Matthew Feldick Named Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Member

Tanja Hansen • October 28, 2022

Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) recently announced the final roster for the 31st Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, recognizing 22 college football student-athletes across the country for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field.

“For 31 years, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team has reminded us how to use our position in life — whatever that may be — to lift up those around us,” said Tim Tebow, two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member. “There are so many players across all levels of the game who use their platforms for good, and it is an inspiration to see the variety of ways these young men choose to help make our society better.”

One of those athletes right here in Minnesota is Bethel University senior safety Matthew Feldick. He has spent over 1,200 hours volunteering since 2015 – many of those hours with FCA's Urban Ministry Team.

Feldick got involved with FCA in college after being coached by FCA Urban Area Rep, Jordan Dornbush, at Bethel. Feldick says, “His love for Jesus, and his passion for the kids that he works with and for bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here to earth, immediately attracted me to him and caused me to want to learn more. I didn’t do FCA before, but Coach Jordan talked about it, and I felt as if I could possibly offer something to the organization.”

Now, Feldick is one of many Bethel football players that are doing life-on-life discipleship with players are North High School in Minneapolis. >> Click Here to read more about that ministry.

“Feldy has really embodied the life-on-life discipleship we talk about with our volunteers. He has brought his small group out to Bethel to show them around and hang out. He’s impacted his small group a lot, but he’s also been impacted by them just as much.” – Kyle Fox, FCA Urban Area Rep.

Feldick took some time to share his background and heart for ministry with us. Continue reading the Q&A below to be encouraged and inspired!

Q: What's your story? How did you come to know Jesus?

A: I was very fortunate to have a very loving, faith-filled home growing up throughout my childhood and into my high school years. I had always been told that Jesus loved me and had died for me. I knew all of this, yet I had yet to experience Jesus for myself.

College is a training ground that can assist in how the rest of your life is lived. There is the possibility for a large amount of growth in college. I was at a place that fostered that growth extremely well. As a freshman in college, I set out on a journey to discover who Jesus was for myself. I knew it was time to make my faith my own. I do not have a crazy story, or one big, monumental thing that happened that turned me to Jesus like others may have. But what I do have, is the proof that Jesus was always, always by my side as we fought in the daily battles.

We live on an earth where there is evil, struggle, sadness, and many more things that are not kind to the human population. I often struggled with the overly “religious” version of Jesus. Having a hard time grasping who He really was. Seeing Him only as a mystical being who was away in Heaven. Throughout my life in the last few years, I have learned that Jesus is the Lion of Judah, my savior, and the God who humbled himself and came down to give His children a way to Him.

Q: You’ve put in so many hours of community service alongside school and sports - why have you chosen to give back in that way?

A: I choose to give away my efforts, time, and any gifts that I may have because I knew the feeling of being a high school boy. I didn’t necessarily have some of the same backgrounds as many of the boys, but in the end, we are all the same.

I have been so blessed with many mentors in my life that have poured countless hours into me. My dad, my mom, siblings, and family, as well as many coaches and teachers during my time. I felt called by Jesus to be someone, a friend, mentor, whatever people want to call it, to the boys who maybe needed someone.

So many people have shown me the love of Jesus growing up, and I knew Jesus wanted me to do the same. I loved football, and so did my boys in FCA, I figured I could offer something to them. What I found was, I was changed by them, so much more than I could have ever imagined.

Q: What prompted your desire to mentor football players at North?

A: After my initial interaction with Coach Jordan and FCA, a really good friend of mine, Sam Gibas, had already been mentoring at North the year before me. He is someone who I have always looked up to ever since I met him. He was an obvious choice of someone who I wanted to be with when spending time with our guys from the North.

I also knew that it would be a great opportunity for me to step outside of what I had been used to growing up. I am from the Minnesota suburb of St. Michael and had not spent much time in the cities, and only heard the typical things on the news.

After spending time in North Minneapolis, I cannot express how strong of a community that their football team has especially. The love they have for another is not just a word they say, they live it out, day by day. Spending time at North was one of the most impactful things that I have ever experienced in my life. I am so thankful for everyone I met and everyone who loved on me.

Q: What would you say to a young football player about his priorities and purpose in life?

A: Wow, this is quite a heavy question. I am still learning how to live these out in a way for Jesus myself.

I would start by saying that knowing Jesus is how much Jesus loves you. It is incomprehensible to the

human mind how much Jesus loves us. No one is ever too far gone, no one has ever done anything that

wouldn’t allow Jesus into their lives. You cannot “out-sin” Jesus, and He will never stop fighting for you.

It can be extremely hard to be a young man in America, questioning how to live day-to-day life. I have learned to strive to be successful in all aspects of my life - schooling, relationships, football, and all the rest. I believe that Jesus wants our best. Jesus gives everyone gifts, and it is our job to use them to further display the love of Jesus.

There have been times when I put my identity into things that will not fulfill - into my performance on the football field and in the weight room. These things are great and are a fantastic training ground for growth, but they will not fulfill one’s inner desire for belonging like a relationship with Jesus will do. Sports, in my opinion, are one of the best, if not the best vessel for furthering a relationship with others, and in turn, showing what a relationship like Jesus looks like.

Identifying yourself as first and foremost, a follower of Jesus is the only way to prioritize your life.

Putting your identity in anything besides that, will not fill the void you are looking for.

Purpose in life is something that we as humans all have a desire for. To make a difference in the world. I

think that our purpose as followers of Jesus is to display the love of Jesus and live that out every day. You do not have to be a pastor, you do not have to be a professional athlete, or have a large following or crowd to do this. You can do this as a teacher, construction worker, doctor, business person, or whatever it may be. I believe that is our main purpose as followers of Jesus, to showcase the love of Jesus, and live as he would have lived.