HEART and SOUL   
Minnesota FCA 
MINISTRY UPDATE     Spring 2015
    
In This Issue


Donations to FCA

support our mission of
impacting the world
for Jesus Christ. For 60
years, FCA has ministered
to coaches and athletes
through camps, Bible
studies, FCA groups,
devotionals, conferences
and much more.


 

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of Minnesota FCA, visit
www. MinnesotaFCA.org
and click on the "Donate"
tab. You will be able
to make a single or
recurring donation. 


 

Or talk to us about
donating a vehicle, stocks,
or a variety of other gift
planning options.
 

You Just Never Know...

Once every three years, the entire FCA staff comes together for RealTime - "the FCA Pep Fest," as Coach Les Steckel calls it. In February, over 1200 staff members from 46 states and 19 countries packed a hotel in San Antonio, Texas for worship, inspiration and fellowship. While there was no "theme" for the gathering, one theme did emerge - "You just never know."

Every presenter shared how FCA had impacted his/her life - by a coach, a fellow athlete, at a camp. Speakers included high school athletes, David Robinson (NBA's "The Admiral"), pastor Dr. Tony Evens, Tamika Catchings (WNBA star), Jim Daly (Focus on the Family)...even comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Time after time, speakers encouraged us to remain faithful to our calling and to recognize that through all of our efforts and challenges, God is faithfully winning souls for Christ.
If this is true across the country and around the world, it is most certainly true in Minnesota. As you read these stories about the impact of FCA in this newsletter, give thanks to the Lord for what he is doing. And remember that the stories we hear and read are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of what God is doing we will never know about - but God does! "Salvation belongs to the Lord," (Psalm 3:8).
Thank you for being our partners as we do our part. Continue to pray for our staff, coaches and student leaders. Together we seek to impact the world for Jesus Christ. And then we will trust the Lord for the results because, "you just never know..."

Glenn Martin signature
   Minnesota State Director
 
FCA WINTER BLITZ
College Retreat - January 2015

As more than 65 college students arrived at the YMCA Camp in St. Croix, Hudson WI for the annual FCA Winter Blitz Retreat (formerly known as The College Classic), David Melms, FCA college ministry staff, was pleased to see a new face in the crowd...more evidence that college students were reaching out and sharing their faith. 
 
The newcomer was a freshman volleyball player from Macalester College, who had been invited by a fellow teammate who had just come to know the Lord within the past few months. The young lady introduced herself by saying "I'm not a Christian, but I'm here to learn."
Throughout the weekend, she asked students and staff questions such as, "What's sin? Where do I start reading in The Bible? Are Jesus and God the same person?" She filled her notebok with passages and responses. She later sent David a message saying - 

"David, I made a goal. You and Matthew are going to hold me accountable, ok? Everyday I'm going to make head way in the bible. I'm starting with the Psalms and already finished Matthew. Gonna keep going 'til I'm done. You inspired me."

God is reaching hearts and changing lives even when we don't expect it.


 

Gustavus Hockey Players Share Testimonies at Loyola Middle School FCA Huddle  

 
At our FCA Huddles this past January and February at the Middle School, we were fortunate to have guest speakers from the Gustavus Adolphus College men's hockey team; John Mclean, a 6' 8" goalie and Nate Paulsen, a defenseman. Both young men spoke at the Mankato Loyola huddle about their journeys through life and their struggles while working on their relationship with Jesus. 

John worked through struggles with bullying in school, his mother's serious illness, a traumatic hockey injury, and being cut from hockey teams. Through it all, he just kept repeating, "Jesus proved them wrong!" He persevered and today is the tallest college goalie in the world starting for Gustavus.

Nate had many of his own challenges as he went through school and hockey in California. He went from one team to the next, being cut as soon as he felt like he made a place for himself on the team. He finally told God he was putting his future in God's hands whether hockey was in it or not. He kept his faith and today he plays for Gustavus.

Students at Loyola were very inspired by both of these amazing young men and their strength in their faith. Through their influence, God is working in the lives of athletes at Loyola in ways we may never know.

Loyola Middle School FCA Huddle


FCA Friends Forever 

Heidi, Lindsey, Megan, Kaycee
Lindsey...
I am forever grateful for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; it not only strengthened my relationship with the Lord, but it is also where I built friendships that will last a lifetime. I played soccer at Southwest Minnesota State University. FCA deleted the barriers between teams on our campus. I became friends with the basketball, football, volleyball, baseball and softball teams. We would support each other at games and together, we inspired each other to make a difference for Christ.

Before my senior year of soccer, I suffered career ending nerve damage and was told I could not play my final season. I decided if I couldn't play, I should transfer to Winona State University to get a specific degree in Broadcast Journalism. It was so hard to leave my FCA family, my team and friends. It was also scary transferring to a new university where I didn't know anyone. 

My SMSU FCA family reached out to the Winona State FCA Huddle and told them I was transferring. At my first WSU FCA huddle, I remember standing up and introducing myself by saying, "Hi, my name is Lindsey Hayes, I just transferred here. I don't know anyone and I have no friends."
My honesty was met with offers to come to a soccer team dinner, to go get coffee with some girls on the track team and one girl just said, "now, you have a friend." I am still close friends with four of the girls today. I thank the good Lord that He is at the center of these amazing friendships! 

Megan...
It was a Wednesday night in the commons, home to Winona State's FCA Chapter. We were partaking in a weekly tradition of our 'Go God,' - a time when you could verbally praise God for answered prayer or something you saw him doing in your life. There was a new girl who raised her hand...new girls usually do not raise their hands, especially within the first 10 minutes. However, what came out of her mouth I will never forget.

She simply introduced herself as Lindsey, said she was new to Winona and had no friends. That night a friendship that still exists today was formed. FCA has played an instrumental part in many of my friendships throughout college, including those with Kaycee and Heidi. 

At a time in life that can lead one in many different directions, FCA allowed us to continue down a path that grew our relationship with Christ stronger. Since college we have all gone our separate ways, but the friendships we formed at FCA are lasting a lifetime, and for that I am eternally grateful!

Kaycee...
The friendships gained through Fellowship of Christian Athletes are incredible. My college experience would not have been what it was if it were not for my involvement in Winona State's FCA Huddle. The community that formed, and the accountability and kinship I still experience, continue to be a blessing long after graduation.


Student Spotlight:
Seth Massot 

"Going through public school is always an interesting experience. It's not an environment that's always accepting of Christian ideals. Finding my place and trying to grow as a Christian has been a challenge. I've always struggled with applying the things that I say I believe. I fail so often-but God shows me that he still uses my failures. We will never be able to do everything perfectly-but it's about God picking us up over and over and over again-and using what we do. It's so encouraging to know that God uses our failures, and one day everything will be made right."

SETH IN A SNAPSHOT
School: Junior at Century High School
Years with FCA: 1 attending + 2 leading
Sports: Track & cross country (captain for both)
Proudest moment: Last fall, cross country won sections for JV and Varsity. I was really proud to see our team come together for that.
Sports hero: Louis Zamperini, the main character in the book, Unbroken. "He was an Olympic runner, who was captured in WWII and eventually came back to God and devoted his life to serving Him."
Favorite movie: Fight Club
Food I can't live without: Brown rice
Something people don't know about me: "I love winter. It's an intense season, and it feels good to be cold sometimes."

LIGHTING ROUND
NFL or NBA? NFL
Cardio or weights? Cardio
Sweet or salty? Salty
iPhone or Android? Android
Gatorade or Powerade? Powerade
Favorite quote: "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of
succeeding in life at the things that don't really matter." -- Francis Chan


How To Reach Us
Minnesota FCA Staff
Glenn Martin, State Director   [email protected]
Ron Backes, North Metro   [email protected]
Cal Barr, Northeast MN    [email protected]
J.D. Bickle, Southeast MN   [email protected]
James Bolin, Southeast MN   [email protected]
Dean Bowyer, MN Valley   [email protected]g
John Conway, South Central MN   [email protected]
Zach Filzen, UofM / Metro Colleges  [email protected]
Joy Gardner, State Office/College Ministry   [email protected]
Stephanie Goetz, Owatonna Area   [email protected]
Randy Jensen, South Metro   [email protected]
Robin Knudson, Marshall Area   [email protected]
Jennie Krech, Budget Manager & Technology Trainer [email protected]
Erik Lofald Northeast MN  [email protected]
David Melms, Metro Colleges/Mens Ministry [email protected]  
Tom Ness, Central Lakes Area/NW Area  [email protected]
Wes Sanda, North Metro  [email protected]
Bob Spiegler, Southwest MN  [email protected]
Christy Vanada, West Metro Operations Manager   [email protected]
Jake Vanada, West Metro   j[email protected]