Invasion by Blair Maginnis

We have been blessed over the past two summers of hosting college athletes in our area and home in attempt to develop them as spiritual leaders. One of those committed disciples and warriors for Jesus is Blair Maginnis. Coach Maginnis (Wesley College Track & Field) now lives in our community pursuing graduate studies, volunteering with FCA and part of a visionary team developing a church for young adults. Enjoy Blair's post (Blair is pictured in His 2008 Baptism at Fenwick Island DE while participating in our summer leadership & discipleship development program):

The thing that has impacted me so greatly from serving and pursuing a discipleship emphasis with Delmarva FCA has been how to live as a warrior for Jesus. I am fully convinced that too many Christians walk around blind to the fact that “we live in a world at war.”(Waking the Dead John Elderege). I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit teaching us through Coach Chambers and his wife Melissa to be equipped for battle, not simply teaching us about being Christians, but sending us out to go and fight on the front lines.

We recently celebrated Christmas, and aside from the fact that the majority of America misses the point that it is about Jesus, I believe that often times we overlook a crucial point of Christmas. God sent his son Jesus to free us from death, and by doing this God had to invade enemy territory.

I love the movie Braveheart. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when one of the Scottish generals asks William Wallace what he plans on doing when he was going to meet the British officers. William Wallace replies, “I’m going to pick a fight!” In the same way, God sent Jesus to pick a fight with the one that is waging war against our souls.

Christmas is about God loving us so much that He sent His son to pick a fight with the Devil. Just like William Wallace and the Scottish army, Jesus came to fight for our freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

The bottom line is we are at war, and when we decide to pick a fight the opposition is going to fight back. Satan is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t care who it is, he will attack anyone. But no matter what battles we may have to face, Jesus has already won the greatest victory!

My family experienced such a battle this Christmas. The enemy tried to destroy our Christmas by attacking the most innocent member of the family that he knew he could get to. He attacked my younger brother who has Down Syndrome. It was an extremely challenging morning, but we knew we had a choice. We could either let the enemy rob us of our joy and take away the day that we celebrate Jesus or we could fight. We chose to fight, and though it was not easy, we refused to let the enemy come in and steal our joy. It was a battle but we stood on God’s promises, prayed with my brother and fought for him. !

The choice is simple; do we let the enemy walk all over us, or do we stand up with armor on and fight? God sent Jesus to invade enemy territory, and as His followers, are we enlisted and prepared for battle? If so take up your sword and fight. Fight for your family, fight for your friends, and fight for your freedom.

In Christ Alone,
Coach Blair Maginnis

Giving is Receiving by Coach Lloyd

Great testimony from Coach Lloyd, a committed volunteer for FCA and head football Coach at Smyrna HS. Coach has been the Huddle Leader at SHS for several years and now offers team specific ministry on campus through the local church. His testimony demonstrates the winning relationship Jesus can provide for the church & community through a Coach's heart and sports ministry. Coach and his wife, Kristi, continue to be a wonderful blessing to our ministry. Enjoy today's post from Coach Lloyd (picture with team above).

Who would've know that it would start with a simple question?

In August of 2007, I was asked by Randy to speak at the FCA camp at Polytech HS. I was very excited about the opportunity. Like most things in life when you think that you are serving for another person, you actually are the one who is receiving the blessing.

After the camp on my way out of the door Randy congratulated me on getting the Head coaching position and asked what could FCA do to serve SHS Football? I told him that I was hoping to have a preseason picnic with the players and parents to kick-off the season. He said no problem, I will contact some churches and see what we can do.

With the help of FCA they contacted some local churches including Trinity Church of Smyrna (www.trinitysmyrna.org), a new church start up. At the picnic I was introduced to the two pastors, Mike Osborne and Dan Lerro. I thanked them and then they asked what else they could do for the team. I discussed the idea of holding a chapel for the team and possibly feeding the team before home games.

Three years later, we have been able to hold a voluntary team chapel for the varsity football team before every game home and away. This chapel is lead by Pastor Mike voluntarily enabling players and coaches to attend. After the chapel is over the entire team has dinner together provided by Trinity Church of Smyrna families or Chick-Fil-A Dover Mall, thank you to Mary and Chris Johnson.

This is an unbelievable opportunity provided by our Lord. The visible blessings are evident when you have players in chapel or the faces of the players when the meal is provided. The blessings that will later be realized are unknown, but through this experience God's Glory will shine.

The presence of God in our program has been tremendous and encouraging. At times when I think things are tough in regards to football I will get an email from Randy or the daily devotional from FCA (fca.org) and those words are so encouraging and uplifting. It is helpful to be reminded that God has a plan for me and right now his plan is for me to lead this program as Christ would and I know I have the support of FCA, Randy and Trinity Church of Smyrna.

Coach Clay Lloyd
Head Football Coach Smyrna HS

Nothing is too big for God by Coach Dana Shelton

Dana Shelton was commissioned at our 2009 Legacy Builder Coaches Conference, coaches football at Lake Forest HS and is the FCA Huddle Leader for Woodbridge HS. Enjoy Coach Shelton's post (pictured left with Eagles center Jamaal Jackson at the FCA Super Bowl Breakfast):

Woodbridge High School includes Bridgeville, Greenwood, and Farmington. Small towns located in the small state of Delaware. However, we know that nothing is too small or too big for our God to handle. God has truly blessed our FCA huddle group. We have four student leaders who do an outstanding job leading our devotions. Jere Hudson, Taylor Patterson, Thomas Jefferson, and Xavier Seymore are committed and dedicated to FCA. We meet every Friday at 7:45 a.m. during breakfast. We have also consistently had prayer meetings on Monday mornings.

Several years ago, seven to twelve students would attend our huddle meetings. Last year, we had a steady group of twelve who would attend on a regular basis. I called them “The Twelve”. During this school year, we have grown to over 30 students participating in our huddle group. It is a blessing to see these students on the battlefield for the Lord. Our huddle includes members of the football team, cheerleaders, girl’s field hockey, girl’s basketball, and boy’s soccer.

We were blessed with a new football coach this year at Woodbridge and many students who did not play in previous years saw an opportunity to come out for the team. During this time, many of the football players were encouraged to join the Woodbridge High School FCA. The majority of those players continued to come to our huddle meetings and give praises and thanks to the Lord. What a testimony to the character of these young people. Many of our athletes know that they will not be judged by wins and losses in the final outcome.

It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures. Jeremiah 29:11 which says “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” As long as these students have hope, they will reap the rewards today and in heaven. We give all of the honor and glory to God for what he has done at Woodbridge. I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Robin Sturgeon for her continued encouragement to the ministry.


God Bless
Dana Shelton

Eternal Impact by Coach Outten Milford High School

We met Coach Ken Outten about two years ago at a Coaches Legacy Builders study at Calvary Wesleyan Church. After completion of the Legacy Builder study, Coach Outten began hosting the FCA Huddle as well as a Coaches Bible study in his room at Milford HS (MHS and Lake Forest HS Huddles pictured at left for combined fund raiser for their Huddles). We are grateful for his intentional pursuit to grow as a leader and his availability to serve for Jesus. Enjoy Coach Outten's post:

The Milford HS Huddle has been running 30+ athletes weekly for the entire fall sports season. Many of our athletes are in season presently, but attendance is still great! Students have been reaching out and every week, we are getting new members.

The students leading the huddle have been such a blessing. One girl claimed a couple of weeks ago that the Bible study touched her and she felt God was speaking to her as she felt conviction. She went to church that next Sunday and stayed after to talk with her Pastor. She asked him to pray with her as she was ready to accept Jesus Christ (for more info about accepting Christ visit: http://www.morethanwinning.org)

Currently, our huddle has adopted a family for Christmas. Students have been bringing in items to donate to a needy family. A day or two ago, one of my students came to me and asked if her mother could buy our family (huddle adopt-a-family) dinner. Since they needed items like sock, underwear and dish soap, they also might need to have Christmas dinner. I told the student it would be a wonderful thing.... Last week we wrapped some of the presents for the family. After wrapping them, the huddle prayed over them and asked God to bless the family and have his love be felt and seen.

Jesus is making a difference and impact on the Milford HS campus through student athletes!

Merry Christmas,
Coach Outten

All Things Are Possible by Chris Kenton

Todays entry is from Chris Kenton (seated on right receiving gatorade bath) Lake Forest FCA Multi-Campus Leader.

Almost three years ago, I remember Randy coming into Lake Forest HS to meet with me about starting a F.C.A. huddle at our high school. I remember thinking after he left, "that man is crazy." I didn't think it was possible to spend time in prayer with kids, or pass out Bibles. I never thought I would ever see our football team pray with their opponents on the 50 yard line after every game at a public high school. Three years later I realized that through God, all things are possible.

I remember that first summer, I coached the cross country runners at the local F.C.A. Power Camp. I only had two runners sign up, and one of them was my own daughter. The first day, neither girl could run a 1/2 mile without walking.

So, we set some goals. I told both girls that if they could break 8 minutes in the mile run by the end of the week, they could dump a Gatorade cooler full of water on top of my head. By Wednesday of that week, they were running a mile without walking.

On Friday, we had our big time trial. My daughter not only broke 8 minutes that day, she broke the 7 minute mark. She ran it in 6 minutes and 57 seconds. As she crossed the finish line, I remember picking her up and swirling her around in celebration. In fact, my mother was there and got a picture of it that I will always cherish.

The greatest thing about that event was this...I asked my daughter Jessalynn how she did it. Her response: "Dad, every time I got tired, and every time I didn't think I could take another step, I just thought of that verse that you told us on Monday that said 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' and it kept me going.

That verse still holds true today. The only reason that I'm able to pray with students, and give them Bibles, and see the teams pray on the 50 (which we did after every game this year) is because God makes it possible. Those things are not happening at Lake Forest because of anything I did, they are all happening because God is making them happen.

F.C.A. has tremendously impacted me and my family. I'm glad God told me that Randy wasn't crazy!

Still in His grip,

Chris Kenton
Lake Forest FCA

After God's Heart by Danielle Hines

Danielle Hines (second from left in picture) was a three year Delmarva FCA campus representative, she completed our summer internship in 2008 and served with the FCA National Cheerleading Ministry last year. She has grown in Jesus in amazing ways and continues to. Her FCA peers affectionately call her "Momma D" as a result of her leadership ability. We look forward to her joining our leadership program again next summer. Enjoy her update of what God is doing in her life.

This semester I transferred down to Lakeland, FL to finish out my schooling at a Christian school that I’ve had my heart set on for a couple years now. It was a HUGE blessing that I was even able to come because in this economy it’s hard to pay for college much less a private college. So that was blessing #1.

Once here I realized how different life was going to be away from my family. I no longer was around them every day and wouldn’t be seeing them for at least two months. I was no longer competing or coaching athletically. I was living with a group of girls that I didn’t know and at a campus where I didn’t know anyone either. But God has blessed me with such a great surrounding of godly peers, which is what I have prayed for the last year.

As I began the school year and went to chapels, I would wake up some mornings and just say to myself, this is real right? God is so good! He knows the desires of my heart and when I follow Him, He blesses me abundantly! He has blessed me with an amazing family that I stay in contact with daily, amazing girls to live with, and an amazing circle of friends!

Recently God has been placing on my heart to fall madly and deeply in love with Him. I had a recent upset in my life, nothing major but just a stumbling block as we all do. Through that God said, Danielle I want you to surrender everything over to me. I replied with ‘God I do!’ God replied with ‘No.. I want you to really surrender everything over to me.’

So my prayer recently has been, God show me how to relinquish everything over to you, teach me again how to surrender all aspects of my life to you because I am a “living” sacrifice for you and sometimes I get up and crawl off the altar and I don’t want to do this. I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and breathe, feel your heart beat. (That’s a song by Kari Jobe which I strongly suggest looking up!)

God moves in different ways, He moves anywhere and any time. I believe that if we want to see change around us it must start with us. I’m asking God to flip my world upside down and help me to wake up in the morning singing His praise and shouting at the top of my lungs that He is Lord! And I honestly can say for the last week I’ve woken up in a prayerful attitude, I just wake up and it’s like He’s sitting at the end of my bed waiting for me to get up so He can talk to me. 

My God likes me the way I am, but LOVES me too much to leave me where I’m at.

Blessings,
Danielle Hines

Primal -A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

I enjoyed Mark Batterson's book, Primal-A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. Over the past two months, I read "In the Pit with the Lion on a Snowy Day", "The Wild Goose Chase" and now Primal all by Batterson. I have been inspired in all cases. In hindsight, I would read Primal first. Great insight on the Great Commandment and could be a great start to 2010.

In particular, I was challenged to have more holy curiosity (love God with all my mind). Mark writes, "The God who conveniently fits within the confines of your mind will never fill your soul with wonder." Lord help me to find more wonder in the smallest details of life. My wiring to love God with all my strength (doing ministry) typically impacts my ability to be curious.

Finally, Primal challenges us to have faith similar to our spiritual heritage in the book of Acts. What would the church look like if we returned to the passionate faith of the original disciples? I pray you will be encouraged by Batterson's writings as well. We look forward to Mark's Delaware visit for a Mens Conference February 12-13, 2010 (Flyer attached)!

Make it a great day!
Primal is available at:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Primal/Mark-Batterson/e/9781601421319

Life Transformation by Christin Haas

From my discipleship experience as an intern this past summer, I have a greater love Jesus and desire to give everything over to Him and make all my decisions based on His will for my life. The Lord used the speakers at the camps who shared the Word of God to change me by encouraging me to live out my faith more.

Everyday, I want to fall in love with Jesus, and see Him working in my life and those around me. When I have a problem no matter how little it is, I look up a verse and I think of how special we are to have the Word of God in our lives to be able to get us through life. It is amazing how we can read Jesus words whenever we want.

I used to look past this and not even think that I could read the words of the God who made me and everything else in this world. I try and live out the phrase, “fear the Lord,” to really respect and try to honor Him with my actions and the choices I make.

Being a part of the summer leadership development program was life changing and I would not be where I am now if it wasn’t for the experience. I grew so much, and all I want is to keep growing, and serving God. It has made me be even more in awe of God, and has put a life-long yearning in my heart to want to be more like Jesus, and to not go back to some of my actions before I started the internship.

I want to be on fire for the Lord everyday, not just when I feel like it or when it pops up in my mind. I want to run to Jesus with any problem I’m having. Prior to last summer, that was not something I would have done. I would have tried to do it on my own, and not put it in God’s control by trusting and surrendering everything to Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you; declared the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-29

Love In Christ,
Christin Haas

Move Mountain by Abi Madden

A Little FAITH can move a mountain, if you and Doubtin’!

I have participated in athletics since I was 5 years old until April of 2009 when I finished my final softball season ever at Eastern Mennonite University. Being an athlete I felt that I had a pretty good idea about what a loss was. Going into the Playoffs as the 7th seed and making our way up to the Championship game; knocking off the 3rd, 4th and 2nd ranked teams and then loosing the final game hurt, what a way to finish a season, a career, I thought I FELT that loss.

However, I had never felt a true loss until the day that I lost my mom to her battle against cancer on September 3, 2009. After almost a year and a half of remission, then another year of her new diagnosis of bone cancer I LOST my mom. Nothing has ever hurt so bad; no softball game, no injury, no fight with a boyfriend, no pain in the world had ever been as intense as when I had to say goodbye to my mommy.

The day of her passing our house was swarmed with what everyone in my hometown calls “My Jesus People”. Women from Tennessee, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and all over Virginia invaded my house. I mean every room you walked in there was a group of girls sitting, talking, and laughing.

These however were not just women, they were Women of GOD!! These are the kind of women that Satan cringes at, the kind of women who wake up with fire and love of the Lord in their hearts so intense that you can see it in their everyday actions. As they began to arrive I felt a sense of comfort from them, not because I was physically hugged (which I was often) but because I felt my Heavenly Father in my heart speaking to me. He was showing me that although He could not physically embrace me to tell me that things were going to be ok and that there was a purpose for this terrible tragedy, He sent people who could.

One conversation I had through all of this was with a Woman of God who is so near and dear to my heart. Mrs. Kris Shonewolf was my host mother while I was in Delaware this summer for my internship. Randy and Melissa had prayed about where to place me and where God wanted me and they were obedient and I could not have been more happy and blessed by any other family. Ms. Kris came up to me with tears in her eyes at my mom’s funeral and said “God can use this situation and He will. It hurts him to see this, He is hurting for you and your family.” She gave me a verse from Psalms 34 verse 18 that states “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” You mean the maker of all things is hurting like I am? He is sad and he is broken because of this? YES!

Our God is compassionate and caring and He loves us so much, He does not want us to hurt. As she said this I cried, for the first time since my mommy had passed away. That night I had a dream about Jesus and the Crucifixion. I saw him dying and I saw his tears and I saw his sadness and God spoke to me and said “I have been through everything you have, and I am here!” Without my “Jesus People”, the ones God placed in my life and without him I would never be able to make it. Faith is what brings us closer to our maker!! Without faith in our God we have nothing!!

25 Testimonies of 2009 (Amanda Houser)

Today's post comes from Amanda Houser (far left). Amanda is a senior at Shippensburg University. We were blessed to have Amanda in our Summer Leadership Development Group last year. Amazing to see the growth in a college athlete in a 10 week time frame. Amanda and her team competed in two consecutive final fours. Here is the inside scoop from Amanda to what Jesus did on her team this year.

"Randy here are a few paragraphs I wrote up for you! I hope everything is goign well! Miss you brother!

Never did I expect for a team to completely surrender itself to God in such a way that the Shippensburg field hockey did this year. The Shippensburg field hockey team was known to be the craziest partying team on the university. When all the athletes became aware that we were having a dry season they were blown away by the surprise. God became present at Shippensburg University, on and off the field.

For three months 26 girls, 13 freshmen and 13 upperclassmen, signed a contract for the NCAA, Shippensburg University, and one strictly for the team stating they would not drink alcohol or take in any substance to abuse their body, aka their temple. Never have I imagined that 25 of my teammates and myself were actually going to be committed to our signatures. Something greater than a contract or the authority of the NCAA had taken a hold of each player's heart, and that supernatural power was God. This was just the beginning of the power of God.

The season began as a success, we became 11-0 half way through our season, the only undefeated team in Division II field hockey. The first lost came to Bloomsburg University, the number one team in the nation. Not only were we ranked the number two team in the nation, glory be to God, but a 10 minute devotional was held in the locker room before each home game.

I believe this was the first time in history that a "Bible Study" was held before a game. This was not for the praise of our parents or our coach, but to become focused on God, and realize that we were at a spiritual war. The spiritual power that was becoming noticable was unreal, outsiders were uable to fathom.

Not only were we becoming a success on the field, but relationships were being created through something greater than a night of case races or flip cup. God created a team willing to serve Him, not this world. The temptations are high at a liberal school from drinking alcohol to abusing their temples in any way.

As the regular season came to an end, the playoffs were arising. We lost our conference championship game, but won our regional game, which advanced our team into the NCAA Final Four Tournament. Never have we prayed as a WHOLE team before a game, but this vision became true. There were microphones, webcams, and television cameras everywhere focused on the Shippensburg Field Hockey Team. Before our first game at the Final Four, Jamie Doughty and myself asked if anyone wanted to pray, and the entire team walked over, arms around each other and we prayed; we prayed as if no one was watching, but the whole nation was.

This has nothing to do with Shippensburg Field Hockey, the university, our coach, Jamie Doughty (middle of picture above) or myself, but it had everything to do with God. The success on the field was not what we were concerned on, but how God had triggered something deep within each player, whether they knew God or not, they became aware of Him and knew He was present.

We lost that Final Four game, but God won, He always does."

Second Chances ( by Nick Richmond)

The opportunity to have a second chance is a great thing. Recently, we saw two excellent examples of players being able to embrace this opportunity. The first when the Philadelphia 76ers re-signed long time franchise player Allen Iverson. Iverson had been traveling around the league for the past five seasons or so since his not so friendly break up with the organization. He is a player who had a lot of baggage during his tenure in Philly, but aside from all that yesterday at his press conference was a great moment. The conference was filled with joyful emotion expressed by Allen from the chance to come back to the city that gave him his start.

The Second story of second chances came during the Oregon vs. Oregon State NCAA football game also known as “The Civil War”. LeGarrette Blount, a young man who made a tragic mistake after Oregon’s opening game of punching a taunting Boise State player’s jaw had a chance to step back on the field during in the third quarter. LeGarrette Blount made a huge mistake, but from that point on he did everything that was required of him by his head coach Chip Kelly in order to possibly get on the field again.

This was LeGarrette’s senior season and he was back on the active roster for this Pac 10 championship game, even though he was third on the depth chart. No one knew that with Oregon down by nine points nearing the end of the third quarter. On his drive of the game Blount was able to pick up a couple first downs and score a momentum shifting touchdown. He finished the game with 9 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.

These two stories about second chances made me think about how many second chances that I have been given though out my life, but one sticks out more than all the rest. The second chance that I was given by Jesus Christ was the greatest one of all and I didn’t have to do anything but accept his invitation.

No matter where I was and what I was going through Jesus was there with his arms open telling me to come to him, and for many years I ignored his call. Jesus came to heal and restore us to the vision that He has had for us from the beginning. He is our redeemer and is waiting for us to come back in his arms so we can have our second chance to live in His Glory.

Job 19: 25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.26 And after my body has decayed,yet in my body I will see God

Nick Richmond Delaware State University