A Moment Bigger Than the Game

Dear Eastern Iowa FCA Family,

Almost three years ago, Regina High School hired a new head football coach, Dustin Elsbury.

Before starting his teaching and coaching career at Regina, Coach Elsbury had been impacted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes while he was in college at Coe in Cedar Rapids. Through that experience, he wanted to grow in his relationship with Jesus.

So when he took the head coaching position at a school that never had FCA before, he knew exactly what he wanted for his coaches and athletes.

Because of that desire, I had the opportunity to begin investing in Regina leading coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus.

That’s where I met Kyle.

Kyle was a leader on the football team. He helped lead his team to the state championship game but more importantly, he began leading weekly FCA huddles alongside four other teammates.

Kyle was challenged to consider who he would pass on what he had learned to.

So Kyle began sharing what God was doing on his team with his friend Ben, a senior at Iowa City High School.

And God began to stir something in Ben.

He didn’t just want to hear about it, he wanted it for himself… and for his school.

So Ben took a step of faith.

He reached out to me and asked what it would look like to start FCA at City High.

For us, that was an answered prayer.

With the support of huddle coach Ryan Clevenger, Ben helped relaunch FCA at City High.

And then God provided.

Week by week, students started showing up.

Athletes from different teams.

Different backgrounds.

Different parts of the school.

Within just a few gatherings, the room was filled.

Student-athletes, eager to listen…eager to ask questions… eager to be equipped with God’s Word together.

Ben and Coach Clev began identifying leaders, Student-Athletes who are now being equipped and empowered to lead the huddle into the next school year.

And now, a school that hadn’t had a FCA presence in years is being transformed.

You see athletes surrendering their competition for God’s glory. You see them opening their Bibles at school. You see them choosing to pray, not just for themselves, but for others to experience a life with Jesus.

And it all started with prayer... one coach… one athlete… and one step of faith.

Coe... Regina... City High... who’s next?

The gospel is transforming lives and discipleship is multiplying.

How You Can Pray

• Pray for Ben and the student leaders at City High as they continue to lead and disciple others.
• Pray for Coach Elsbury, Coach Clevenger, and coaches across Eastern Iowa who are using their influence to point athletes to Christ.
• Pray for student-athletes who have not yet heard the Gospel, that God would draw them into a relationship with Jesus.
• Pray that God would continue to raise up leaders who will boldly take the next step of faith to start and grow FCA huddles in their schools.

Would you join us in praying for the next coach, the next athlete, and the next school where God wants to start a movement of discipleship through FCA?