January/February Newsletter 2026

Faith. Character. Commitment.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12

As we step into this season, we are unifying our focus around one word: PROVEN. We are not building visibility. We are building leaders whose faith, character, and commitment are tested, refined, and evident in how they live. PROVEN leadership is not about titles, talent, or stats. It is about lives that consistently reflect Christ in every setting.

PROVEN leadership stands firm under pressure. It is integrity when no one sees, service when no one applauds, teamwork when credit is shared, and excellence when effort is required daily. This is the leadership that transforms teams, campuses, and communities.

Leadership Reflection: PROVEN

Michelle Carmical

Leadership without God becomes exhausting. We start striving. Comparing. Proving. Performing. We feel pressure to have the answers, to look strong, to measure up. That kind of leadership is heavy.

But Proven leadership is different. When we surrender fully to Jesus, when we choose His will over ours, leadership shifts from striving to surrender. We stop asking, “How do I prove myself?” and start asking, “Lord, how do You want to lead through me?”

Jesus already proved everything on the cross. We do not lead to earn identity. We lead from identity.

The Holy Spirit becomes our guide, convicting us, correcting us, and directing our next steps. That means we respond instead of react. We serve instead of control. We influence instead of impress.

Proven leadership means walking in freedom, leaving behind performance and stepping into obedience.

PROVEN Through Integrity

Danny Spicer

A leader is proven by integrity when they choose to do what is right even when no one is watching. Integrity means being the same person in private as you are in public. It is not about reputation or what others think. It is about character and consistency. True leadership is not built on talent, popularity, or position. It is built on trust, and trust grows when people know your words, actions, and heart all line up. It also means loving the people more than the ministry, just as Jesus modeled throughout His life.

Living this out looks like making honest choices when shortcuts are easier, treating people with respect when there is nothing to gain, and standing firm in faith when it would be easier to blend in. A leader becomes PROVEN through integrity because it shows their faith is real, not just something they talk about on the field, in the classroom, or at FCA. As Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever is faithful in little will also be faithful in much.” Integrity in small, unseen moments prepares a leader for greater influence.

Integrity is the foundation. From that foundation, leadership begins to serve.

PROVEN Through Service

Jack Wheatley

To be a leader in FCA is not about holding a position. It is about a total release of personal ambition to serve the team. Service is the voluntary act of placing the growth and well-being of your teammates above your own ego. It reflects the FCA core value of serving and shows leadership in its most practical form.

Service looks like staying late to clean up a huddle, being the first to encourage a struggling player, or listening when someone else needs to be heard. When we lead through service, we move from being in charge to standing in the gap for others. This is where faith becomes PROVEN. Anyone can lead when things are easy, but a proven leader is refined in sacrifice, showing that their commitment to Christ is greater than their desire for recognition.

In the pressure of a season or school year, service becomes the evidence of integrity. As Matthew 20:28 reminds us, Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve.” When we serve, we reflect His heart and build a culture of trust, teamwork, and excellence.

PROVEN Through Excellence

Zach Weston

“We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Excellence in FCA is not about performance. It is about consistent presence and effort. When ministering to coaches and athletes, credibility is not earned overnight. You have to prove that you are not there for yourself. You have to prove that you bring value and that you are committed for the long haul.

Excellence looks like showing up with hope and encouragement. It means offering practical insight that helps coaches and athletes grow in what they are passionate about. When consistency builds trust, walls begin to come down. That proof opens the door for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Excellence in effort, attitude, and commitment shows that our leadership is steady and dependable.

Excellence builds credibility. Credibility opens hearts.

PROVEN Through Teamwork

Brandon Wehrly

Great leaders are not proven by how well they speak, how smart they are, how popular they are, or by any ability they possess on their own. Great leaders are proven by their relationship with Christ and how clearly that relationship is reflected in how they treat and build up others.

Our student leaders model this well. They allow their leadership to be proven in how they encourage and strengthen those around them. As 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Proven leadership begins by connecting athletes and students to the true source of joy, Jesus Christ. These leaders are committed to bringing Christ into their schools and helping others cultivate a deeper relationship with Him through Bible study, prayer, and daily dependence on God.

They choose to be part of a community of faith within their schools. They choose to pour into others. They choose to be a light in the darkness, just as Jesus calls us to be in Matthew 5:14. Through that commitment, their leadership is proven daily as they build up others and advance the Kingdom of Christ in both good seasons and difficult ones.

PROVEN When All Four Work Together

Kennita Williams

Leadership is PROVEN when integrity, service, teamwork, and excellence work together. Integrity builds trust. Service demonstrates humility. Teamwork creates unity. Excellence sustains impact. When these values align, leadership becomes consistent and powerful.

No single quality stands alone. Together, they shape leaders whose faith is tested and whose lives reflect Christ in every area. PROVEN leadership is steady across classrooms, locker rooms, practices, and conversations. It is not situational. It is consistent.

PROVEN and the FCA Mission

Tori Lammes

PROVEN leadership is at the heart of FCA’s mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. A PROVEN leader does not rely on titles, talent, or statistics, but on a tested faith and character that stand firm in every season.

When students live with integrity, serve selflessly, work as a team, and pursue excellence, they point people beyond themselves and directly to Jesus. Transformation begins locally and personally in huddles, locker rooms, practices, and classrooms. Student-led, Christ-centered leadership creates a culture where others are engaged by example, equipped through God’s Word, and empowered to impact their campuses. When we live this way, we do not just talk about FCA’s mission and vision. We become it.

PROVEN Through Mentoring and Multiplication

Courtney Lammes

Leadership is proven through integrity and mentoring when we take the responsibility of investing in others seriously. Integrity is not just personal character. It is protecting students, honoring schools, and ensuring that everything we do reflects Christ well. When we complete training, follow standards, and show up prepared, we build a foundation of trust that students and schools can rely on.

Leadership is also proven in how we mentor and multiply. It looks like walking alongside a new volunteer, answering questions with patience, and helping someone step confidently into their calling. As 2 Timothy 2:2 reminds us, we are called to entrust the mission to reliable people who will teach others also. Proven leadership is not about being seen. It is about faithfully investing in people so the impact of Christ continues long after we step out of the room.

PROVEN Through Clarity and Alignment

Abbey Raffield

This year, our leadership focus is anchoring everything through our website — creating one central, trusted place where leaders, donors, coaches, and volunteers know exactly where to lean in for resources, direction, and connection. Clear vision builds confident leadership. When everything is aligned and accessible, it removes confusion and strengthens momentum. From an FCA marketing standpoint, this isn’t just about communication — it’s about stewardship. We are building a consistent message that reflects our core values of Integrity, Service, Teamwork, and Excellence. Our website will connect FCA national resources with our local Emerald Coast tools, testimonies, events, and initiatives so that everyone can clearly see where we are going and how they can engage, equip, and empower alongside us. Strong leadership communicates clearly. Healthy leadership builds systems that serve others. And proven leadership creates pathways where people don’t just watch the mission — they step into it…join us at emeraldcoastfca.org

Meet Our Interns

This season, we are excited to welcome two interns who are stepping into leadership and living out what it means to be PROVEN. Internships are more than experience. They are opportunities to grow in faith, develop character, and serve with purpose.

These interns are committing their time and gifts to invest in students, support our campuses, and strengthen the mission of FCA across the Emerald Coast. We are grateful for their willingness to learn, lead, and serve. Below, they share a little about their heart for ministry and what PROVEN leadership means to them.

Aidan Smith

Jesus is the true image of leadership. In my life, when I am looking for growth in leadership, I look to Jesus. How did Jesus lead? How to did Jesus grow his faith? And what I see is that he lead humbly and grew his faith by getting alone with God. So, a person who is a good leader is a servant, doing their very best to fully submit to God’s will. And one who truly wants to grow in the leadership will get alone with Jesus because if you do not do that, you will grow further away from Jesus. Ultimately, being a proven leader does not come down to what we do. It comes down to who God is. If we are in full submission to God, then we have nothing to prove because Jesus proved himself worthy on the cross. And he proved himself faithful in the shedding of his blood. So, thanks be to God for taking the pressure away from us to be proven leaders. If it was on us, we would fail every time. But because of the love of the Father I have the power to lead in any way he equips me to. I know my Father will supply anything I need!

Kelsie Hearne

Through the new theme Proven, I see a clear picture of what a leader should look like. A proven leader knows how to connect with those around them, building real relationships with Christ at the center. They cultivate growth by pouring into others, encouraging them, and setting an example that reflects Him. A real leader also chooses integrity when things are hard and commits to being an intentional servant leader, even when no one is watching. Leadership isn’t just about the moments in front of a crowd it’s about faithfulness in the quiet ones. Being proven isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being intentional and having a heart to serve.

Resources That Support PROVEN Leadership

As we step into the theme PROVEN, we are intentionally using resources that help our leaders grow in faith, character, and commitment.

The E3 Bible continues to serve as a foundational tool in our huddles and leadership development. Through the framework of Engage, Equip, and Empower, students are learning how to connect with God’s Word, apply it to their lives, and confidently lead others. Scripture is what strengthens leadership when it is tested.

Alongside the Bible, we are using the E3 Playbook to provide practical structure for our student leaders. The Playbook helps connect biblical truth to everyday life in locker rooms, classrooms, and team environments. It gives leaders tangible steps for living out integrity, serving others, building teamwork, and pursuing excellence.

These resources ensure that PROVEN is not just a theme we discuss. It becomes something our students live out daily as they grow into leaders who are spiritually grounded and mission focused.

FCA Worship, Word, and Prayer Breakfast

Passing the Baton | 1,125 Students Represented

This season, we gathered for our FCA Worship, Word, and Prayer Breakfast, and 1,125 students attended from their huddles across the Emerald Coast. It was a powerful reminder that God is moving through the next generation of leaders in our schools.

The morning centered on worship, the teaching of God’s Word, and intentional prayer. Students were challenged to lead boldly, live faithfully, and remain grounded in Christ in every season. This event was not just a gathering. It was a declaration that our campuses are being influenced by student leaders who are committed to something greater than themselves.

A special highlight was the Passing the Baton ceremony, symbolizing leadership being entrusted from one generation to the next. It was a visible reminder that PROVEN leadership is not about holding onto influence, but faithfully handing it off. As one group graduates and steps forward, another rises to lead with integrity, service, teamwork, and excellence.

The baton has been passed. The mission continues.

The Mission Continues

Just like the message shared from John reminds us, Jesus understands before we ever explain. He sees what feels broken and redeems it. He sees what feels confusing and makes it clear. He takes what feels wasted and gives it purpose.

That is what PROVEN leadership is rooted in.

We do not become leaders by proving our worth to others. We become leaders by believing in Him. When our identity is secure in Christ, integrity becomes natural, service becomes joyful, teamwork becomes intentional, and excellence becomes steady.

This is the leadership we are building across the Emerald Coast. Leadership that is not driven by applause, but by faith. Leadership that is not built on performance, but on relationship with Jesus.

As we continue this season, we invite you to celebrate what God is doing and where He is leading us next.

🎉 360 Impact & Influence Award

📅 March 30

🕡 6:30 PM

📍 Mattie Kelly Arts Center | Niceville, FL

This evening will honor leaders who are living out their faith boldly and influencing their campuses for Christ. It is a celebration of lives changed and a reminder that what God is building is lasting.

What is broken is being redeemed.

What is confusing is being made clear.

What feels wasted is being given purpose.

Let’s continue leading in a way that is not just visible, but PROVEN.

Thank you for praying.

Thank you for serving.

Thank you for investing in the next generation.

Together, we will see lives transformed.