminded of what Jesus’ initial intent was for “the church” to look like. Living in this world and amongst our neighbors in loving service toward them with readiness to give God the glory for His work in our lives is what Jesus intended. Today, remember that the Church hasn’t gone away… we are His church, and Jesus said His Church will not be destroyed!

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Coaches Highlight: Sarah McClellan

Wed, 06 May 2020 17:01:00 GMT

Relationship is the heart of coaching. Having coached Women’s Soccer at Roberts Wesleyan College for 18 years, and premier youth soccer, I have learned the impact relationships can have on the growth and development of players as people, leaders, and athletes.

It was through the relationship I developed with Adrienne Cali, the FCA Field Ambassador in our area, that I was drawn to FCA. She identified with my values of simply loving others where they are, as Jesus does. Adrienne is a huge promoter of embracing students and athletes in every circumstance, challenge, and life-situation. Another draw for me to FCA’s ministry was its mission that focuses on the relational interaction of coaches and players. As coaches, when we recognize that each of our players is a child and masterpiece of God, and treat them as such, we can build trusting relationships that allow for a coach-student relationship that’s build on love and trust.

My love for sport, and my passion to love others and help them grow through sport, are what drive me to keep coaching. I want to be remembered as a coach who truly believed in and showed the love of Christ to all of my athletes, God’s masterpieces.

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Certain Uncertainty

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:54:00 GMT

This past week an article in The Wall Street Journal stated that 72% of Americans today would be uninterested in attending any major sporting events. In a culture where the majority of our lives have revolved around the god of sports, it’s unbelievable to think that attending a sporting event is now of little interest to people, and that every sport event and season is in jeopardy.

There is much uncertainty beyond the sports world as well. The unemployment rate is trending toward the Great Depression-era highs. While Covid cases appear to be on the decline, there are still nearly 2,000 people each day dying from this outbreak. The information we receive from news sources contains differing reports on every issue, and there is even more confusion in government with the national and the local governments failing to come to agreement on important issues. We find ourselves in a position where there appears to be no end in sight, and no clear cut answers of any kind.

This unprecedented time is certainly uncertain. Yet, despite our daily questioning of what we are supposed to do, or be, there is one thing we can be certain of — God’s promises in His unchanging and reliable Word.

In the final two paragraphs in Romans 16, Paul gives his final instructions, farewell and encouragement to the believers in Rome, his dear friends, fellow prisoners, and Jewish brothers that have risked their lives for him. As Paul writes under the growing power and turmoil of the Roman Empire, he is living in an incredibly uncertain time for the Church, yet, he remains focused on his one mission and encourages his Christian brothers and sisters to continue to work hard for the Lord to advance the gospel to all nations. He reminds his friends and us to remain obedient to their faith in God and His Word. Paul gets much of the credit for the New Testament, but we can see from these passages that God used many people to encourage Him and grow the Church.

In these days, I find myself asking, “How do I want people to remember me? What Christ-like characteristics do they think of when they consider my life? “Did I encourage them in their relationship with the Lord?” The only thing that can bring me peace about these questions is sitting down with God’s word, and being reminded that all He desires is my obedience, He is on the throne and He loves you and me. “The Lord builds the house” and by remaining obedient to His Word, He will accomplish His mission of loving the world unto Himself.

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Coaches Highlight: Reuben McCoy

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 23:29:00 GMT

When we will leave this world, each of us will leave behind a legacy. My hope is that my legacy will have made a difference in the lives of the athletes whom I have coached, and the coaches that I have been blessed to work alongside. I want to be remembered as a mentor who helped athletes be intentional about developing bonds with their teammates through their shared faith in God, and as a trusted and faithful colleague.

As the Assistant Coach for Syracuse Orange sprinters and hurdlers for the past 3 years, FCA has kept me grounded on the core principles to be a better person, which has been a humbling experience for me as a coach and colleague.

I have seen how the performance of younger athletes, as well as coaches, can be compromised when they don’t fully understand who they are in Christ. FCA’s influence has allowed our athletes to bond with each other, not only through a shared love of their sport, but through the common link of faith.

One of the things I value as a coach is the bonds that are developed among staff. The FCA coaches’ huddles, which provide a comforting atmosphere where we can share spiritual and worldly views, have helped develop stronger through the common bond of faith.

Thank you FCA for helping me continue to create the legacy I desire to leave behind!

Reuben I. McCoy

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Childlike Faith

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:02:00 GMT

In the midst of the current coronavirus crisis in the world, I have been reflecting on what God is teaching me. Quarantined inside my home with my two young children I get new pop-ups across my phone, am on more zoom calls than ever before, and continue to watch the death rate climb. In contrast, I observe my children whose one desire is to play on the swing set in our backyard. They have no concern for the things of the world that we are no longer able to do during this time: kids sports activities, frequent shopping outings, trips to the gym, and so on. My children have no idea of the changes in the outside world, yet they do sense that something is wrong, and my son prays: “Dear God I pray that all the sick people in the world would be healed, and that heaven would be a lot better than it is down here.”

His simple prayer reminded me of a time during Jesus’ earthly ministry, when some children were brought to Him so that He could lay hands on them and pray for them. The disciples tried to turn the children away, but Jesus said, “ Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these ” (Matthew 19:13-14). The children didn’t care what the Pharisees or the disciples thought, they just ran to Jesus – He was all they needed.

In a world where we are searching for bigger and better “stuff”, and always on the go searching for the next best thing, all God desires from us is a child-like faith where we trust in Him completely and are thankful for what we have. He wants to be our Father, and the one “thing” we hope for, just as small children have the desire for the simple things in life, and the security of being home with mom and dad.

During such times as today where we are stripped of much of the things we believe are important, we can be confident in the hope of salvation through His Son, the Savior of the World, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans: “… because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:4-5)

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Coaches Highlight: Kyle Crandall

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:23:00 GMT

For nearly 20 years, coaching basketball and baseball have been so much more than a job for me. It’s a special opportunity to invest part of who I am into the lives of a group of teenage boys. I get to take part in helping them develop into successful young men within their sport and their personal lives – and that’s what coaching is really all about!

Rochester, NY is my community. Coaching Varsity Baseball at East and Varsity Boys Basketball at NE Douglass has given me a unique perspective and a heart for inner-city youth. Having an engaged father figure was something that I took for granted growing up. Some athletes on my teams are blessed to have active fathers in their lives but many do not. Sports provides such an important outlet for many kids. I have come to realize that my role naturally leads to filling in some gaps in their lives. I recognize that I’m a father-figure to some of these kids and that’s a role that I embrace.

That’s why I need FCA .

The leadership of FCA is always there to offer help in many ways. They give me tools to keep me focused on the most important components of coaching and to keep my own life in check as well. Twice a month, the local coaches huddles keep me accountable to be a man of integrity in all areas of my life. And they do this without forcing their own agendas or events.

Coaching with a Christian mindset in a public school can be challenging knowing that some of the players and families don’t share my faith in God or even a similar worldview. I never force my faith on anyone. Faith is very personal – only God can change hearts.

Like most people, athletes respond when they know they are loved and that someone really cares about them. Sometimes athletes show their appreciation while still in school. Sometimes they come back many years later to share how they were impacted.

One of my proudest moments was when one of my former players asked me to officiate the vow renewal ceremony with his wife. Recently, a former baseball player who came to Rochester from the Dominican Republic and learned English as a second language was able to reach his goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot with United Airlines. I certainly don’t take credit for these stories. I pray that God worked through me to impact these players in some small way. That’s how I judge success as a coach. Sports represents a huge calling in my life. And FCA is a big part of refining that calling. Together we’re leaving a legacy of allowing the Lord to use us to impact the lives of others.

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FILLING THE GAP

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 19:16:00 GMT

This past weekend, we took the opportunity as a family to visit a local park. It was a cool nevertheless beautiful sunny day! This particular park was full, it was amazing to see so many people outside. In fact, it may have set a record for the amount of people it contained in one day for the month of March. Now I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t everyone supposed to be social distancing?” This is a rather large park, and everyone exhibited proper social distancing measures.

As we walked through the park, I began to observe the surroundings and that is when this thought and eerie feeling came over me. I realized; I am seeing more people in my neighborhood right now that I never even knew existed since we moved to the area in 2013. Due to the current world crisis, no one stopped to talk or acknowledge anyone else. There was no interaction and it seemed so ironic and I was overcome with sadness.

The next day I woke up with that same sad feeling, but naturally went about my day. I took the kids outside to play in the front yard and just as we were wrapping up our 26 ^th game of hide and seek, a woman walked by who I hadn’t seen before. I was immediately drawn to the fear on her face and could also sense it in her spirit. A thought came to me, almost as if God was reminding me, “you know Dave, it doesn’t have to be this way”. I said hello to her to start a conversation. From about 15ft feet away I asked her name and where she lived, and we began to chat. I found out that her son Jason is in New York City and that she was worried about him. I told her that I would keep her son in my prayers. She smiled, she thanked me and then continued to walk on.

What I was reminded of is that God is so much bigger than all of this. Despite this pandemic, He has designed us first to be in relationship with Him and then to be in relationship with others. Each of us during this time can choose to fill the gap of time and isolation by finding connection to others so that the world can be encouraged by the love of Jesus Christ. Perfect love drives out all fear and only God’s love for us is perfect. Ask the Lord what he would have you do today to share his love and let His light shine in you!

‘Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. ‘

1 John 4:11

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UPSTATE STAFF EXPLOSION

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 02:44:00 GMT

God has seen our need for more workers in Upstate NY, and He has blessed us with some exceptional co-laborers in the field.

In the past six years our staff has grown from 3 to 23. And since 2012 our huddle ministry has expanded from 18-141. The impact these huddles are having is immeasurable, because in each of those huddles coaches’ and athletes’ lives are being impacted as we see more and more people joining teams and people’s lives being touched through FCA’s ministry.

Our club sports are also continuing to expand rapidly. The club lacrosse teams have gone from 12-21, and we have now had both girls and box lacrosse club teams.

It takes a team of people to make a ministry grow and have impact, and our Area Directors who help lead our staff play a vital role. We now have three area full time Directors: Cody Foster, Area Director, Rochester, Katie Tutak, Director of Lacrosse, and for the first time ever in the Albany area, Amber Johns, Multi-Area Director for the Capital Region.

We are so thankful for who the lord has added in these past 3 months. We look forward to God expanding the impact of FCA by adding more great teammates to our staff in the year ahead.

^“ Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields .” Matthew 9:38

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Transition

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 01:12:00 GMT

The new school year is now well underway and after just two weeks, life seems to have settled into its new rhythm for our household. Two children off to school and two adults off to work each day has been an adjustment for our family. Even though I am well aware that so many families today embark on the same journey we have, that doesn’t seem to bring me much comfort. Adjusting to new routines and transitioning from one stage of life to another is mentally and physically exhausting.

I am blessed to have an incredible teammate in my wife Kate, but she and I have both looked at each other in this season with the “deer in headlights” look from time to time. Amidst preparing lunches for school, playing Uber for the kids, growing career demands and various other family needs, life can feel like a series of tasks that have no end and lead to nowhere.

Life seems to be a blur these days and as the weeks fly by, I’m often left asking myself: “Lord, did I do anything this week that will make an eternal impact for your kingdom?”

I am thankful for God’s word and specifically this week for Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 there is a passage written by Paul that God often uses to bring me back to Him. This allows me to not focus so much on what I am doing but what He is doing in me.

Verse 2 reads, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except for Jesus Christ and him crucified”. The Corinthian church was in the process of transitioning to maturity in the Christian faith. They continued to add more people and more complexity to their faith than Paul had originally instructed them to when he first visited. Paul takes the opportunity in Chapter 2 to remind them and us, that we bring nothing. God brings it all! No matter what He has you doing…simple or complex, fast paced or slow and steady, He is more interested in what we are becoming than what we are doing.

So I can continue to run my race…literally…and so can you and we can do it with joy if we stay focused on the gospel transforming us moment by moment into who God wants us to be.

This week it is my prayer that you and I can “resolve to know nothing” but the grace and truth of the gospel in our lives.

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David Parks Letter

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:43:00 GMT

I was reflecting on Matthew 20 this week and came across a familiar passage that seemed to strike a new chord with me. I have read these passages many times before but in this season I sensed the Lord leading me to share these thoughts with you in hopes that it will encourage and inspire your personal walk with Christ and ministry year ahead.

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34

In this passage I notice three amazing actions by Jesus that challenge me greatly.

1. Jesus stopped. While everyone else rebuked these two men who were in obvious distress, Jesus stopped to pay attention to them. This challenges me to ask a simple question…Am I stopping enough in my life to acknowledge those in need around me?

2. Jesus asked a question. This amazes me! In verse 32 right after he “ stops” he asks, “what do you want me to do for you?” My first thought is this, “ Jesus, isn’t it obvious, these guys are blind!?!?”. This is remarkable…even though Jesus knew exactly what they needed, he still had enough humility and respect for these men to not assume that he knew what they needed. He simply asked them what they wanted. Again a great challenge comes from this verse to me…Am I asking people how I can help them or do I come in with my own agenda of what I believe they need?

3. Jesus had compassion. Finally, once Jesus heard their need and could tell they were sincerely looking to him for healing, he identified with their pain and healed them. The challenge for me here is this…”Do I see people as Jesus sees them? And do I respond in a way that identifies with their struggle and do I seek to meet their needs?

As we get ready for an incredible year, I will be praying God will show you and I how to respond to the coaches and athletes we serve as Jesus did here in this passage. Thanks for letting me share a bit of my heart with you today and know that I am praying for you, your families and your ministries and look forward to serving alongside you in 2020!

Sincerely,
Dave Parks

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Ministry Highlight: William Payne

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 00:38:00 GMT

After serving as an outreach pastor for 14 years, I’ve seen the challenges that hurt and mistrust can cause – especially with coaches and athletes who feel things very deeply. This can make connecting with them all the more challenging.

This is why Kip Wellman’s words below at the 2nd Annual Charity Dinner touched me so deeply and really highlights so much of my memories over this past year. Here is a portion of that speech, on a very special night for me:

“ My name is Kip Wellman and I am the Director of Basketball Operations at Syracuse… [As I] read about the history of FCA, I came across the methods FCA promotes.

Engage (1 ^st Thessalonians 2:8)

From the first day that [William Payne] joined our program, he put in tireless hours engaging with our student athletes, building relationships and gaining trust. Will was there every day – not just on the days when it was convenient or when we were playing Duke. EVERY day, every practice, every game, every road trip – he was there. That is how you build relationships with young men.

EQUIP (Ephesians 4:12)

As we got further into the season, I noticed that the groups became a little bigger, the meetings became more frequent and I realized our guys were starting to look to Will for guidance in whatever was happening in their life, good or bad. On or off the court. Will, through FCA, was starting to Equip our student athletes on how to address their issues through the Word.

EMPOWER (2 ^nd Timothy 2:2)

The last “E” if you will is empower. And this is the method that really hit home with me. Not only was FCA using the Word to equip our guys to handle adversity and success alike, but it was also empowering them to go out and help others with their daily struggles. Help teammates, help family members, girlfriends, and friends. And to me, that is the greatest tool our student athletes can leave Syracuse with – empowerment. ”

Kip’s words on this night, while unforgettable, will always serve to remind me of the confirmation of God’s calling on my life as well as why I continue to do the job that I do.

In the end, loving people means to serve them and never giving up – loving people for who they are and not what they do. But this takes time, patience and a lot of listening. I never want to be that hindrance that gets in the way of hope. Rather, be a conduit of that hope and a pathway for victory in Christ.

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MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: Jake Hannon

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:08:00 GMT

“Seeing the power of prayer at work is what has me the most excited right now,” says Jake Hannon, FCA’s Buffalo Metro Director. “God orchestrates amazing things through the vision of his people.”

About the same time Jake was hired by FCA in 2018, two father’s of athletes were dreaming and praying about bringing FCA baseball to Buffalo. It was at an FCA baseball tournament in Ohio where the vision really took root.

“Soon after, these men came on to my board and together we met former major league pitcher, Joe Winkelsas and we all really hit it off,” says Hannon. “After getting to know one another and working alongside Joe (former Atlanta Braves Organization), we quickly formed two different campus baseball huddles – one for coaches meeting in the morning and one for travel baseball players at night.”

Seeing how quickly the huddles came together and how much immediate benefit they were to the coaches and athletes was an encouragement to Hannon. “On Friday nights, Joe brought incredible major league pitching mechanics straight to these travel players and then spent about 30 minutes in devotion – this is what it’s all about. It’s amazing to see the energy coming out these types of huddles.”

It’s not only the fellowship of these huddles that Hannon is excited about. This momentum has grown into bringing one of FCA’s first ever baseball camps to the region. This fall, Big Ten Championship head coach, Greg Beals of the Ohio State Buckeyes will be coming to Buffalo to help facilitate this two-day baseball camp. This will be a special highlight with a capacity of 100 campers.

“We truly believe that travel baseball is in the future for this region. The sky’s the limit, really,” Hannon says. “God is moving things so quickly, naturally and organically. It’s exciting to be a part of everything that is happening to spread the Gospel. And to see how the families and community is supporting and getting involved is really a major blessing!”

Hannon says, “Finding where God is at work in this region and shining a little light on it really is an awesome part of my job here at FCA.”

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2018 Year End Video

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:55:00 GMT

2018 Year End Video

Upstate New York FCA