Why should I want to? The impact of an FCA coach.

This year’s camp theme is Pursue based off of 1 Timothy 6:11 which says, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” As the campers learned what it meant to pursue God, questions arose like the ones asked by the 4th grader above. He didn’t understand why he should do what God wants instead of what he wants, so he asked his coach.

And this year she’s especially excited after a year of camps and clinics being canceled. While she has enjoyed extra time with her own family, she says, “Coming back this year I feel refreshed and thankful for the time that I do get to spend with student athletes and the relationships that are starting to pick back up again.” She enjoys teaching skills to campers in grades 1-7 and learning who they are and how they play, but it isn’t as often that she has deeper faith conversations with the campers. That usually happens during small group huddle time.

The Questions

They start and end the daily skills portion of camp with the verse and theme for the year. That verse prompted the 4th grade boy to ask why he would want to obey God and not just do his own thing. When asked about the conversation, Huseth said, “Typically I’m a person who needs to prepare for what I need to say. It doesn’t come off the top of my head.” But that day, God gave her the words to say and she spoke from her heart. James Bolin, Southeast MN FCA Area Director, overheard a bit of the conversation. “I remember she talked about how God created us, and He created us in His image…and He is Good, and so he wants us to follow His Goodness,” he said.

The Commitment

The answer made sense to this camper, and later that week he placed his faith in Christ for the first time! When Coach Huseth heard this she said, “I’m very humbled that he chose to follow Christ after camp.” She came as a coach to teach volleyball skills and is grateful for the opportunity she had to go deeper when a camper was wrestling with what he believed about God. She says, “FCA is a great platform to reach kids at a young age and help them feel comfortable talking about their faith. Kids feel safe at camp and are learning about a sport they love while growing in their faith and becoming more confident that yes, this is what I believe, and I want others to know about it too.”

The Difference

While she didn’t grow up in FCA, she was introduced to it shortly after starting at Cannon Falls, and it has made a significant difference in her life as well. She receives FCA’s Daily Impact Play devotional and says, “It’s something I read and reflect on and pray over on a daily basis, and it helps me become a better person and a better coach.” She has also been through a coaches study where she has learned what it means to be a transformational coach through the 3D coaching program.

A coach who is continually impacted by FCA has gone on to make an eternal impact on the life of at least one camper at an FCA sports camp. Prayerfully, this camper will now go on to impact more and more people throughout his life. It’s the power of multiplication and the power of discipleship. Pray for our campers to continue to grow in relationship with Christ long after their week of camp is over and pray for continued opportunities for our coaches to reach their athletes with the hope of Christ.