Better Together - Greater Twin Cities Fall Summit

Jummy Barlass welcomes any opportunity to gather with like-minded believers. So when she received an invitation for FCA's Fall Summit for volunteers across the Twin Cities, the Prior Lake High School Huddle Coach quickly RSVP'd.

But Jummy was overwhelmed upon arriving at the Maple Grove Community Center on September 21st. 

“What I loved most was simply being in the room and looking around and seeing every table full of adults who are deeply invested in the lives of students," says Jummy, who has led a Huddle for two years. "I think our youth get a bad rap these days and some people just want to give up on them. But people in that room want to see the youth in their area come to know the Lord and grow. 

"It was exciting and encouraging."

Twin Cities Metro Director David Melms has been casting a vision that, “We are better together.” Melms has been a part of starting and stewarding what global organizational leaders have said is the healthiest partnership in the country between Athletes in Action and FCA Twin Cities collegiate. 

"There's greater impact, joy, and witness in trusted Kingdom partnership across and beyond FCA," Melms says. "It starts with us humbly partnering with or joining in what God is already doing, though the default can be to put our heads down and silo."

The Twin Cities FCA staff embraced Melms' reminder and dreamed bigger – inviting all metro huddle leaders to gather together in the same space. 

A total of 61 volunteers filled the Maple Grove Community Center, with another 15 to 20 signing up for a Zoom session on a different day. 

Instead of numerous FCA Twin Cities groups trying to reinvent the wheel, this event allowed for an opportunity for 61 people to share wisdom, experiences, and encouragement, creating a whole new space to collaborate where there hadn’t been before.

Over three hours, volunteers were reminded of FCA's mission and vision, and introduced to its E3 model: Engage, Equip, Empower. They also explored the Volunteer Impact Portal — which includes a background check, mandatory child abuse prevention training and an FCA library of tools and resources — learned about other ministries like Moms in Prayer, shared a meal and connected with leaders from across the Metro.

Eric Lashbrook, the Pastor of Student Ministry at Eagan Hills Alliance Church and the FCA Huddle Leader at Eagan High School, appreciated that the training didn't feel "corporate."

"There was so much passion," Eric says.

He highlighted when a leader's parents shared their perspective on the impact of the ministry not only on their son, but also on so many others, including their grandson, who proudly tells friends, "My dad tells athletes about Jesus."

"You could see it wasn’t just a program — it was a calling," Eric says. "There was love, discipleship, and genuine care driving everything.”

Both Eric and Jummy were humbled to sit with and meet Huddle leaders with decades of experience. 

"I could ask questions, learn what works, and really benefit from their wisdom," Eric says. "It was fantastic.”

Some of the that FCA staff received in the days afterwards was that leaders wanted more time to communicate with other leaders on ideas and experiences, suggesting the three hours together wasn't enough. 

"I walked away feeling I’m not alone in this," Jummy says. "That meeting was wind in my sails.”

This is just the beginning. We are entering a whole new space of collaboration and can't wait to see how the Lord works in and through these leaders as they join together as teammates!