News from the Director

May 2024 may be a month I remember forever! I started out the month at Struxture Academy, where 10 football players surrendered their life to Jesus. More on that below!

My oldest son, Isaac finished up his first year of grade school.

Then, I was able to take a trip to Fort Wayne Indiana for a Director's Summit Training where I was able to fellowship and learn from some of Midwest Great Lakes Region's greatest leaders! It was a great time!

I finished off the month visiting as many huddles as possible as most school districts finished off their school year. I am so thankful for all of our volunteers and huddle leaders. God is truly doing some incredible things through the lives of coaches and athletes in our Area!

And last but not least, we got one of the biggest praise reports of the year. Read about it below!

50 spots to fill

We’re looking for volunteers ages 14 and up who are interested in serving in one of three roles:

1) Camper Buddy/Teammate – This volunteer will be paired with a camper and will assist the camper as needed throughout camp.

2) Activity Station Helper – This volunteer will help at one of our activity stations throughout camp. Activity stations include soccer, football, baseball/softball, and basic fitness.

3) Floater – This volunteer will help as needs arise throughout camp, which might include different tasks at different times or assignment to one task throughout the duration of camp.

Volunteers will be expected to:

Watch volunteer training videos (to be sent to volunteer in May).

Attend both days of camp.

Arrive at camp no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of camp each day.

Camp times: Friday 5:30-7:45pm

Saturday 9:30am-2pm (lunch provided)

Join us at the post-camp awards banquet (lunch included) immediately following camp on Saturday.

Tuslaw Huddle

This past Wednesday at Tuslaw's huddle, Jim Kurzen interviewed 3 of their seniors. The questions included:

When did your first begin to follow Jesus?

When did you begin attending FCA?

What influence has FCA had on you in your time here at Tuslaw?

What is something God taught you this year?

Is there a verse(s) that you go to often as you deal with challenges and/or successes?

Their answers were incredibly insightful and they did a great job expressing themselves.

This week is their last huddle for the year. They will be playing some group games with prizes. The devotional will be from Proverbs and Ecclesiastes about enjoying our life in Christ and enjoying the fellowship we have together.

We are so thankful for Jim Kurzen, the faithful huddle leader at Tuslaw. He has built quite a legacy there and you can see it in the fruits of their graduating seniors.

Please pray for these seniors as they enter into a new chapter of their lives. Pray for peace, Christian community and opportunities to share their faith in Jesus!

Sandy Valley Huddle

Hear from Sandy Valley's Huddle Leader Greg Howard:

"Our FCA recently had Mike Miller come to our huddle and talked to us about the importance of discipline. Not only in our Sports but also with our walk with Jesus. He discussed the importance of being focused and set a time to spend with The Lord every day. Just like we have physical training we must also have spiritual training in our life. We were thankful for him coming to our huddle and sharing with us!

During this year we also had one of our students Adler Hilton lead us in a devotional on the importance of staying focused on The Lord. He taught us that temptation is all around us and as young adults it is easy for our focus to be elsewhere. Keep your eyes on the cross was his message and we thank him for sharing with us. Then he lead us in a game of ship and sailors game that our students enjoyed."

We are so thankful for Greg Howard and his willingness to serve the students and athletes at Sandy Valley! We are also thankful for Board Members like Coach Mike Miller, who plays such an active role in our local huddles!

Please pray for these students as well this summer that they would grow in disciple in their walks with God and that they would bold in sharing their faith and inviting others to a huddle next school year.

Smithville

FCA

Worship Night

2024

Thank you Josh Combs for inviting the staff and allowing the family to be apart of an incredible night!

Great local food (including the chocolate milk), some friendly competition and student lead worship.

Rico was also able to share with the students the importance of discipleship. He encouraged the student to share their faith with others and truly living it out! Tori A was able to connect with the new Smithville leaders!

Please pray for next year's student leaders and for all of our FCA students at Smithville that they would be bold in sharing their faith in Jesus!

BIG NEWS!!!!

Let's officially welcome Tori Atkinson as Hall of Fame Area's New Area Representative!

As of May 17th Tori officially reached her goal! We are so thankful for God's provision!

Please welcome Tori as she begins her journey on staff with FCA in the Hall of Fame Area!

Let's get to know Tori a little better:

Hometown: Carrollton, Ohio

College: University of Mount Union

Degree: Neuroscience

Favorite childhood memory:

A good contender for my favorite childhood memory was being on vacation with my family on the beach in Wild Wood, New Jersey when I was eight years old. It was my first “big” family vacation. I remember my older brothers skipping along the boardwalk ahead of my family and singing “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by the Beach Boys. I had laughed at them and felt so happy to be with my fun older siblings at a place that seemed so magical.

Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, Hiking, Being with family, Reading, Singing, Learning new things

Favorite bible verse and why:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11).

My parents chose this passage as my “life verse” when I was very young, so it has always meant a lot to me and felt very applicable to who I am called to be in Christ. I sincerely hope and pray that I will be used as a vessel of God’s love and wisdom and may be found pure and blameless on the day of Christ’s return.

What has been your personal experience with FCA?

I first attended FCA my freshman year of college at UMU when my older brother invited me. By my senior year of college, I was an FCA leader and the worship director for our FCA huddle. After graduating college, God directed my footsteps into this current position as a full-time area representative for Stark and Wayne counties.

What are some of your goals/dreams for the first year with FCA?

This summer, I hope to make connections with as many student leaders and coaches as I can to begin the process of discipleship. Within the first year, I hope to see at least three more established huddles and to have at least ten well-equipped discipleship groups in schools.

What is one specific way we can be praying for you as you transition into this new role in ministry?

I would greatly appreciate prayers that the Lord’s hand will be upon me as I engage in this ministry so that His Word is taught clearly and His Spirit moves powerfully through both my strengths and my weaknesses. As Paul said, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,” (Ephesians 6:19).

College Updates:

Ashland FCA Missions Trip

Ashland University FCA travelled to Lancaster, SC. The biggest highlight was the worship night at Pelican's Snowcones! It was a night full of worship, sharing the gospel, and glorifying God. They even praised the Lord in the pouring rain!

Thanks to Joe Monteith for taking these amazing photos, make us wish we were there!

New Mount Union FCA Leaders

We want to thank Emma, Meghan, Ben, Lex and Matt for faithfully serving as FCA Leaders this past school year! (picture 1)

Mount Union's FCA spends a lot of time interviewing and praying over the new leaders every year. This year we are keeping Emma and Lex and bringing on Brooklyn, EJ and Parker! (pictures 2&3) We are so trilled to hear the call God has on their lives and cannot wait to see MU FCA grow in 2024-2025!

Please be praying for these new leaders! Pray that they all have fruitful summers with the Lord and come back recharged as they disciple and pour into the other athletes and students on campus.

10 Souls Saved at Struxture Academy

Rico had the opportunity to share his testimony and present the gospel to the athletes at Struxture Academy football camp.

10 young men surrendered their lives to Jesus and now are being discipled using E3.

If you want to learn more about our discipleship methods at FCA you can learn more here.

Please pray for these athletes as they grow in their love and understanding of God and for boldness to share with faith with others.

Shout out to Zach Sweat for the invite and hosting an incredible camp for our community!

Upcoming Events for Ohio Athletes and Coaches

Prayer Requests and Testimonies

Pray for the 4 coaches and wives that are attending Coaches Time Out in Columbus. We pray that it is truly a time of connection and refuel for their faith.

Pray for the Alliance Huddle and leaders as they go to Mexico this summer for a missions trip.

We are praying for 100 campers and 175 volunteers for our All-Abilities Camp, We pray that everyone is blessed by the camp experience and the gospel can be clearly shared.

We are in need of camp sponsorships and scholarships so that we can continue to provide this camp for a $0 cost.

We are praying for more huddle leaders to rise up for the Fall of 2024. We are praying for 5 new huddles to start in the area.

GIVE TODAY!