FCA Winter Leadership Retreat

FCA Cobb county has been doing this leadership 

retreat at the Winshape Center for over 10 years! 

This retreat targets leaders from Cobb county and seeks to equip

them to reach their campus' for Jesus!

125 middle & high school students attended.

We had a senior pastor that came from Orlando to speak to the kids. 

We also had a great band lead worship. Some kids jumped right in, others were asking themselves what they signed up for! But oh how hearts were changed as the weekend carried on...

We spent the last night around a bonfire where students would 

should their testimonies as they felt led. I was shocked with 

the amount of pain these kids have felt at such a young age! 

Some of them have really had to grow up fast. 

Several talked about their experience of suicide within their family and close friends.

<--One high school boys cabin was particularly transformed -->

At the last group meeting they decided to get up as a cabin and speak to everyone. A spokesman from the group said only three of them were Christians before coming to camp, but all were leaving with a faith in Jesus Christ! Then they closed the camp by leading us in the Lord's prayer.

Lost Mountain Middle School

Spending time with young people this weekend emphasized to me in a NEW way how important it is to provide support for those that aren't getting any from home. 

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:7

"May it be to me as you have said." ~Mary

I was very blessed by the message this morning so I thought I would share my notes...

Luke 1:26-38. The Birth of Jesus foretold to Mary

Have any of the following questions crossed your mind when asked to do something?

• How much will it cost?
• How long will it take? 
• How will it make me feel? 
• What will people think? 

When we ask those things to God, it shows that we value our time, money, feelings, 

and popularity above him...

When God calls us to do something for Him we should respond like Mary did. 

Faithful, Committed, and Obedient.

...I love this passage... 

The Holy Spirit comes to tell mary she is going to have a child despite her virginity. She asks, "How will this be?" 

The angel tells her, "For nothing is impossible with God."

Her Response: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

So often when He has called us to do something, we often only commit to what we think we can manage or what we understand to be possible in our own strength. but...

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE POSSIBLE? BECAUSE GOD DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE.

I know that I am called to do the Lord's work. So often I don't believe he can do the impossible. The pastor said we are practical atheists by living as if God cannot do the impossible. 

"Just let ME do, what I have called you to do." -God

FCA Missions ~Honduras~

Catacamas, Honduras

FCA Missions

Oct. 2-9

http://vimeo.com/16187289

Soccer is the world's sport;
an international language.

New septic system in the villages.

12 Angels

4 Professional Players

8 Former College Players

1 Dream Team

11 duffle bags of uniforms were distributed.

The gospel was presented by action and word.

from zero to four zero zero zero zero.

On December 31, 2009, I received my first check in my effort to raise $40,000 to participate in full time ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. On August 3rd, 2010, I received the donation that propelled me into reaching that goal. I am now the FCA Soccer Ministry Representative for Atlanta, with a main focus in the inner city!

I am really amazed that the Lord has blessed my fund raising efforts so abundantly and I do not take this strong 'Home Team' for granted! While my first year of ministry is funded, I will continue to spend a significant amount of time working to maintain support. I know it will be difficult to keep the necesary support, but my hope is to stay disciplined through prayer and action and trust that God will continue to bless this ministry.

Sept. 1, 2010, will mark my first day of full time ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Many things are in the works on the soccer ministry front. Randy Walton is leading our strategic planning for inner city soccer (http://waltongroup.net/randywalton.htm) . Pete Smith, who works as the Human Resources Director for Campus Crusade for Christ is helping with the strategic planning (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/pete-smith/9/665/5b5). Also, Tom Elias will be responsible for finding board members for FCA Soccer and is coordinating the strategic planning sessions (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tom-elias/4/477/485).

Our goal is to kick off our inner city developmental leagues, Spring 2011. In the fall we will be busy recruiting players, recruiting volunteer coaches and clinicians, establishing a board, and finalizing our vision, mission and values.

We had our Ministry Planning Workshop last week. It was helpful to sit at a table with the sports specific staff of wrestling, outdoors, and baseball. Baseball started in the inner city last year and will serve as a great model for the soccer ministry and I to learn from. We discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of what we do; also known as a swot analysis.

Strengths: The ability to teach a new skill set and expand FCA's campus ministry.
Weaknesses: We cannot be all things to all people. We are only one sport.
Opportunities: Ability to present the gospel on a daily basis to unbelievers, as a result of their dedication to the sport.
Threats: A huge ability to get distracted. It is not about growing soccer, it is about mentoring kids to a relationship with Jesus.

Doing the swot analysis will help me in setting goals and action steps for my first year of ministry.

Most recently, I have been recruiting Women Pro Soccer (WPS) and collegiate players for a mission trip to Honduras in October! Five WPS players are going on the trip, two of which are Atlanta Beat players. We will lead soccer camps in the morning in Catacamas, Honduras. In the afternoon we will team up with medical missionaries from Presdisan to share Christ's love with the orphans. Also, if we have enough players we will play against the country's semi-pro team, which would give the our players an opportunity to share their testimonies during halftime to a large audience. We have a couple WPS players going with us that are not believers. This trip will give us the opportunity not only to witness to the people of Honduras but also to the WPS players!

Thank you so much for partnering with me so that the Lord may use me in this ministry! I couldn't do this without your help. Please pray for me as I will be treading new ground in the inner city these next few months. I will be knocking on church, parks, and school doors to build relationships with those we hope to start ministering to. Pray for divine encounters. Pray for protection. Pray for a confidence in the Lord.

Ocean. Mountains. People.

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit some friends in San Diego this weekend. We were fifteen total strangers prior of meeting in Italy last summer for an FCA internship. This was the first time I had ever been with some of them in the United States! Jen came from Baltimore, Meagan from Oklahoma, Paul from Arizona, and myself from Atlanta. Marlena lives in San Diego and we stayed at her sister's house (who was out of town) for the weekend. We went to Sea World, In and Out Burger, San Diego Zoo, wine tasting, swimming and surfing on the beach, and more! I think of the other interns as family. I feel free to be myself with them. We fight and argue. There are times that I don't even like some of them! But I still consider all of them to be brothers and sisters.

Here are some pictures of the trip. I have enjoyed photography
more everyday and I am actually taking some classes
in August to learn more about the art.

Pink Flamingos in Paul's sunglasses.

Shamu show at Sea World. Look out for those Killer Whales!

Jen surfing.

This will be the last of my summer trips!
I am OH SO close to reaching my goal of $40,000.
Target start date, Aug 2.
It's a miracle.

Beginning of the Beginning...

I went up to Chattanooga for the weekend to see a college roommate get married on Saturday. I was also able to go see the soccer games of the ministry I used to work for, Chattanooga Sports Ministry. I love seeing the girls there and how much joy they have when they see old coaches like me come back around.

These are some of the friends that I used to Coach. I am making a magnet to give my supporters to put on their fridge, so they can remember to pray for me! I always remember seeing the faces of missionaries on the fridge growing up, never thought I would ever be one of them!

I miss the Chattanooga community so much (you probably figured from my last post). It was such a great place to me and it is hard to think I left that! But I am sure that the Lord has me back in Atlanta for a purpose and I couldn't see myself not doing this ministry with FCA. It is truly a God thing that he brought me back here and I am excited to form a Christian community here.

On the job front, I have been doing a lot of work with the Atlanta Beat. Joey (FCA International Director) and I have been talking to players that are interested in going from the Women's Pro Soccer League. It is really exciting to hear these players' excitement about going on a missions trip. For many of them, it will be their first one! We are looking to use their platform as professional athletes to recieve fan's financial support. I am working on a brochure for Honduras to give to fan's at the home games. I will be going on this trip and Joey just told me today that I won't have to raise the support to go! I have a couple thousand left until I will have $40,000. PTL (praise the lord).

We are presenting our strategic plan for soccer to the inner city board August 13. We have a strategic plan meeting coming up and hopefully we will express what we see happening in a detailed manner. Stay tuned. The beginning of the beginning is coming soon...

Slow down

This is a picture of my friends Megan and Luke. To me this picture signifies orginality, spunk, freedom...

Becky Galage and I went to visit them in small town Elizabethton, Tn. I coudn't help but be a little restless in this slow moving environment, but it just takes some time for me to slow down. I love being in a city like Atlanta where anything can be done, but it seems to be lacking genuine community. I would say more than half of the 5 mil people that live in Atlanta are very lonely and don't feel plugged in. Covenant was a great community for me and it is hard coming back to Atlanta and wanting that again. But it could happen.

Don't forget your Roots

I spent the last week in Florida. There were several purposes for this trip: To have some support meetings, to visit with old friends before starting full time in the fall, and to see my sick grandfather whose health seems to be declining. It was such a delight to spend time with people that have known me my whole life. It is a weird feeling to see these people and feel like they know me but don't really know me since I lived away from them for the past 11 years. The friends I grew up with from birth are all in such different places in life. Very few are in school or have started down a career path. Even worse, several have completely walked away from the faith. Countless times I found myself analyzing the different home situations that my friends we were raised in and came up with several theories. However, GRACE is the only answer. It is only by God's grace that he chose me. And I will pray for my lost friends and plead with the Lord to bring them back to Him.

I was able to get some work done while I was in the Sunshine State. We had a few conference calls to discuss soccer logistics. We are working on an equipment grant that will be very helpful. We are also in the process of getting together with the existing FCA staff in the inner city to finalize the strategic plan for urban soccer. I am working to have an end of the season cookout for the Atlanta Beat players. I am working to get t shirts made for them, and we are looking at our international trip to Honduras with them in October. I am attending my first Atl Beat Bible study tomorrow night and I am excited to meet the girls and start building relationships with them.

Also, we are starting to brainstorm who will be on the Soccer Ministry Board! I will be attending the Inner City Board meeting in the morning. One of the topics we will cover is how sport specific ministry will fit into the geographic structure of staffing. I am interested to see how this goes. Obviously a little nervous, just because I know this is new territory and I want to be respectful of others and not come across like I know it all.

On Bended Knee

I have needed to update for a while now! So much has happened. Specifically, I couldn't sleep one night and I was tossing and turning thinking about what I could do better to raise more support. I was convicted that this isn't the way it should be. That morning I woke up and got on my knees to pray. I told the Lord that I didn't want to be obsessing over the little tasks I need to do to get my money in, but that He is ultimately the one that will nudge the people I have met with to give. It is very hard trying to distinguish what is MY job and what is the Lord's job (maybe it isn't so difficult, but I feel like it is). Anyways, I spent most of this day compiling email addresses and putting together an update. Long story short, I stayed at home working and the Lord blessed me with 4,890 dollars that day. I know prayer does not always have this quick of a response, but I can say that is was not chance that this happened. We worship an almighty and all capable God. I am not convinced that we give big enough prayer requests or praise. He can change our heart. He can change our desire to be sinful. He can move MOUNTAINS.

²"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

The picture above is not one that I have taken. I found it on Google images. Do not fret, everything else on my blog is one I have taken (unless I am in it).

What do you call a white man on a bench?

Sunday through Wednesday this week, I worked the West Georgia team basketball camp! It was so much fun and I really enjoyed my time there. I was the huddle leader for the Grady high school basketball team (see pic). At first, I wasn't sure if they would like me just because I am not as energetic as the other huddle leaders, but as time went on I felt that the girls loved and appreciated me. I could tell because they told me so, but more through the fact that they opened up with me so much in a group setting.

Also, I was able to meet more FCA staff and volunteers. The camp speaker was very smart and spent some time talking with me about what I will be doing. She was very excited for me but she questioned my thinking on several different topics. She told me that I needed to make sure and spend time with the inner city staff, although I will technically be Atlanta metro area. She also said there is plenty of money in the inner city if you build relationships and learn about the existing ministries. I told her about out 'strategic plan' and she said, "People follow people, people don't follow plans." She told me I need to listen to the people in the area. To have an open ear and don't go down there to preach. The organized control freak side of me wants to have something set and outlined. But I am constantly being reminded that ministry doesn't work that way. It is important to have a vision, but it is even more important to dwell with the people and learn what the needs are first hand.

I visited Denver Seminary this morning. It was very interesting and exciting to be on a campus that I could see myself attending in the future. I just don't see how it can fit into the plans right now. But I would love to be in a new city and be at a good seminary. I was looking at a masters in arts for leadership. It is good for those working with parachurch organizations. They offer classes on volunteerism, and other things that help you be more effective in training leaders.

Oh, the answer to the question in the title, is the NBA. This is a joke the girls told me during camp.

We Got the Beat

I dont have very long to write. But I was very encouraged and excited after talking with Shane and Kim this week. We nailed down some specifics that I will be working on in my first year on staff. I think this is called, MAP ministry action plan. I will be building relationships with the Atlanta Beat (women's pro soccer) team since they have a big interets in FCA. Since this is the case, I think one of the first or second things we can get going for United FC, are clinics. I talked with one of the players on the phone yesterday and I am looking forward to meeting those girls and maybe attending their weekly team Bible study (this is what Shane suggested). Also, Shane told me that I will be working with him and Kim more directly than I thought. Although, my focus will be inner city, I will not be on staff down there with Danny and them. Since we are moving toward more sport specific staff we have floaters that don't belong to a region because are focus is one sport in a larger area. This made me excited because Shane and Kim know my situation much better than the inner city director. Anyways, I have to go but I am moving along in my fundraising. Hopefully I will have it all raised before September 1!

ACTS

I just got home from a weekend away! I flew into Philly on Fri morning for a conference at Eastern University, called Association of Christian Teachers of Sociology. I presented the senior paper I wrote this past school year to about 25 professors that were present. The paper was an ethnomethodology on 5 inner city girls that I had coached for Chattanooga Sports Ministry. I was looking to better understand their construct of a world/life view. They found my presentation to be fascinating and requested that I come back next year (we will see about that). That night we went to Lancaster County in Penn to talk with a Mennonite couple and eat dinner at an Amish home. It was very interesting to meet people that live such a different lifestyle than everyone else. The Amish meal was fan-freakin-tastic. And the food just kept coming and coming....

On Saturday, Jen Venter and Lauren Beckley (friends I met in Italy) picked me up from the conference to hang out the rest of the weekend. We were able to see another friend, Tanya, that lives in Delaware for dinner. It was great to see those girls again and be able to reminisce on our good times last summer. Then we went to D.C. on Sunday! We really enjoyed ourselves and were happy to be reunited.

Getting back today, I have been reading my How to fund your ministry book on my trip and it has been helpful. A lot of review and reinforcement of what I have learned so far. But I read about the difficulties in being a single girl in ministry. Some families would rather support a couple than a single female. This was just a realization for me and a reminder that I am limited in my capacity due to my relational status, but Lord has perfect timing. But at the end of the chapter he comes back around and says that women are very affective fund raisers and it is something to recognize so that they (I) can be better supported through the process.

I have configured. I have 15,000 so far, I need 25,000 more. If I have 25 friends at 25/month, 15 at 50/month, and 10 at 100/month I will reach my goal! It helps me to break it down this way, and hopefully it will help others as well. So I am excited to get going and talk to more people!

All or Nothing.

It has been a good day so far. I met with Kim Boyce this morning and talked about the details of having a fund raising banquet. I think that is something I should plan for in the fall! I also learned that I need the full amount raised before I can start full time. There are other options, but I would prefer to have most all of it raised or pledged before I get heavy into the ministry.

More and more people are joining my Home Team and it is very encouraging for people to follow through with their actions. I am near 14,000 raised! Baby steps are good.

Another thing, I took from the meeting with Kim this morning was that things will progress very slowly. I need to build a strong foundation for the soccer ministry before I can have big hopes and expectations. You cannot rush building relationships, especially in the inner city. I think I feel pressure to produce results, because I want to be able to tell my Home Team exactly how their money has helped. But I can show them the work I have put into the foundation and such. Anyways, I am glad to have sort of refocused and realized that this vision is ultimately the Lord's and I should move at his pace.

I already had one support meeting today, and I have one more tonight. I am so thankful that people will kindly invite me into their home and hear what the Lord has put on my heart.

Pace.

Daddy Dz

This was a good week, but much different from the last. I didn't have nearly as many meetings set up (5), so I spent a good amount of time making phone calls and following up with the meetings from last week. I have had 4 families join my home team so far! It is really encouraging to have people enroll in the Automatic Monthly Payment promptly. I spent 3 days at the office this week. The first was for a staff meeting on Tuesday. We brainstormed ideas for an FCA summer program to be run out of the rec centers. We listed the different activities we thought should be in the program then researched models of how others have done them before. The other two days were very laid back at the office. They are preparing for football camp at CAU next week so they had little things to cover. I helped them with a few tasks, but otherwise just did my own thing with support raising. I did discover that the office we use at CAU is the building and football field where they filmed most of the movie Drumline! That was fun to find out.

We went to Daddy Dz BBQ on memorial drive for lunch on Friday. It was me and 4 of the guys. I guess I should get used to that.

Also, here is a pic of the guys. From left to right: Jamal, Mark, Terrence, and Gary.

Since I had such a productive week last week I had high hopes for this one. But obviously, I can't sit still for very long and I get anxious if i'm not meeting with 3-4 people a day. I feel like I should be doing more with my time to get the money raised, but every week may look different. I can't make people pick up the phone, or get there money in. I can just do my part to be on top of the things and the rest is between them and the Lord. I have some good leads for next week so I am excited to keep things rolling... Ciao.

Blue Sharks

This morning I went to Atlanta Youth Academy to meet a gentleman named Tom Elias. AYA will be one of UFC's main partners and already has some Saturday soccer games going. Tom Elias is the creator/ visionary of the UFC. We didn't a chance to talk about many things but We did resolve that he was the one that put together the strategic plan for UFC.

Anyways, when I got to the fields most of the teams had already played but there was on game left. Tom told me I should coach them. I was a little hesitant but I gave it a whirl and it was so fun and refreshing. The team was named the BLUE SHARKS and the kids are just so cute and fun. It was both girls and boys of ranging ages that participated. It reminded me of the days when I played back at their age. The parents were watching from the stands and were cheering their kids on. Every kid had proper equipment; cleats, shin gaurds, socks. And their t-shirts said "FCA Soccer" on them! I also learned today that AYP stands for Atlanta Youth Project. I don't know much else about it, but I know that it was started by the same people AYA was.

It was awesome find out what is going on in the inner city with soccer already. It seems as if I won't be starting from ground zero and I am excited to partner with the folks that have the same vision and heart for this ministry. Tom and I will hopefully be able to meet up soon and put our heads together. The BLUE SHARKS were tied at half but we lost 4-3...bummer.

Let's Go

First week home:

Monday: Met with Kim Boyce (supervisor) at 830a, after a nice workout at seven. Then I met with a gentlemen that works for the Cecil B. Day Foundation for lunch. He was very helpful to point me to several people that he thought could partner with UFC. Also, I have an interview set up to see if I will get approved for a 'one-time matching gift' for my first years support. It was very encouraging and fun to talk to someone with great connections and a heart for ministry.

Tuesday: I attended my first staff meeting this morning with the inner city atlanta gang. The first part was very spiritual filling; a time to share about what is going on in our region and in our hearts. The opening prayer was lead by Samira Brinson (fca HBCU rep) and it was very powerful. Danny Buggs (Area Directer) would clap whenever he got passionate during the prayer. I love it, however, just takes some time getting used to. After this I met with Charles Brooks about joining my Home Team. He committed to a monthly amont on the spot and signed up the next day! I was very encouraged by his repsonse and blessed by my time with him. I went to dinner at the Smith's house tonight. I loved my time with their four boys and just the positive fellowship.

Wednesday: I went up to Rome, GA with Kim to meet Janie Jones. Janie's husband coaches football at Shorter College and she has worked on FCA's staff for over fifteen years. She gave me some advice on coaches ministry and listened as I told her about my vision for soccer in the inner city. After this I went straight to Church of the Apostles to meet with Alan and Susan Scott.
This couple spent time asking great questions and really listening to my heart's cry. Alan asked me what my main objective in starting soccer in the inner city would be? This is a difficult questions but as I thought about it, I told him that I didn't feel like I was in control of this vision. The plans just kind of landed in my lap, and I feel like God has lead me to this place for his purpose. I don't know how the purpose will unfold. I know that my idea of success is completely different than the Lord's. My goal is to stay in the center of God's will (Typical of a Covenant grad, eh?).

My God is my God. My vision is NOT my God. That's why my purpose is not found in a job position or role. Sinclair Ferg, "I do one thing, in a thousand different ways."

It isn't about breeding soccer players. But showing the love of Christ through mentoring relationships, pointing them to the cross. Not by Bible-beating or evangelistic tracts, but through the fruits of the spirit. Soccer is simply a catalyst to teach the kids a Christian worldview.

Thursday: I had my first conference call today! It was a Sports Specific Ministry (SSM) training. Then, I met with Craig Flanagen (commercial real estate agent) today for lunch. He had such a humble spirit. I could tell that inner city was not necessarily his heart's cry, but he took such interest in it because he saw it was mine. I also met with the Wood's family tonight. On my way over to their house I was semi-burnt out of saying the same thing over and over again. We chatted and hung out for nearly an house before I said anything about my new job. I couldn't help to feel bad asking a family with three young kids for support, but i'm not gonna limit God's financial provision for me. It was such a blessing for them to recieve the vision well and be willing to be on my 'Home Team'. I just need to keep sharing and trust that the Lord knows all there is to know about the people I am talking to, because often I don't know much about their situation.

Friday: I met with my old boss Jason Bilotti at one of his Chickfila stores. Once again, this meeting went really well. I was able to ask him questions and for advice on several things. He is a man of the Lord and has a heart for the ministry. He is doing so many things for the Kingdom with the money the Lord has blessed him with. Then, I was able to shadow Mark Senter (2.5 months new inner city area rep). We visited Brown Middle School and MLK Middle School. I was able to meet people in both places. I was even able to talk with the soccer coach for a while at MLK. It is SO good to finally be able to visualize what I will be doing as opposed to constantly talking about it. Don't get me wrong, talking about it is good, but I would rather walk the walk. Anyways, I am really excited to work with Mark and see what is going on in the schools in the Atlanta Public School area.

Saturday: Today, I am going to meet Tom Elias. I am going to AYA to check out the soccer ministry they have going on there. I am very excited to meet Tom, I think he either put the UFC strategic plan together, or has good knowledge of it. I am interested in seeing how they do things, compared to what I knew in Chattanooga Sports Ministry.

This is very detailed, and more objective than subjective. And it is a bit repetitive. Seems like I am either an optomist, or God really blessed my appointments this week. If you know me at all, it is not the former. I will be real about how things are going. No worries there.

"Thank you Lord, for the great first week you have given me. I am constantly being humbled by the place you have led me to. I am not in control, but I am able to rest in that."