Minnesota FCA Fall MINISTRY UPDATE
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Donations to FCA
support our mission of impacting the world
for Jesus Christ.
For 60 years, FCA has ministered to athletes and coaches through camps,
Bible studies, FCA groups, devotionals, conferences
and much more.
To donate to the ministry
of Minnesota FCA, visit MinnesotaFCA.org and click on "Donate" tab. You will be able to make
a single donation or a
monthly recurring
donation
Or talk to us about
donating a vehicle, stocks,
or a variety of other
gift planning options.
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A Ministry or a Movement?
In February, I began my sixth year as the state director for Minnesota FCA. Where has the time gone! It has been a privilege to work with terrific staff members, volunteers, board members, and ministry partners - watching God work to build his kingdom through the influence of coaches and athletes. As we work strategically to accomplish our 2020 Vision, it is becoming apparent that God is allowing FCA to change from a ministry to a movement.
- Our strategic efforts to expand our brand, increase the use of technology and electronic communication, and establish an endowment are creating a broader and stronger framework for Minnesota FCA. This framework is needed to support the ever-expanding work in our campus, coaches, and camps ministries.
- Our ministry to coaches, fueled by the FCA Coaches Academy, is beginning to sweep across the state. There is an unprecedented hunger and thirst by coaches of athletes of all ages - youth to college - to learn how to work with today's athletes using biblical principles. Many doors are opening, especially in youth and community sports programs.
- The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) is using FCA's 3-Dimensional Coaching and InsideOut Coaching resources as the basis for coach recertification.
- A metropolitan area church is working to establish a ministry that reaches coaches in its community. They will use the FCA Coaches Academy resource as their model for training.
- Joe Ehrmann, a national trainer of coaches using biblical principles, will be in Minnesota in April. He will speak to about 500 coaches, including coaches at the University of Minnesota.
- The FCA college men's ministry, The MoveMENt, is bringing dozens of college men together for intensive training and challenge. The college women's ministry,
- The Well, feeds college women athletes who are hungry for spiritual truth, support and encouragement.
- There are now 147 school huddles and 13 coaches studies around the state, with more being formed each month.
God's at work and we get to join him! You - our faithful donors - together with our 22 staff members, team up to present to coaches and athletes and all of whom they influence, the challenge and the adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Thank you for your faithful support. To God be the glory!
Minnesota State Director |
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YOU and FCA...working together to make a difference!
"It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering.What's important is that God makes the seed grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT)
From a college student -
"...A friend invited me to The WELL, and it has been an absolutely amazing experience. I have given my life to the Lord and I'm learning from the Bible what God says about so many different things. This group meets me where I'm at and allows me to ask questions."
From an athlete -
"...I want to start taking on more responsibility for those God has put in my life... this is my chance to shine for Him and be a loving leader for Christ in my school."
From a father -
"...My daughter talked about another great speaker at FCA last night. The message was exactly what she needed to hear...I just wanted to let you know that FCA is really impacting kids. They are hearing the messages, and the messages are making a difference!"
From a coach -
"...Being part of the FCA Coaches Bible Study has changed how I relate to my wife, my kids, the kids I coach. Now I
am passing on what I have learned with the people God has put in my life."
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"Don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it
says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."
James 1:22 (New Living Translation)
One  of the goals of FCA's college ministry (The WELL for women; and the MoveMENt for men) is that young men and women would know and understand the word of God - and apply it to their lives. FCA College Rep Joy Gardner sees this happening on a regular basis.
"A young woman who has been coming to The WELL has made the tough decision to not just hear the Word, but to do what it says," said Gardner. "For Jess, that meant giving up an activity she loved in order to make more time for God. Her coach had scheduled practices on Sundays, making it very difficult to attend church. They also practiced Tuesday nights - the same time that her FCA college huddle met. Jess made the difficult decision to give up the dance team, something she really enjoyed, for the higher calling of growing in her faith. Sacrificing the good for God's best - that's a lesson for us all!"
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Making the Most of Every Opportunity Ephesians 5:16
Building relationships and making the most of every opportunity paved the way for FCA Area Director J.D. Bickle to expand his influence even more as the newly named Head Baseball Coach at Century High School in Rochester.
"I've established relationships with other coaches at Century," said Bickle, "and the athletic director is very supportive of FCA. Over the last several years, the head basketball coach has invited me come in and do Character Building with his team - right in the middle of the gym floor with 100 kids! They have a very vibrant FCA program at the school now."
When the position opened up, Bickle - who was already a familiar presence and serving as an assistant football coach- was at the top of the list.
Pray that J.D. would be an effective ambassador for Christ in his new position!
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New Owatonna Area FCA Community Huddle
 Waseca FCA attempted to break the Guinness World Record of 104 people simultaneously spinning a basketball on their finger at the Waseca County Fair. Close to 50 parents, athletes, coaches and fans met in February for the first Owatonna Area FCA Community Huddle. "It was an amazing night of testimonies and encouragement," said FCA Associate, Stephanie Goetz. "The Mankato West football coach Mark Esch, Owatonna High School football and track coach Jerry Eggermont, and Owatonna HS cross country and track coach DJ Chatelaine all spoke along side me. It was so moving and motivational to hear how God is working in the lives of local coaches and athletes." This is an excerpt of a letter Stephanie received from one of the athletes who attended the event -
"...Very powerful. My friends were very moved. My best friend was especially touched by what she heard. Thanks for all your work and for putting together this amazing night!" Pray that this new huddle would greatly impact the entire Owatonna and surrounding community! |
 A Higher Calling:
Taking coaching to a new level
Coach Bob Coleman teaches Marks of Excellence: Love, Joy, Peace, Perseverance, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-control (Gal. 5:22-23) Northwestern High School math teacher, head wrestling coach and FCA huddle leader, Bob Coleman, is seeing transformational coaching changing lives in competition and in the classroom. Bob recently wrote a letter to FCA Rep Call Barr, who leads a coaches training and bible study group. Here is an excerpt:
"Our team had a great compliment from another coach. He said our team was the hardest working team there that day. As a team, we placed 4th - that is not a noticeable thing. What he was saying was, we battled and worked hard no matter what the individual or team score was. I feel this is because we truly believe in the Marks of Excellence, God's word, being used for training these young athletes into the adults God has designed them to be. My heart is moved every day when I see these Marks of Excellence in action. I praise God for you guys helping me become a transformational coach/teacher. Love you guys. Keep making a difference!"
FCA's Three Dimensional Coaching Starting in Burnsville
Nine coaches were in attendance at the Three Dimensional Coaching study which uses FCA's new online curriculum and is led by FCA Rep. Randy Jensen. "Burnsville High School's athletic director, Jeff Marshall, is very supportive and hopes to see more coaches get involved," said Jensen. As the group talked about influential coaches in their own lives, almost half spoke of Christian coaches who were connected to FCA. BHS Head Baseball Coach, Mick Scholl, had this to say about the influence of one of his high school coaches:
"Coach Merkle had a huge impact on my life. He did a great job connecting Christ and sports in a way that really made sense to me. So much so, that my life was forever changed spiritually through his influence." (Merkle now serves as an associate director with the Minnesota State High School League.)
It is because of supporters like YOU, that we are able to equip coaches with the tools to transform
the lives of those they influence. We praise God for the fruit that we see from your generosity!
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FCA Hockey & Hockey Ministries International
Standing Arm in Arm
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L-R: Jeff Juni (FCA Northland Region VP);
Rick Randazzo (FCA Hockey); Bill Butters (Dir. of HMI); Glenn Martin (MN FCA State Director)
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Two hockey ministries came together at the Hockey City Classic which was held at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium in January. Hockey Ministries International (HMI) and FCA Hockey united their efforts to create The Warming House in the marching band practice room on the ground level of the TCF Bank Stadium. Over 200 hockey fans gathered to warm their bodies and warm their hearts throughout the game.
One long-time hockey enthusiast commented, "It's great to see these two great ministries working together to reach the hockey world."
We couldn't agree more!
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Healing and Restoration:
FCA offers friendship and the Gospel during time of trouble
FCA coaches and huddle members were quick to follow the example of Jesus and reach out to a young athlete who was in midst of a crisis. Personal invitations to attend an FCA huddle were extended by the huddle coach and several FCA leaders -- and the young man agreed to attend. Said FCA Rep Jake Vanada, "The Gospel was presented and the night's topic was, 'God's not looking for fans, he's looking for followers.' This young man ended up saying 'Yes' to Christ that night. Watching the other kids surround him with love and acceptance was a powerful testimony as to the influence FCA can have at a school - and the eternal influence it had on this young man's life. It was pretty incredible." Pray that FCA would continue to be a shelter in the storm for those in need of hope and healing.
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How To Reach Us
Minnesota FCA Staff
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