Search results for 'Camp' (32)
KHYA | LAKER VOLLEYBALL I learned about true forgiveness during my experience at Northland FCA Sports Camp. We all have sin that needs to be forgiven. It's important to remember that your mistakes don't define you, Jesus does, and He is willing and ready to forgive you! I also learned that even when things don't turn out as expected, God is still working! You may be struggling in your sport, in school, or at home, but God has a plan for you and His plan is good! Attending Northland Sports Camp is a great way to learn about all that Jesus has sacrificed in order to save us! I left camp with a closer friend in Jesus and am looking forward to strengthening my faith in the Lord through FCA Camp again this year. I can't wait to go back and be surrounded by people who live their life for the glory of God! JAELA | LAKER VOLLEYBALL Attending Northland Sports Camp taught me the importance of being a Christian leader. It starts with an open heart, an encouraging word, and actions that match. My huddle leader encouraged me to read the Bible every day in order to grow my personal relationship with Jesus and upon heading home, I felt so much closer to God. Not long after I returned home from camp, I chose to get baptized. My experience at camp helped solidify my decision. If you're someone who is considering going to camp, but unsure about if you'll have fun, YOU WILL! When it came time to leave camp, most of us would have preferred to stay even longer. Camp will teach you about a personal relationship with Jesus and show you what that can look like through huddle time, worship, and sports. No matter where you're at right now God is able to make masterpieces from broken pieces. Believe it. See you at camp!
Jenny’s life was impacted for eternity because her brother attended FCA Leadership Camp. Reed Nyffeler (Jenny’s older brother) attended FCA Leadership Camp in Estes, CO ( which is actually where the first FCA camp was ever held in 1956 ) while he was in high school. It was at that camp that he heard the Gospel, believed, and came home to Nebraska a changed person. Reed came back on fire for Jesus (and Jenny made sure to add that he still is today!) and immediately took on a leadership role within his FCA huddle. Over Reed’s high school career, the huddle grew to over 200 student-athletes! He and a group of students who went to camp decided to expand the ministry even further and helped start a huddle at the middle school, too. They knew the value of extending the leadership structure to the lower grades so that ministry would continue at their school long after they graduated. That’s where Jenny heard the Gospel and believed.
Camps are an integral part of FCA ministry for several reasons: They are a blast! Free t-shirts! Active games! Beautiful Minnesota summers! The invitation to know Jesus better! It is common to hear these words from campers as they leave camp: “That was the best camp ever!” Camp works because FCA is intentional about putting pieces in place that bring results. And by pieces, we mean people – the right people in the right places to make the biggest impact. To give you a picture of what we mean, we will highlight our local sports camp in Afton, Minnesota.
Has something happened in your life that has caused you to question God’s love for you? Or perhaps, has God allowed something difficult and you are angry with God? You know He could have prevented the difficult circumstances, and yet, He didn’t. And though you don’t want to admit, deep down, it has shaken your faith. Ellie came to FCA Sports Camp feeling that way. In January, her dad died suddenly of a blood clot that traveled from his leg to his lung to his heart. Because of hospital regulations, she wasn’t even able to say goodbye to him. Her dad, who she was close to and had expected to be in her life for many decades, was suddenly gone. And though God could have prevented it, He didn’t. She was devastated and angry with God. She stopped attending youth group and was just going through the motions as a Christian because of the depth of her hurt and anger. Since her dad died, Ellie doesn’t like being away from home, but her friend, Grace, encouraged her to come. Ellie wanted to hang out with Grace and she loves volleyball, so she came – with some apprehension. She said, “The first day I got here I was unsure of how I would like it. I felt like it was random people I don’t know and a random person leading us, but I like volleyball and wanted to get better at it.” The speaker shared engaging and challenging messages, and Ellie began to feel more comfortable with camp.
Why FCA Sports Camp? The middle of June started out well for my son, Ben. After a busy spring with sports, he was finally able to take driver’s ed and was looking forward to driving. He played his first baseball game, joined the church softball team, worked most days raking sand volleyball courts, and was looking forward to FCA Sports Camp , a fishing trip, and Leadership Camp . Then he went to his first basketball practice of the summer – and broke his foot. All the activities he planned for the summer came to a screeching halt as he prepared for surgery a week later and learned how to maneuver life with a knee scooter (my house may never be the same!). Northland FCA’s Regional Sports Camp was one week after surgery. Last year was the first time Ben attended this camp, and he said it was the best camp he had ever been to. And now, his foot and leg were wrapped with gauze and ace bandages, and he couldn’t put any weight on his leg.
Camps. Tens of thousands of campers have attended thousands of camps since the beginning of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Decades later, former campers point to FCA camps as major milestones in their lives. But why are they such a big deal? They’re fun, yes. Kids look forward to them every year, absolutely. But it’s the transformation that comes through camp that makes the biggest impact and keeps campers coming back year after year.
Have you ever been presented with the opportunity to serve but wanted to turn it down because you didn’t feel prepared or strong enough or ready? Some of our interns felt that way at the recent Northland Region’s FCA Sports Camp at the University of Northwestern . Sports Camp was one of their first big assignments as an intern, and it was tempting to run away.
FCA Northland Region’s Sports Camp – What is the big deal? It’s one of those things you have to experience to really understand, but imagine . . . 240 sports-loving teenagers descending on a college campus in the middle of summer. 43 enthusiastic college huddle leaders bringing their A-game to their huddles. 40 talented coaches delivering quality instruction for hours each day. It’s enough to make Ben say, “That was the best camp I’ve ever been to.”
Previously, we did a story about an FCA Virtual Junior Sports Camp that was offered to kids in grades 3-8. Nine regions in Wisconsin and Minnesota held camp at various times throughout the summer. While everyone wishes the camps could have been held in person, it was a successful way to reach kids with both sports training and discipleship opportunities during a time when physical contact was limited and kids were feeling isolated. James Bolin, Area Director for Southeast Minnesota, is just one of several staff members who held a virtual sports camp. They got the word out by boosting the videos on social media which helped them to reach 3,000 people. Approximately 100 kids actively participated.
“We’re doing a sports camp over there. Do you want to join us?” [Rudely] “NO!” A pause . . . “Yeah, you’re right. You probably can’t run that fast.” “What? I can run fast!” His friend: “I can run faster!” “Well, come and prove it.” This was the conversation between Tracy Monson and two neighborhood boys during FCA Sports Camp at East Immanuel Lutheran Church. It’s definitely a different way to get signed up for sports camp, but it’s the way that brings the most fruit in this neighborhood.
Picture this. You drive up to a large church on a beautiful campus in a rural area in Minnesota. You turn into the parking lot and look to the left. With the warm sunshine in the background, you see dozens of aquamarine t-shirts on running, laughing, sweating kids. Then you see teenagers in grey t-shirts who appear to be having just as much fun. It’s been awhile since you saw this much joy. What is going on here?
FCA impacts thousands of middle and high school kids in the world every school year through campus huddles. But did you know that those youth then go on to impact elementary students through FCA camps? We talked to huddle leaders from a recent junior sports camp about how they have been impacted by FCA and what makes them want to impact others.
If 2020 has done anything positive, it has taught people to think outside the box. People were buying up yeast so they could suddenly become connoisseurs of fine breads, art supplies were in high demand as people decided they may be the next DaVinci. People started working on their cars by themselves, and home improvement stores were packed with unexpected DIYers. Workplaces and schools also had to get creative so they could keep their productivity up. Thousands of employees became remote workers overnight, and students became distance learners. As places have opened up and people have begun meeting again, everyone still needs to be creative in order to adhere to various guidelines like mask-wearing and social distancing. The staff at Minnesota FCA has also had to dig deep to find new ways to do ministry. Usually, the end of July brings a four-day overnight leadership camp at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. An overnight camp was completely out of the question, and no one would have been surprised if the camp had been canceled entirely. Thankfully, some staff had a vision which allowed 150 youth leaders to come together to learn how to lead well.
Endless summer vacation. That seems like a dream for most children. But for a highly social group, it’s not the bliss we expect when we daydream from the seat of our 3rd hour English class. No sports. No activities. No sleepovers. No group hangouts. That explains the pure joy seen on the faces of the 40 third through sixth graders who attended the third annual FCA Sports Camp at Community of Grace Church in White Bear Lake.
You have likely become tired of the word, “CANCELED.” Or maybe numb is a better word to describe it. Events no one thought would ever be canceled have been canceled: professional sports games, concerts, school. Even the State Fair has been canceled, so is there anything that is still going on? FCA has not been immune to all the cancellations, and even though many of FCA’s in-person junior sports camps have been canceled or postponed, we are excited to offer a virtual online sports camp for the first time ever!
What do 350 teenagers, 50 college students, 10 sports, and Iowa all have in common? No, they do not produce a headache. It’s Regional Sports Camp ! Though sports camp has been canceled for 2020, the impact it has made is still worth talking about. Everyone needs things to look forward to, and Sports Camp 2021 will be worth the wait!
Minnesota FCA believes in the power of camp to change lives and is intentional about getting kids excited for camp. Robin Knudson , FCA Area Associate for Southwest Minnesota - Marshall Area, shared her love for camp at a recent staff meeting, and her enthusiasm radiated from her face and through every word she spoke. It is clear that Robin believes in the ability of FCA camps to draw kids into lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. She knows because that is what it did for her. Robin attended Sports Camp the summers before her Sophomore and Junior years in high school. She played volleyball there and loved the experiences, the kids in her huddle, and her roommates. She then attended Leadership Camp the summer before her Senior year in high school. At that time, there was no Leadership Camp in Minnesota, so she and other leaders from her high school went to Leadership Camp in Georgia. For Robin, that experience sticks out over all the other camps she has attended. Before camp that year, Robin says she was lukewarm in her faith . . .