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Greetings Jenny,
I pray you're having a wonderful fall and that you're as excited about Thanksgiving as I am! I love the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, and generally do a pretty good job of slowing down and soaking it all in with loved ones. However, there is a temptation to get busy, slide into all kinds of commercialized thoughts, and dilute the experience by temporarily forgetting the reason for these holidays. Of course, the temptation to get distracted or overly influenced by our culture isn't unique to the holidays. Election cycles, sporting events, and the pace of life are a few additional examples of potential threats we face, one after another. It's with this in mind, that I encourage all of us to pay attention.
Given the volume of current noise and temptations, we must pay attention to that which we focus on, whom we listen to, how we steward our time and money, and where our ultimate allegiance lies. We must pay constant attention to our source of truth, hope, purpose, and joy. We must pay attention to the LORD, His Word, and His will; despite the constant barrage encouraging us to ignore all three.
It's interesting, and perhaps a bit tragic how often the Bible reminds us to not forget the LORD, to remember Jesus and the Gospel, to hold tight to that which we have received, to fear and worship the LORD, and to follow Jesus without distraction. And, this was all written before the invention of the smartphone, 24/7 news feeds, social media, and a marketing world that does not sleep. The challenge was real in the Old Testament, during the first century, and it continues today. To remain faithful requires intentionality, discipline, and faithfulness in each moment. It requires paying attention.
As you begin this sweet season of celebration, I invite you to take a quick inventory of where your attention lies and any adjustments you may need to make. What voices do you need to mute? Which spiritual disciplines need a little attention? Who do you need to spend more time with? Do you need to serve more, rest more, worship more, etc.? As you pay attention and make any needed adjustments, may you be protected from compromises (subtle and great), encouraged by God's love and the Gospel, and experience joyful worship through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and beyond. For God's Glory!
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106 Northland Staff
For the past year'ish, I've been praying and projecting that Northland FCA could hit 100 staff for the first time ever by the end of last fiscal year (Aug 31). While we didn't quite hit that (98), it came soon after. On September 18, Lindsey Voeltz was hired as a Jamestown, ND Area Rep, and the Northland celebrated this significant milestone. Since then, we've hired a few more and currently sit at 106 staff! While staffing and ministry impact are not linear, with each hire we make, more coaches, athletes, teams, campuses, families, and communities have the opportunity to follow Jesus more closely. We celebrate this growth and pray for increasing impact in the coming year - through our current and future staff team, as well as everyone the will engage, equip, and empower to make disciples of Jesus through sport!
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New staff are introduced and celebrated at this year's all-staff Gathering (see below). | |
Northland Gathering
Each fall, our Northland staff come together for a few days of worship, training, fellowship, and fun. Staff are poured into, encouraged, and given development opportunities. This year, a beloved longtime friend and mentor joined us to help our staff grow in evangelism. Lincoln Murdoch is a pastor, church planter, ministry leader, and current Executive Director of Step Up to Life ministries (SUTL). He is also an age-group national champion triathlete and faithful partner of FCA's. He did a fantastic job investing in our staff, helping us sharpen our abilities to effectively share the Gospel. Staff also had the opportunity to discuss and hone role-specific skills. Plenty of playtime, worship, and fellowship rounded out the experience. It was a fantastic event and highlight for many on our team. As an added personal bonus, with Suzanne joining staff, she was able to join me for the first time, and it was fun to share this experience with her.
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Student-Leader Discipleship Group
For the past few years, Suzanne and I have been blessed to invest in a number of Canton student athletes, helping them grow as disciples and disciple makers. We have launched the '24-'25 class with 15 students, including three middle schoolers. We meet in our home every other week for training in FCA's discipleship process - E3. The students then use this training to impact their teams, classmates, coaches and families for Christ through small group Bible studies, team devos, etc. Please join us in praying for them. Click here to check out a brief promo video on E3..
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Northland Talent Advancement | |
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New Staff:
- Allison Haas - SD FCA Sports Admin
- Amanda Roth - MN Metro Admin
- Carson Sharp - MN Metro Rep
- Casey Frandsen - Rapid City, SD Rep
- CC Holter - Minot, ND Rep
- Courtney Frasier - MN Metro Admin
- Evan Eriksmoen - Bismarck, ND Rep
- Joshua McLouth - NC WI Rep
- Kwe Falconer - Rapid City, SD Rep
- Lindsey Voeltz - Jamestown, ND Rep
- Scott Knowlen - Bismarck, ND Rep
- Sydney Samuels - Brookings, SD Admin
- Tate Hendricks - Fargo, ND Rep
- Tony Rojas - Hudson, WI Rep
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Prospective Staff:
- Austin Bettenhausen - Fargo Director
- Christian Mader - Sioux Falls, SD Rep
- Jared Schultz - MN Metro Rep
- Justin Peterson - NW WI Rep
- Nate Felth - Milwaukee, WI Rep
- Stew Morrell - MN Metro Rep
- Z Morillo - Rice Lake, WI Rep
| Prospective Staff have completed our hiring process, and we intend to hire them once they raise their ministry support. | | |
Please pray for the staff above and their supervisors. May they feel equipped and confident for their role, and may God provide the resources necessary for them to minister with freedom. May God's favor be upon them as they Engage, Equip, and Empower coaches and athletes to make disciples of Jesus! |
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Northland Ministry Advancement
Randy Jensen, Regional Director of Ministry Advancement
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FCA Camps in the Northland Region continue to grow, both in quantity but also quality, led by gifted and passionate staff along with many volunteers. FCA impacted close to 4,000 people through 30+ camps throughout the region this past summer! Praise God!
These camps are amazing environments to model what it looks like to follow Jesus and love sport at the same time. The gospel is clearly presented at every camp and coaches & athletes are challenged to consider continuing their journey of faith within various discipleship environments as they return home.
As schools start up again, our focus shifts from camps to campus. Pray for our adult and student leaders… for courage, boldness, compassion and wisdom as they shine the light and love of Jesus onto their campuses and lead a variety of ministry programs in and through their schools/teams.
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Black Hills Sports Camp Day 3 Video | Leadership Camp Slideshow Video | |
Northland International Advancement
Shelley Pearson, Regional Director of International Advancement
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The Northland Region is aligned with the 19 countries of Southern Africa. We have been adding new countries and therefore more teammates quickly, which is fantastic and also brings a degree of challenge as we consider how to best come alongside through our strategy of Pray, Give, Go. We now have teammates in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Lesotho is one of our newest countries, and Mahooana is our first teammate in the country. Mahooana has a heart to reach his people through sport and is training up coaches to come alongside him as they see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. He held his first sports camp this summer and is excited about the potential for more.
Shelley took a vision/training trip to Lesotho in late October and is excited about the opportunity to partner with Mahooana in his ministry. Please pray for the Lord to do amazing things in Lesotho!
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We have had a wonderful, but different fall. Per the norm, there was a lot of football. Micah played flag, Daniel played his first year of middle school tackle, and John played for the high school. John got a number of varsity snaps, and when they moved him from center to tight end, he picked his older brother's old number. It was fun to root for 86 again! I was blessed to serve as the varsity chaplain and continue to cherish those relationships and this opportunity. As for the different part of our fall... Elijah is now 75 minutes up the road at South Dakota State University. HIs college adventure is off to a great start, but we miss him daily. He's rooming with a high school friend, and they are already plugged-in with a local church and student ministry. He is also lifting weights and eating a lot, trying to pack on some significant muscle. Daniel played the White Rabbit in the middle school musical, Alice in Wonderland, and did a fantastic job. John got to share his testimony at a local FCA Fields of Faith and was recently inducted into the National Honor Society. We kicked off the fall by attending a local Christian Music Festival together. While Suzanne misses many relationships from teaching, she is loving her new role with FCA! It has certainly been fun to partner with her in ministry on a daily basis.
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As always, we give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who partners with us in ministry through prayer and financial support. FCA is a team ministry, and we are so grateful for your partnership in the Lord's work! | |
Would you kickstart our year-end funding efforts by making a generous gift today? | | | | | |
