As they went through the process, they were affirmed again and again that God’s hand was in the work. For David, Luke, and the other FCA and AIA staff, it was clear that they can be more faithful stewards of the resources God has provided for them which allows them to reach more people on their campuses with the Gospel of Christ. They surged ahead with the work of coming together under the name of Currynt.
Better Together: Introducing 'Currynt' - a Metro Collegiate Ministry Partnership
Shelley Pearson • November 18, 2020
UNITY.
In our culture today, that word is severely lacking. Division is commonplace in politics, on our streets, and throughout social media. But unity? Hardly.
That is, unless you are talking about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Athletes in Action on Twin Cities college campuses. These two groups recently created a strategic partnership so they can run harder toward the goal of reaching college campuses with the Gospel of Christ. Now, David Melms, FCA Twin Cities Collegiate Director says, “If someone walked into this ministry, they would say, ‘Wow, partnership is key. Unity is essential. Being better together isn’t a slogan – it’s experienced and real.’”
It all started in the fall of 2017 when David Melms (FCA) and Luke Middendorf (AIA) sat down for lunch together. They shared their hearts’ desires for Twin Cities college campuses. “We found out we had a common vision, common heart, and common relationships with people who saw potential in the ministry,” said David.
Luke said, “Leaving that lunch, we saw that it is possible to see the vision fulfilled one day of disciples making disciples on every collegiate team in every athletic department in the Twin Cities.”
Preparation
That one lunch spurred a two-year process of meeting with organizational leadership of both AIA and FCA, building relationships, determining what the partnership would look like, and designing an awesome logo that reflects the shared vision of reaching St. Thomas, Macalester, St. Kate’s, Concordia U – St Paul, Hamline, Augsburg, and St. Cloud State Universities and the University of Minnesota with the hope of Jesus.
Why Currynt?
Both organizations could have continued the work separately and still partnered together on different events, but they knew that coming under a unified name would allow for greater work to be done. It would also reduce confusion for the athletes and coaches both ministries were trying to reach. They are not creating a new organization but partnering together under one name to reflect their oneness in mission and purpose.
But why Currynt? A current is something that flows, like a river. It isn’t stagnant and is always going somewhere. For FCA and AIA, the current builds community and connection. The “Y” in the logo represents two rivers (like AIA and FCA) moving together in unity. The “Y’ also represents hands lifted in worship to God.
Alone, both organizations were reaching college athletes with the hope of Christ, but together the potential is so much greater. Both AIA and FCA have unique strengths that complement each other. For example, AIA holds a college sports camp each year right in the Twin Cities. FCA holds middle and high school sports camps where college students serve as huddle leaders. Now college athletes can be ministered to at the AIA camp and then minister to others at the FCA camps.
Jole Miller, FCA Collegiate Representative, also saw ways the two organizations could complement each other. “Discipleship was my heart when I came on staff with FCA and is something AIA has been doing well the past ten years or so. FCA’s strength was relationship capital that AIA didn’t have yet.”
Today
Five FCA staff and eleven AIA staff, along with a team of volunteers, currently serve with Currynt. Together, they can strategically leverage resources and influence to create a greater impact on each campus through athletes and coaches for the building of Christ's Kingdom. The added blessing is that this group reflects what a unified group of believers can do.
“We’ve already seen God’s hand at work in breaking down barriers with coaches, athletes, and teams where people are doing life together, getting to know each other, and going to camps with those from other teams. That’s God’s hand where He’s cultivating that kind of unity to grow relationships across teams,” says David.
For Joy, FCA Collegiate Representative, the partnership has been a huge blessing. “We all know the value of being part of something larger than yourself. Being part of this larger team has been extremely valuable for me, especially as a woman in ministry. There were instantly 6-7 other sisters in Christ that I was able to build a relationship with. It's been such a rich time of personal growth for me as well as sharing life with them. I truly value each relationship that has been developed over the past couple of years. At times I don't remember what it was like to not be part of this partnership.”
The partnership has allowed Currynt to reach more sports teams and more athletes. David is excited about this because, “I see the joy and passion in student athletes and coaches. I was on a call at 7 am this morning with athletic directors and coaches from five campuses who are doing life and spiritual growth together. I get off that call and I don’t need a cup of coffee – it’s a bolster to why I’m so excited.”
Potential to Affect More than College Campuses
Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed for believers. When He could have prayed for any number of things, His prayer in that moment was for unity:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20-23
The team is excited for the potential impact they will have on college campuses, but it is so much more than that. David says, “We are in a cultural moment where division is through the roof, and this is a bright light to show that the unity and diversity of our triune God is so different than that. The Lord is clearly doing it. That motivates me in this cultural experience. I hope this encourages churches to partner together. I hope people look out the window and see their neighbor with a different presidential sign and think, ‘Man if these ministries can figure it out, I can be kind.’”
Please pray for Currynt to have an incredible impact on Twin Cities college campuses and for others to see what God can do when His people come together in His name to do His work.
To learn more about this AIA and FCA collegiate partnership, visit their page on our website.
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