Stories From The Field

In 2024, FCA began walking alongside the St. Olaf College Football coaching staff in Northfield, Minnesota. The connection started through relationship - one coach at St. Olaf knew another coach that FCA Southeast MN Area Director, Jimmy Westland, had been discipling at Winona State. That simple introduction opened the door to something much bigger: a weekly gathering of coaches seeking to grow as Christ-centered leaders on their teams and in their lives. A Huddle That Goes Beyond the Field Every Wednesday morning, the St. Olaf Football Coaches Huddle meets virtually. On paper, it’s a small group - usually six or seven coaches (insert 6-7 meme here!). But in practice, it’s a powerful community of men committed to following Christ together. Jimmy leads the group in prayer and a Bible study, and each week they dig into Scripture and apply it to life, leadership, and coaching. Jimmy recalls a special visit to campus: “I spent a day at spring practice. We met as coaches, ate lunch together in the cafeteria, and then went to practice. It was a great opportunity to be shoulder-to-shoulder with them, to see their world firsthand.” Over the past year, the group has experienced life’s highs and lows together - from celebrating the birth of new babies to walking through grief after losing loved ones. Through it all, faith and fellowship have deepened. “We’ve built friendships through this huddle,” Jimmy said. “I look forward to meeting every week.” Why Coaches Matter Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in a lifetime.”That truth is at the heart of FCA’s ministry to coaches. Coaches hold a uniquely influential role - they shape the culture of their teams, mentor student-athletes, and model what character and perseverance look like under pressure. When a coach is centered on Christ, the ripple effects are profound. Teams notice. Players notice. Even fans and families notice. Ministry to the coach becomes ministry through the coach. Walking With Coaches, Not Just Toward Them FCA staff like Jimmy are called to come alongside coaches - to disciple, listen, and care for them as whole people. Coaches spend so much of their time investing in others that they often carry the weight of their players’ struggles, successes, and spiritual needs. They need spaces where they can be poured into, too. That’s where FCA steps in. Our staff understand the coach’s world. We sit in their offices, pray over their practices, and walk with them through real life. Our role is to serve and support the coach just as Christ serves the Church - faithfully, humbly, and relationally. Get Involved Whether you’re a head coach, assistant coach, volunteer, or simply someone with a heart for sports ministry, there are many ways to get involved in FCA’s ministry to coaches: Join or start a Coaches Huddle - in person or online. Attend an FCA Coaches Time Out retreat to rest, recharge, and connect with other Christ-centered coaches. Engage in 1-on-1 discipleship with a local FCA staff member. If you’d like to take a next step in your faith journey as a coach, click the button below to fill out a brief form sharing your interests in getting involved!

In Southwest Minnesota, God is using a group of coaches’ wives to make a lasting impact far beyond the sidelines. The Coaches Wives Huddle, led by FCA Southwest Minnesota Area Director Robin Knudson, began with a simple question: How can we reach coaches for Christ when their schedules are packed and their time is limited? For Robin, the answer came in 2017/18 when two coaches’ wives approached her about starting a group where women married to coaches could gather for encouragement and spiritual growth. This prompting was actually an answer to prayer for an obstacle that Robin had been experiencing in ministry. “As a female staff person, I can’t necessarily walk into a male coach’s office, close the door, and have a one-on-one conversation,” Robin explained. “But I can minister to their families, especially to their wives, who are often walking through the similar challenges and joys.” A Safe Space for Shared Stories and Scripture The first Coaches Wives Huddle launched just a few months later and included women connected to Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) and Marshall High School. What began as a small gathering quickly became a source of strength and community. “Coaches’ wives speak the same language,” Robin said. “They understand what it’s like to balance family life while their husbands pour into athletes, to juggle schedules, and to manage things at home during a busy season.” Through the years, the group has met consistently, studying Scripture together through book studies and various FCA resources (like the Discovery Bible Study Method ). The women span generations: some are new moms while others are now married to retired coaches. “There’s wisdom and fresh excitement in the room,” Robin shared. “They encourage each other and grow together.” The Ripple Effect of Ministry What began as one small gathering has multiplied in ways Robin never expected. One of the original wives now serves on the Southwest MN FCA Board. Another leads the Marshall Middle School Huddle. One couple helped start a baseball Bible study last spring , while another is hoping to start a wrestling Bible study this winter. Yet another is helping to get a FCA huddle started at Lac Qui Parle Valley.  “Praise God! It’s His ministry,” Robin said. “I just get to walk alongside these women and watch what He’s doing.” Robin also points out how God has used the Huddle to strengthen marriages and families. After attending Coaches Time Out (CTO), some of the couples became comfortable praying together and with their families for the very first time. “They learned how to talk about faith as a family,” she said. “Now it feels natural to them.” Fruit That Lasts: Stories from the Wives Jan Bahlmann, wife of Marshall Head Football Coach Terry Bahlmann, said: “Friendships have blossomed, faith has grown, and the blessings have been abundant. The Huddle gives me the chance to study the Bible intentionally and hear others’ perspectives under the authority of Scripture.” Nancy Blanchard, wife of longtime SMSU Baseball Coach Paul Blanchard, shared how the group gave her peace and perspective during her husband’s health scare: “This Huddle has been instrumental in keeping me in the Word and empowering me to share God’s grace and mercy. It’s helped me support my husband through the ups and downs of coaching with an eternal mindset.” Emily Pollock, wife of Marshall Baseball and Football Coach Chace Pollock, described how the ministry changed her walk with Christ: “Our first study spoke to every frustration I’d had as a coach’s wife. It showed me that God has a reason for placing me right where I am. My faith has grown, and my husband and I are growing, praying, and loving our Savior together.” Each testimony underscores how a simple act of gathering around God’s Word has produced spiritual growth, strengthened marriages, and influenced entire families and teams.

For over 20 years, Fields of Faith has been an FCA ministry program where athletes gather on athletic fields across the nation to challenge one another to read the Bible daily and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. What began as a local outreach has grown into a powerful movement reaching anyone, anywhere, at any time.

When students at Woodbury High School gather for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship, they now have two opportunities to do so - Ignite and FCA. At first glance, it might seem unusual for one school to host multiple Christian student groups. Wouldn’t that create competition? Divide students? Duplicate efforts? But what’s happening at Woodbury tells a different story - one of unity, shared purpose, and a visible move of God.

We asked three Minnesota FCA staff members who led small group huddles for our Southwest MN coaches and their spouses to comment on the heart and impact of CTO. Adam Paulson, FCA Area Rep in South Central MN said, “You invest time into things that matter the most! Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God has given us!” What a privilege it is for FCA to pour into our coaches marriages! A timeout can shift momentum. We believe that a change of pace with a change of place provides a change of perspective. This year’s CTO event was held in July in Duluth, MN where coaches and their spouses were afforded the opportunity to catch their breath and evaluate the game plan of their marriage, making the adjustments necessary to win at home. Tom Ness, MN FCA Director said, “CTO can be a milestone event for marriages – a refreshing and renewing time away or perhaps the catalyst to redeeming that which is broken.” The heartbeat of CTO events center on the faith journey. Regardless of one's spiritual background, we believe that transformation in one's marriage is possible through Jesus Christ. Timeouts are critical for victory. Just like in competition, a coach's marriage needs time set aside to evaluate and refocus on the game plan. Tim Elrod, FCA Collegiate Rep said, “It has been a joy to serve with my wife at CTO. Leading a small group huddle together has made her feel like part of the FCA ministry. We look forward to this event every year. CTO has given us the opportunity to reflect on our own relationship and to name priorities and set goals for the upcoming year alongside the couples were are serving.” 

A message from LEADership Camp Director, Brent Voight:

Read along with us as we share some camp takeaways from campers, parents, coaches, and volunteers that are sure to warm your heart and make you smile.

When FCA first took root in Pine City, it wasn’t part of a strategic school initiative or long-term ministry plan. It started with a simple act of obedience. “Honestly, we started it because someone actually approached us from FCA, and he'd been praying a lot when he drove past,” says Heidi Burger, Pine City physical education teacher and FCA Adult Huddle Leader. From that small moment of faithfulness, a movement began.

Each spring, Arise with the Guys draws athletes, coaches, and families to Grace Church in Eden Prairie for a morning that’s far more than just another sports event - it’s a powerful collision of faith, fellowship, and eternal purpose . This year’s gathering was no exception.