COVER STORY 21 AUGUST 2021 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition do that – but also its coaching the kid mentally and spiritually. Helping a coach realize these kids are not just athletes that throw balls, catch balls and score points. They’re actual human beings with emotions, minds and souls.” Anderson added, “Within the world of coaching there is a misunderstanding or men- tality that I’ve got to be loud and forceful and boisterous if I’m going to motivate, but there’s a lot of great coaches that motivate through their character and their own example. When I see a coach yelling and screaming, to me it’s almost evidence of his lack of ability to get a point across.” During the pandemic,Anderson and his wife also began an online bible study for coaches and their wives, focusing on marriage. “We saw a need and wanted to help them be better dads, better husbands, better wives,” saidAnderson. FCA also hosts coaches retreats. Coach Jevon Glenn, head football coach at Deerfield Beach High School, has attended FCA coaches retreats in Naples and Palm Beach. “I met coaches from all over the country from different sports. It wasn’t just football, which was very refreshing.We got spirituality.We got relationship advice.We got financial advising and tools we could take back and implement in both our football programs and our personal lives.” On the campus at Deerfield Beach High School, Coach Glenn said, “FCA is a huge part of our program and why we’re successful at doing what we do. It helps us give struc- ture and gives us that edge. Through Christ, through religion and faith, it can give you a competitive edge in life and sports and relationships and everything.” Camps And Clinics Summer at FCA is about camps and clinics. These are opportunities for students athletes to develop athletic and leadership skills while also receiving a gospel message. For example, Broward FCA runs a Trench Warrior Camp for football lineman. They are holding a Baseball Camp August 21 – 22 at Westminster Academy Athletic Complex (email
[email protected] for information). And a five-day Lakeland Leadership Camp de- velops student athletes for leadership on campus. FCAHuddles However, Huddles are the mainstay of FCA. Organized at the team, campus or com- munity level, huddles are essentially Bible studies led by a student athlete or coach. They are designed to “make disciples by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same.” Mike Blanc, FCA Campus Director at University of Miami and the Football Team Chaplain, runs chapel services for the entire football team prior to games and leads about 14 team members in a discipleship program called Leaders In Training (LIT) in addition to spreading his time among other sports. “At FCAwe have the opportunity of preaching and teaching the word to everybody, but those student leaders are kind of like the 12 dis- ciples. They are a smaller group, and you really get a chance to pour into them in a special intimate way.” ABroward native who played football at Auburn University, Blanc was drafted into the NFL playing for the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers before he returned to South Florida and came on staff with FCA. However, Blanc said one of the ‘wow things’ for him recently has been seeing the growth of student athletes like Kolby Bird. “The ministry here is relatively new and Kolby was able to go all four years from freshman year to senior year. A star volleyball player at UM, FCA impacted her so much that she said I want to come on staff with FCA back home in San Diego and help to es- tablish something there the same way it is established in Miami. And to me that’s big! It’s very similar to my story.” A student president for FCA at Auburn University, Blanc came home to Broward and established the chapter at University of Miami four years ago. Since then, more than 50 athletes and students have been baptized, FCA organized a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and the ministry has gained the respect of the administration. “About two months ago, I was invited to meet with UM President Julio Frenk. He thanked us and said, ‘I’ve heard nothing but good things about what you’ve been doing on campus and the love you have for our students and athletes.’” In Dade County, FCA has had a strong presence for decades, most notably hosting the Orange Bowl Prayer Breakfast in conjunction with the Orange Bowl Game for more than 50 years. Held virtually due to COVID last year, the community-wide event featured Dr. Tony Evans as keynote speaker along with coach and player testimonies from Texas A&M and the University of North Carolina. FCASouth Florida Director, Jerry Beverly said he became a Christian through FCA in high school. “I was a troubled youth and didn’t have a real healthy home environment, so my head football coach was the one that was a father figure, a huge inspiration to me and mentor. He was the one that introduced me to FCA when I was in high school. I’m a product of FCA and was president in high school and college and went to all the local leadership camps.” Playing football for Troy State University, Beverly worked at Florida Interna- tional University (FIU) and Miami Dade College as a Life Skills Coordinator and coached football, baseball and volleyball before returning to FCA 10 years ago. One Miami FCATradition that has helped kick off the school sports season for more than 15 years now is FCANight of Champions. Held the week before school starts, Night of Champions brings together coaches and athletes from competing schools in the district for an in- spiring message and gospel presentation. This year UM National Champion and Former NFLWide Receive Pastor Daryl Jones will speak at the event, which will include a dinner, DJ and activities hosted at two location in Dade County and for the first time in Broward as well. FCANight Of Champions August 14 Potential Church Cooper City Southatlanticfca.org/NOC August 17 Christ Journey Church Coral Gables miamifca.org/night-of-champions August 18 Christ Fellowship Palmetto Bay miamifca.org/night-of-champions In addition to campus huddles and coaches clinics, the Miami area FCA also hosts an annual Glory Run 5K at Tropical Park each year as a fundraiser and corporate run. They’ve also adopted an FCA chapter in Columbia, South America, where they hope to help them establish a Glory Run 5K as well. “About 5 years ago FCAmade a turn to focus globally with each region adopting a country,” said Beverly. “It really shows how they think about the world.” Florida has expanded statewide from 35 staff members almost 10 years ago to 180 today. And Jason Bernick, FCARegion 14 Vice President over Florida and the nine coun- tries around Brazil, recognizes South Florida is also an international community. “In a sense it’s a modern Corinth… the uniqueness here is a fervor - a warrior mentality… but they’ve kept their faithfulness and steadfastness. These guys are all in.” Get Involved FCA partners with churches to facilitate campus huddles at various schools. Volun- teers are always welcome. Area directors are also seeking board members to help cast vi- sion and support the mission financially. For more information, visit one of the following sites: www.fcapbc.org , www.southatlanticfca.org, www.universityofmiamifca.org , or www.miamifca.org . Jerry Beverly , FCA South Florida Director, www.miamifca.org David Charlton, FCA Greater Miami Board Chair,
[email protected] Greg Anderson , FCA Metro- Area Director in Palm Beach County, www.fcapbc.org Steve Scalisi, FCA Palm Beach County Board Chair,
[email protected] Desmond Cook , FCA Multi-Area Director for the South Atlantic Region, www.southatlanticfca.org Kevin Lawhon , South At- lantic FCA Board Chair,
[email protected] Mike Blanc , FCA Campus Director at University of Miami, www.universityofmiamifca.org Gregg Wallick, University of Miami FCA Board Chair,
[email protected]