Stories From The Field

Hastings High School has faithfully put together a Fields of Faith event for many years. Each October, at Todd Field in the center of the town, they've invited young students to gather and worship God together, stand shoulder to shoulder, committing to following Him together each day in the halls of their school, hear from students whose lives have been changed by the good news of Jesus Christ, and present that gift to anyone who wants to take hold of it that very evening. And many have. It truly is a field of faith each October. 

As a marriage ministry, CTO is designed to support coaches and their spouses as they grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and each other. Each CTO event aims to help coaches and their spouses to: Reinvest Relationally : Coaches and spouses spend time getting back to the fundamentals of marriage, focusing on quality conversations and intentional time together. Rest Meaningfully : Coaches and spouses step away from the pressures back home, find space to make any necessary adjustments in their relationship, and reevaluate the game plan for their marriage. Renew Spiritually : Coaches and spouses will be inspired to cultivate a deeper faith through Christ-centered biblical teaching.

Almost 50 years ago, a young hockey player named Dan arrived at Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU), ready to make his mark on the ice. Little did he know, his journey would soon intertwine with something far greater than sports—a faith-driven mission that would span over the next five decades. It all started when he was introduced to FCA at MSU. This introduction would set the stage for a lifelong commitment to faith and community service. At MSU, Dan was welcomed into the FCA community under the guidance of Dean Bowyer, the Head Baseball Coach, and Butch Raymond, the Head Boys Basketball Coach. It was a time of personal discovery and growth, both spiritually and in his personal life. Around the same time, Dan met Kris Nieno, who would later become his wife. Kris’s father, Bill Nieno, was a well-respected figure in the FCA community, honored with an induction into the MN FCA Hall of Faith in 2002. Reflecting on his early experiences, Dan shared, “My time with Young Life in high school made my faith real and opened my eyes to the FCA in college. With Kris’s family being so deeply involved with FCA, it marked the beginning of a 50-year journey with the ministry.” This journey has been marked by a deep commitment to spreading the Gospel and supporting others through the organization. After college, Dan’s involvement with FCA continued to grow. He began attending an FCA Bible study for businessmen and later took on a significant role as a member of the Minnesota FCA State Board of Directors, even serving as the Board Chair. “Being on the board allowed me to forge great friendships and enjoy the sports ministry aspect,” Dan recalled. One of the highlights of his involvement has been sponsoring the Minnesota FCA Golf Classic tournament for an impressive 44 years and counting. As Dan’s family grew, his commitments shifted. He took on coaching roles, including being an assistant coach for three hockey teams and serving as President of the Booster Club for his daughter’s gymnastics team all in the same year. During this busy period, he took a brief hiatus from FCA. However, his passion was reignited when he met Ron Backes. Dan began supporting Ron’s ministry to coaches through FCA financially and established the FCA 100 Bill Nieno Memorial Bike Ride fundraiser. This summer marked the 14th annual Bill Nieno Memorial Bike Ride, and it brought a new dimension to Dan’s legacy. His 15-year-old granddaughter participated for the first time, raising nearly $3,000 and praying over the group before the ride. “It’s incredible to see my granddaughter, who is a talented basketball and softball player, actively involved in FCA at Champlin Park High School and unabashedly strong in her faith,” Dan said with pride. His oldest daughter’s three young boys have also engaged with FCA camps, continuing the family’s tradition of involvement. Dan is particularly moved by how the bike ride has impacted his family. “It’s amazing to see how our little bike ride has not only supported FCA financially but also helped us spread the Gospel within our family and community,” he said as he shared about how the fundraiser has motivated his brother to prioritize his health and faith, demonstrating the broader impact of their efforts. The initial goal of the bike ride was to raise $10,000. However, the fundraiser consistently raised over $50,000 annually thanks to Dan’s willingness to share the opportunity with others. For example, Dan invited his dentist to participate in the bike ride this summer – “That’s such a great thing that when you can invite somebody to do something with the FCA, it will lead to an opportunity for witnessing.” “While the financial support is crucial for Ron’s ministry, the real value lies in the stories and witnessing that have emerged from it,” Dan explained. He views FCA as a platform where his skills and passion for athletics intersect with his faith, offering a rewarding experience that far surpasses his contributions. Dan’s commitment to FCA reflects a deep-seated belief in the organization’s value. “We have a lot of ways we can spend our time and money,” said Dan. “As a certified financial planner who works with investments, I’ve always felt like I want to put my money where there is value. As a value-investor, it’s never been hard to send money to FCA because I see it as so effective in a subset of the world that I love – athletics. I feel like FCA works.” Continuing on, Dan shared, “I’ve always felt that FCA is a place where I can effectively use my talents and resources,” he said. “You can’t outdo God or outgive God. Whatever you put into it, He finds a way to match or double it.” As Dan looks back on his journey, he is filled with gratitude for the opportunities FCA has provided and the ways it has enriched his life and the lives of those around him. “It’s wonderful to see the impact FCA has on youth and how it continues to influence our own family,” he said. “It’s a joy to witness the next generation embracing the same values and continuing the legacy.” Dan’s story is a testament to obedience. Through his unwavering support of FCA, he has not only helped spread the message of Christ but also continued to impact his family for generations. Thank you for following God’s call on your life and for your willingness to share it with others, Dan!

FCA’s vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes with a compelling mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. John Campbell’s life and ministry exemplify this mission in remarkable ways. Colossians 1:27-28 states, “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.” This scripture captures the essence of John's ministry, reflecting his dedication to sharing the message of Christ and fostering spiritual growth in others through the lens of sport. Randy Jensen, a long-time FCA staff member, reflects on John's impact over the decades. According to Randy, John was instrumental in proclaiming Christ during the 70s, 80s, and 90s. “John had been a powerful advocate for the Gospel,” Randy notes. “He shared his personal story and faith transformation, giving people the opportunity to understand the message of the Gospel.” John was a cornerstone of FCA’s speaker bureau during that time, where retired athletes and college coaches would visit schools, churches, and communities to share the message of Jesus. John’s ability to connect with people in an authentic and relatable manner made him one of FCA's most trusted speakers. At the end of each engagement, John would emphasize the importance of FCA’s mission and encourage his audience to engage with FCA’s resources to empower their communities. John’s commitment to FCA opened doors that might have otherwise remained closed. His speaking engagements not only introduced FCA to new audiences but also provided valuable connections to individuals interested in learning more about the ministry. Randy Jensen recounts how John also personally engaged with him, inviting him to join in his speaking engagements across the state. “John rubbed off on me,” Randy shares. “We had great conversations about walking with Jesus and dealing with trials. He became a role model for me, demonstrating how to live out one’s faith boldly.” When asked where it all began, John credits his wife for introducing him to Jesus, noting that her involvement in a Bible study and encouragement led him to explore his own faith. When she left for Bible study, John would open his own Bible and read. Reflecting on that time he said, “Boy, some of that made pretty good sense!” It became prevalent that alcohol was an issue for John and he eventually asked his wife to pray with him. That was the last drink he ever had. And, it was at that time that he said, “I knew just enough to hear God say, ‘Don’t keep this a secret. Tell people.’” He knew immediately that he would use football as an avenue to share about Jesus. “That’s why I’ve been gifted enough to speak to people about our God that loves all of us,” John says. “My life is so much better now. I am proud to be a Christian, a member of the church of God, and a supporter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. They’ve given me a platform to spread the Gospel, and I’ll be forever grateful.” Thank you, John, for your many years of ministry expanding the kingdom by faithfully serving and sharing the Gospel as well as creating awareness and growing the ministry of FCA as well! God has used you in wonderful ways and we are blessed because of it! 

It was just after the summer of ’69, and Dukes Knutson was stepping into a new chapter of his life at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Little did he know that a simple discovery in the athletic building would set him on a path that would profoundly shape his life and the lives of many others. While exploring the campus, Dukes stumbled upon an issue of "Sharing the Victory," the magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The organization was unfamiliar to him, but he was immediately drawn to its mission. For a few years, receiving and reading the magazine was his only connection to FCA. It wasn’t until he began teaching and coaching baseball and hockey in Duluth that his relationship with FCA would deepen. While teaching and coaching baseball and hockey at Duluth Denfeld, Dukes was introduced to FCA Staff member Randy Jensen. Randy saw potential in Dukes and encouraged him to lead an FCA huddle. Dukes, however, was hesitant. He likened his reluctance to that of Moses, saying, "I’m all for this FCA thing and I think it’s a great organization but I am not a leader.” Like Moses looking for someone to speak for him, Dukes didn’t have the confidence to lead the ministry at Denfeld alone. But just as God provided Moses with Aaron, He provided Dukes with a remarkable partner in Marv Heikkinen, a legendary football coach in Duluth. Dukes admired Marv, thinking, "This guy is such a good guy, he must be a Christian." One day, Marv mentioned he had considered getting involved with FCA but needed someone to join him. It was a perfect match! And so, in 1977, the FCA huddle was established at Duluth Denfeld High School. Dukes and Marv worked together, and the huddle quickly became a vibrant part of the school's community. Five years later, Dukes found himself laid off from Denfeld and began working as the Sports Information Director at UMD. Unfazed, he started a new FCA huddle at UMD. The first meeting had just four attendees, but with persistence and outreach, the huddle became prosperous. Two years after that, Dukes was recalled to teaching at the high school level and though he continued leading the huddle at UMD, he quickly got to work starting the huddle at Duluth East High School. He went to the Athletic Director and got the names of every athlete of every team and wrote out a personal invitation to each of them. “It took off incredibly well. We had over 100 kids show up at our first huddle to just introduce them to FCA.” Randy Jensen was Directing FCA Sports Camp at that time, and, seeing how his encouragement for Dukes had worked so far, decided to pursue him further for FCA summer camp ministry. Though, since neither hockey nor baseball were offered at FCA camp, Dukes declined saying, “There’s no role for me at camp.” Au contraire - Randy called Dukes just a couple of days prior to camp starting because his Assistant Camp Director couldn’t make it. “Can you please come and just be my right-hand man?” said Randy. Because of their longstanding relationship, Dukes said yes. “I had the most incredible experience at that camp,” said Dukes, who was in charge of the Huddle Leaders. “From that time on, I never missed a camp.” So, from 1990-2007, Dukes dedicated two weeks of his summer to FCA Sports Camp and FCA Leadership Camp.  Reflecting on his journey, Dukes shared, "Other than the church itself, no other organization has impacted my life more than FCA." He credited FCA with teaching him about the relationship with Christ and deepening his connections with others. "FCA has put me in a position of leadership, particularly with the high school groups, where we were able to form relationships that go beyond the teacher/student or coach/athlete relationship. Many of my closest friends today are former students or athletes of mine." Dukes recounted how FCA’s previous mission statement—“To present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church”—has profoundly impacted his faith and relationships. About 4-5 years ago, Dukes received two phone calls from two different former students. They knew of FCA and they knew what Dukes’ role was with FCA, but neither of them were involved in the ministry. Nonetheless, 20-25 years later, they reached out to Dukes because they were each going through marital struggles. “Neither one of them had been active in their relationship with the Lord, but as they had gone through their marital issues, they called me to ask, ‘What do you think God thinks about this?’ I was able to witness to them and encourage them and both of them are doing quite well today.” Praise God! “It’s because they knew that I was a man of faith through FCA at their school while they were there.” Dukes continued, “We never know when we’re planting seeds. We never know when we’re impacting people.” Since retiring and moving to Florida, Dukes has also become active in another sports ministry, Baseball Chapel. In his mind, “This is FCA, just strictly for baseball players.” He conducts his groups just like an FCA huddle and is seeing the same results with the team he works with, the Tampa Bay Rays. “I’m seeing the same kind of opportunities and the same kind of impact. For example, I recently had a player who I met in 2019 who wasn’t a committed Christian at the time call me after graduating as a Navy Seal.” That player said to Dukes, “I’ve never told you this and I’ve never thanked you for it, but I just want you to know as I head to my first assignment as a Navy Seal, that Baseball Chapel changed my life.” Dukes' journey from a reluctant leader to a passionate guide in FCA and beyond is a testament to how obedience and faith can lead to far-reaching impact. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the difference one person's obedience can make in the lives of many. Thank you, Dukes Knutson, for being a vessel through which God's love and guidance have touched so many lives over the years.

When Marlan was just 10 years old, a significant moment occurred that would set the stage for his future. A Christian athlete from the University of Minnesota came to speak at his church, and in that encounter, Marlan first accepted Christ. “The fact that a Christian athlete had that effect on my life really impacted a lot of what has happened in my life,” Marlan recalls. As Marlan moved into his early 20s, he took on a role that allowed him to channel this inspiration into action. As the head of the Junior/Senior High youth ministry at his church, Marlan frequently invited professional Christian athletes to speak. This approach, inspired by his own experience, was aimed at making a similar impact on the youth in his church. In the late 70’s, during the planning phase of the Metrodome being built, Marlan faced a decision. Six churches had united in opposition to the construction, believing they could sway City Hall’s decision. Marlan, however, had a different perspective. As chair of the board at his church, he recognized the futility of their protest. “I can’t buy into that. You’re not going to defeat City Hall,” Marlan said. Instead, he chose to look for a way to use the Metrodome as a platform to spread the Gospel. Marlan connected with Mark Tieman who was on staff with FCA at the time and proposed a collaboration. They launched the Viking Brunch & Chapels, where FCA provided the speakers, and Marlan’s team organized parking, brunch, and chapel services just a block away from the stadium before every Vikings home game. This initiative lasted for eight years, exemplifying Marlan’s dedication to using sports as a medium for sharing the Gospel. Around the same time, Marlan started recruiting friends to play with him in the Minnesota FCA Golf Classic tournament. He said, “For me, it was a great way to reach out to guys who I was working with who weren’t necessarily believers.” His involvement with FCA eventually led to him and his wife, Jan, joining the Minnesota FCA Board of Directors. Marlan also served as Board Chair for several years, further demonstrating his commitment to the ministry. Marlan’s journey with FCA didn’t stop there. He and Jan were actively involved in FCA Camp and Huddle ministries. They brought inner-city kids to the Northland FCA Sports Camp in Decorah, IA, and visited huddles throughout the Twin Cities metro area. Reflecting on his involvement with FCA, Marlan says, “It has reinforced the impact that athletes can have on society and the impact that Christian athletes at any level can have on young people. FCA’s efforts to strengthen not only the athlete but the coaches is what really excites me about the whole ministry.” Q: How has FCA helped you to impact the lives of other people? Have you been given opportunities that you may not have otherwise had? A: “I was walking through the church parking lot about 20 years ago and a lady hollered at me and asked if I would start a sports camp in Ukraine. I was retired and had never run a sports camp in my life, but she had heard that I was involved in FCA. On the spot, I said, ‘Sure!” even though I had no idea what I was doing. But, I’m a great believer in God opening doors and we need to be alert to those open doors. So, after saying yes, the first call I made was to Don Roberts who had run the FCA huddle at Simley High School for many years and asked him for help. He immediately said he’d go. Then I called another guy that I knew had run soccer camps and he said he’d go too! So, by nightfall on the first day, I had two of my three sports leaders. If you’re wondering if God is involved in something, that answers the question real fast!” So, for 16 years, Marlan led the Sports Camp over in Ukraine and it has evolved into a large year-round camp occasionally working with the FCA Ukraine staff. Amen! When reflecting on his ministry journey, Marlan emphasizes the importance of being ready and open to opportunities. “My wife and I have been married 65 years now and we have been blessed with so many fabulous experiences. It goes right back to us being a team growing in our faith, being involved in the local church, and looking for open doors.” Marlan’s story is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the transformative impact of Christian athletes. It’s a reminder that the influence of a single coach or athlete can ripple through lives, communities, and even across continents. As Marlan aptly puts it, “The name of the game is being ready,” and his life is a shining example of how being prepared for God’s open doors can lead to remarkable and far-reaching outcomes. 

"I came here feeling a little lost and disconnected, but this was the refueling that I needed. I feel more equipped to fill and build up others as a leader and to help get out of my own valleys. I have so much trust, hope, and faith in God." "I was able to acknowledge the barriers that have been keeping me from surrendering my failures to God and accepting His unconditional and eternal love." "I feel very prepared to go home and disciple and be a better leader within FCA, friends, religious groups, family, etc." "I don't really have a strong group of Christian friends back home, so I feel alone in my walk with God a lot of the time. But after coming here and seeing all of these kids my age share the same love for God that I have really helped to show me how good God is and encourage me in how I really need to share this with my friends." "I feel empowered to share the Gospel with my friends and school." "My relationship with Jesus was deepened 1000%. I've never felt so close with Him and this camp has really showed how much I need Him in my life." "My relationship with Jesus has really grown over this weekend and I think the most impactful things that made this happen were learning from Nobles Darby and getting to write and think about my testimony and being able to hear other people's testimonies." "My faith strengthened because I was able to meet new people and relate to them. I also strengthened my faith by how great worship was. Thanks to everyone for putting this together. God Bless." "When Nobles was speaking it was like the Holy Spirit was talking straight to me and my huddle and super huddle definitely helped me be more confident with my faith." "I was able to be surrounded by like-minded people and here a lot of testimonies and speakers go through the same things I have gone through and it just shows how much God cares and I know that He put me at camp for a reason!" "My faith strengthened a ton, I was having a hard time trusting in the Lord and His plan because of past stuff and the speaker helped me realize that I need to lay everything down to Jesus and ask him for help." "I was reminded of how I can glorify God with my body and how I compete. If I trust God will provide, I can play with joy and dismiss the opinions of others." "I saw him move through so many people including me, more than I've ever witnessed before. I was also around people who are at the same place in there faith as I am and even further which was so great. I think Jesus led me to camp because I needed to understand the importance of community and fellowship and I left understanding it. I'm fixing a lot of things to strengthen my relationship with Jesus because of this camp!" "The LORD revealed things I didn't realize about myself. He provided me with the spiritual rest I have been searching for!"

Stepping Out in Faith to Honor and Glorify God Featuring: Kenzie Lundeen, Redwood Valley High School Graduate June 2024