Local Area FCA Blog

How can I pray for you?

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 16:04:02 GMT

When someone asks you for prayer, what is your response? For me, I feel cared about. Someone desires to take their time to lift my name or requests before the God who cr eated us. Just the ask alone is meaningful, but what if you walked by this invitation daily? That is happening in one of our local middle schools.

One of our FCA friends had the vision to bring hope into the hallways. This coach took a broken locker outside their classroom to use it as a beacon of significance. They wanted every student walking by to know someone wanted to pray for them by seeing the prayer request locker. When I talked with them about the prayer locker, I was encouraged. There are coaches, teachers, and influencers who are serious about bringing hope into this next generation.

It is one thing to ask for prayer, but it is another deal to pray specifically for someone else, but that is what the middle school huddle does at the school twice a month. When they gather, they pray over their fellow peers? How amazing to know there are young people serious about prayer and who are habitually going to Jesus on behalf of their friends they sit in class with.

Hearing this story not only encouraged me but challenged me. The challenge I had was, how seriously do I believe in the power of prayer? I meet with many people weekly, but if I am honest, I rarely ask those I meet with how I can be praying for them. If I know how much value I gain from someone asking me how to pray for me, I should enter all meetings with an attitude of encouragement so others may see Jesus through my request.

How can I be praying for you?

Imagination

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:54:45 GMT

In my hometown, the varsity football game was a town event. The varsity field sat below the practice field, which was up behind the fan stands. There was a chain-link fence that boarded the practice field, whereas as a kid, I remember having my fingers clutching the chain-link to get a clear view of the varsity team marching down the field to score, all the while I was yelling for my favorite players. Not only were we watching, but we were active in our imagination playing out, with our youth football and our youth jerseys on the plays we saw on the field below. Nothing was causing us to stumble in imagining each of us as the ball carrier who scored the winning touchdown or the linebacker who forced the game-sealing fumble. Our imaginations were active; they flooded with the ideas of what could be without limitations. We were not shy to think the impossible because we hadn’t cursed by the wounds of failure, inadequacy, or self-doubt. We dreamed.

As we grow up, we gain a more grounded relationship with the impossible because we realize our limitations, but in those limitations, Jesus calls us to be like a child. What does that even mean? Even as I write, I think how stupid to challenge the most significant leaders, pillars of faith, and adults who have seen a lot of life to be and imagine like children. But we need to return to the innocence of our youth. We must return to a time when we were not restricted by what we know but instead released into the infinite imagination space of God’s power. Our imagination will forever be capped by our perspective of the impossible. Let us return to the point when we trusted God to show up because we were not yet discouraged by the unanswered prayer. Once more, let us rejoice in the ability to play without worry because we haven’t been carrying the heavy yoke of responsibility for so long.

Where does my imagination go? It will and continue to battle the negative thoughts that New York is a spiritual desert. If we allow our imagination to wander and ponder the question, ‘what is the best that could happen?’ Does your perspective shift? My perspective shifts to principals on their knees praying for their staff. I think of high school athletes gathering in clusters to pray. I imagine student sections at games storming fields to join prayer at the 50-yard line. I dream of every sport in Rochester to have a club/travel team option for athletes and coaches to have ongoing training and discipleship. We don’t imagine because the impossible has beaten us up too often. Our God has overcome the impossible and will continue to overcome it. For evidence, you don’t need to look any further than the empty tomb.

When I was a young athlete looking down on the varsity game, I imagined myself as the ball carrier to score the winning touchdown. Now I am the adult looking over these fields seeing prayer announced over the loudspeaker, coaches leading athletes to Christ, and the future athletes changing the narrative that New York is spiritually dead. Because our God is greater, our God is stronger, and our God put the impossible to death so we can imagine.

Do you want to follow Jesus?

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:55:38 GMT

I was sitting with a young college athlete this past week over lunch. We have been trying to meet weekly in the form of a discipleship relationship. I always love our time together because we talk about life, football, and faith. But this past time we met, it was a challenging conversation. He was explaining to me how he wasn’t where he wanted to be in his faith. Then he cited how he hasn’t been to church in weeks and hasn’t had quality time in scripture. As I asked questions and dug deeper, there was an internal question of what his priorities were. He was going out with friends and living the typical ‘college life’ while wrestling with the values he learned in church. I know he loves Jesus and believes, but I posed the question: Do you WANT to follow Jesus?

Life carries a series of choices. If I choose to watch a show on Netflix, then the dishes won’t get done. If I decide to coach football, I sacrifice the ability to be a fully present husband and father. In the case of this young man, the choice was if I go out with my friends, am I genuinely following Jesus? Think of the story in the scripture found in Matthew 8, ‘Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” (Matt. 8.20 NLT) Jesus is giving the religious teacher a challenge, and that challenge is, are you going to follow me when it is inconvenient, challenging, or competes with the world’s values?

The challenge Jesus offered is one we should speak to ourselves. It is a test of honesty because if we cannot be honest with ourselves, we are in trouble. I asked the young man sitting across from me that day, “do you want to follow Jesus? Not because you think it right, or because your parents told you, or it is what you heard in church, but because you deeply desire to model your life after Jesus.” Since the start of the new year, I have been asking myself daily because it is vitally important for us to be honest about our priorities and where we are investing our greatest treasure, time.

So, I ask you, my friend, do you want to follow Jesus? Even when it is hard, even when it isn’t convenient, or when you’re not passionate about it.

Enemy of Great is Good

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 12:05:23 GMT

This week is the first week in 16 years I will not be on the football field. Football wasn’t just what I did; it was a significant part of who I identified as. Football has brought many fond memories from high school, where I found my passion and fell in love with the game, to coaching with a purpose beyond the field. But for every fond memory, there is a nightmare. The lesson I learned through this season is who I am is far greater than the sum of what I do.

Last spring, I was overworked and over-stressed, but it was all by choice for the sake of keeping my passion alive. I love what I do in FCA, and my current role always got my best, but when football season came, I have a dark drive to be the best. Excellence is always my aiming point, but when it came to football, it was something I would sacrifice a lot to have the glorious title of ‘great coach.’ Little did I know the most critical practices in my life were happening without me present. I had an opportunity to impact the next generation through my influence on the field, but every hour I gave to someone else’s kids was an hour I robbed my own.

We will have many choices in our life. It is often not whether to do the good thing or the wrong thing, but the option is good or great. Coaching football is not bad. We need quality coaches who know what to say both on and off the field. We need men and women with a whistle in their hands who command the next generation’s attention. For me, the good is coaching, but the great is to be the head coach of my home. God has uniquely called me to serve FCA staff not because I am qualified for the role but because it is the perfect marriage of my passion and proficiency.

In this new season, I am choosing to lean into the great roles God has given me in my life. I have heard leaders saw the enemy of great is good, which sounds like a nice leadership bumper sticker, but how do we practically live this out. My encouragement to you would be twofold ask and listen to both God and a mentor. Join me in this season to lean from good and into great.

Perspective is Everything

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 17:45:19 GMT

New interns often think they will get the unimportant tasks, the dirty jobs, or the work that no one else wants to do. At FCA we strive to do better with our summer internship program. We provide our interns with tasks and roles where they can jump right into the flow, share ideas, use their skills, and contribute to our team. This requires us to take the perspective of a servant leader. So, what does this look like?

While in the office yesterday, I found myself standing at the whiteboard in our meeting room having a meaningful conversation with our interns about failure. Yes... failure! Failure is a concept I have learned to grow comfortable talking about. You see, without failure, where are the spaces for us to grow? If we are not comfortable trying new ventures that may result in failure, how will we reach new heights in our leadership capacity?

Failure and servant leadership go hand in hand. First, servant leaders need to become comfortable with failure. Their relationship with failure must include a growth perspective. Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” I don’t think he was suggesting for us to take shots for the sake of taking shots. He was talking about developing a growth mindset in the context of failure. With every new attempt, idea, venture, or experience, servant leaders give their best because they know the other side of failure is growth. Leaders can let the growth potential be more motivating than the fear of failure.

Second, servant leaders need to normalize failure. Great leaders create safe spaces for their people to fail. They do not shame failure; nor do they punish failure. Servant leaders reward effort and give feedback for growth. The normalization of failure does not create a culture where people feel more failure; the opposite occurs. People become resilient; they become creative problem solvers, and most of all they become humble leaders.

Let us shift our perspective about failure and extend this type of servant leadership each day within our homes, our churches, and our places of work. We can provide our future leaders with safe spaces to develop humility, express ideas, take risks, and grow into their full potential.

Greater Rochester Internship

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:56:46 GMT

Growing up, I loved playing the NCAA Football video game. There was a setting where you could build a dynasty team; you controlled the gameplay, coaching style, and recruiting. In the recruiting piece, there was a term I got familiar with, ‘recruiting pipeline.’ Your pipeline was a state that had recruits who frequently came to your school. Gaining pipeline states was important because it gave you a recruiting boost.

When I join staff, I took this childhood gaming concept and laid it over our staffing strategy in FCA. I surveyed the landscape of Rochester and started looking at the places and spaces we could establish the recruiting pipeline. I also remember what it was like as a new college graduate having a heart full of passion for serving Jesus but no professional skills in my tool belt to prevent ministry burnout. Out of these two ideas, we developed our Rochester Internship Program. The purpose of the program is to provide a low-risk opportunity for college athletes to get an up-close and personal view of ministry vocation.

Last year we had one intern who was a great help in developing the program we have today. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet in person often because of COVID. With restrictions lifting this year, we can host our internship program in person. We met for the first time this week, and I was blown away by the excitement that filled the room. To be surrounded by young college athletes who have a passion for pursuing Jesus and pursuing the purpose God has placed on their life is incredible!

Over the next ten weeks, we will be walking with these college athletes through four key development areas: professional, spiritual, ministry, and financial. Will you join us in praying for our interns by name – Ashanti, Jess, Jake, Joel, and Ryan? We pray God will use this opportunity to refine and define the purpose God has placed on their lives.

There Is No "I" In TEAM

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 18:53:38 GMT

I LOVE THE SPORT OF FOOTBALL...

...not just because I played it, but because it is the purest team sport out there. Great football teams know that the individual athlete is not the key to playing well. They key to playing well is a coordinated effort of 11 offensive and defensive players working together to achieve one goal. As a defensive coordinator, I coach young men through this concept each season. We talk about the principle of staying in our lane and trusting the coach to coordinate the entire team. This same principle applies to our spiritual lives.

In 1 Corinthians, the church was experiencing divisions because they were following individuals, like Paul and Apollos, rather than Jesus. Paul challenged the church to keep their eyes on the goal of co-laboring with Christ by using a gardening metaphor. He said, “the one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work” (1 Corinthians 3:8). On the football field every player has a specific job - a run play or a pass play. If just one player does something contrary to their assignment, the highest goal cannot be achieved as easily. On defense this means there is a lower chance of stopping the offense for no gain, and for offense this means there is a lower chance to gain enough yards for a first down.

Within Christ-centered communities, our highest goal is to grow in Christ likeness and reflect Jesus to others. We will achieve this goal when each of us chooses to focus on our God-given job on God’s team. So, how do we discern this job? We become learners of self. John Calvin once wrote, “Nearly all wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists in two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” To uncover our job on God’s team, we must begin a journey of discovery to figure out our PASSION (what do I enjoy doing?) and our PROFICIENCY (what am I good at doing?). As we discover our position and job, we can lean fully into our identity on God’s team and resist the temptation to move out of our lane. Just as I place my defensive players in positions that are a good fit for their skills and talent, God will do the same for us so we can be an active contributor on His team!

Dream more. Do more. Become more.

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:10:31 GMT

ALL COACHES HAVE INFLUENCE, YET ARE ALL COACHES LEADERS?

John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” In my playing career and through my position with FCA, I have had the opportunity to connect with many coaches and I can honestly say that I have met few who are by this definition leaders. This quote causes me to reflect upon some of my actions. In my many roles of influence, (husband, father, coach, supervisor, friend, etc.) do my actions inspire others to dream more, do more, and become more?

When I was in high school my football career was capped by the skill I demonstrated on the field. I never once had a conversation with a coach to talk about my dreams or aspirations. We only discussed my goals for the current season. I would argue my high school coaches were great coaches but poor leaders. I have heard today’s coaches complain that they don’t know how to coach the current generation. Is it that they don’t know how to coach or that they don’t know how to lead? In my opinion, this is an epidemic! We have amazing men and women with immense influence and amazing coaching techniques, yet they have poor leadership skills. I believe most coaches have the desire to lead and see their athletes accomplish great things, they just lack the resources and guidance to develop as a leader. Through coaches’ huddles, clinics, and retreats FCA is working to fight this epidemic. We close the leadership gap through engaging coaches in genuine relationships, equipping them with the higher purpose and passion of Jesus, and empowering them to reflect the character of Jesus to their fellow coaches and athletes. FCA coaches can become great leaders that raise up the next generation to dream more, do more, and become more for the Kingdom!

Thank you for all you have done and are continuing to do to make the vision of FCA become a reality! Please join me in prayer that we will see the impact of FCA multiplied in our region!

Pray for an increase in staffing so we can strategically partner with more coaches.
Pray for an increase in volunteers who are passionate about the mission of FCA and are willing to walk hand and hand with coaches on a leadership journey.
Pray for opportunities for local coaches to hear and respond to the Gospel.

Shovel Party

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:56:55 GMT

THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TYPICAL...

...about any sports season this year. Every coach I speak to has described their season, or lack thereof, as the greatest adversity they have faced in their coaching career. But this past Tuesday night I was part of a special event that I want to share with you.

I arrived at Penfield High School at 5:45 pm for a shovel party. Yes, that’s right...a shovel party. This is what the football coaches enthusiastically called a gathering of people coming together to shovel snow off the turf so we can have one of our preseason practices. To my surprise, it was not just athletes who showed up; it was fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and even uncles. Everyone showed up with shovels in hand and a serving attitude. For an hour, our team of athletes expanded into a team of families and community members striving for one goal - to give our students a chance to play football this school year!

It is amazing to me how such a small act of service can have such a profound impact. Just one hour of intentional time was multiplied exponentially into an impact of far greater proportion. I have thought about that night many times since and wonder how I can apply this idea of ‘intentional time’ across my life. Too often I find myself doing mindless tasks that serve no beneficial purpose. So, I am choosing to become mindful about my daily routine and intentionally repurposing or reclaiming my time.

God has blessed each of us with just 24 hours in each day. With that time, we must fit in our large priorities like work, sleep, and meals. The challenge is in being intentional with the rest of our time. Will we opt into intentional time with our spouse? (I’m talking about pausing the Netflix show, holding their hand, and asking them, “How was your day?”) Will we choose intentional playtime with our kids? (Because play is the way to their heart!) Will we opt in for ‘shovel party’ opportunities? (Giving away our precious time so others can feel loved.) You don’t have to do it all at once, just start with one thing today!

Purpose In The Pain

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:55:40 GMT

HAVE YOU EVER...

...gone through a painful experience and thought, “Why God? Why?” I have asked God this question more times than I can count. The thing is, when I find myself on the other side of a tragedy, there is often someone in my life who is just beginning to navigate their own challenging or painful circumstance. I hope this story will encourage you whether you are at the beginning, in the middle, or just coming out of a tragedy.

During a recent Friday morning coaches huddle, the typical crowd was logging onto Zoom when a local college Athletic Director’s name popped up in the waiting room. I do not know him very well and he does not attend very often, so I was excited to have him join our group. During the “catching up” portion of our meeting he shared with everyone about a recent tragedy - one of his students recently lost his life in a skiing accident. He said it was one of the worst weeks in his tenure. While he was talking, I had flashbacks to the time I was grieving the loss of my stepfather and my friends sat with me and gave me the space to process the big emotions I was experiencing. As I was actively listening, I could relate to the pain he was feeling, and I knew God was creating an opportunity for me to encourage and support him from this place of familiarity. It was time for some real, messy, life transforming ministry.

“Don’t compare someone else’s middle to your beginning.”

-Michael Hyatt

I love this thought because it cuts right to the heart of things. When we are experiencing a tragedy, we want to move as quickly as possible through the pain. Most of us want to be further along in our journey, yet God wants us to be in the moment because He is there with us. He has purpose in the beginning, middle, and end of all our circumstances. I know it is hard. I know it seems like it will never end. In the bible, Job felt the same way. Through all his trials, Job never cursed God, but he wrestled with God as he went through much pain. In last chapter of the book of Job, it says “...the LORD restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as before.” (Job 42.10)

I know some of us are wrestling through some deep tragedies right now. Stay the course with the Lord. Invite him into the moment. Find a trusted friend to process with. I pray at some point in the future you will look back and see how God will use this current pain to increase your capacity to love others and become a source of comfort.

One Word Challenge

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:05:44 GMT

Words are exceptionally powerful. They can build up or tear down. Have you ever had a conversation or an argument with someone and left thinking, “Wow, why do words hurt so much?” I know I have. Have you ever walked away from a conversation surprised by how someone’s words perfectly ministered to your soul? I know I have. As much as words can hurt, they can also carry people, just like Michael’s Secret Stuff from Space Jam. Words can empower!

This year our regional staff took the One Word challenge to kick off 2021. How does it work? Through prayer and reflection, you choose a single word to guide you through the upcoming year, then lean into it when setting goals, making decisions, and pursuing spiritual growth. This challenge may seem small, but it can be quite transformational. We all have a love/hate relationship with setting goals. Too often I make goals and fail to achieve them mostly due to a lack of focus. Some people are paralyzed by options, so they do not set goals at all. Whatever your struggle, the One Word Challenge may help move you forward. Here’s a tip...

CHOOSE YOUR WORD AROUND WHO YOU WANT TO BECOME,

NOT WANT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

My word for 2021 is PURSUE! Yes, I know this is also the same word FCA chose for the 2021 ministry theme, but I LOVE it! To me, pursue is intentional, purposeful, and driven – all things that fit who I am and growing to become. I am setting my goals this year based on my convictions. Am I a man who pursues my wife? Am I a father who pursues my kids? Am I a follower who pursues my Savior? Am I a supervisor who pursues my staff? It is less about accomplishing tasks and more about character transformation.

Now it is your turn. Maybe the One Word Challenge is just what you need to start your year off well. Who do you want to become and what word will you choose to guide you this year? Email me your word if you decide to take the challenge. I would love to hear from you and pray your word over you in 2021!

Sound of Silence

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 21:38:10 GMT

Mark Chapter 9:14-29 tells the story of a desperate father whose son had been suffering an infirmity since childhood. The father asked Jesus to have compassion on him and to heal his son if He can. Jesus replied, “What do you mean, ‘if I can’? Anything is possible if a person believes.” To this statement the father honestly responded, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

Over the past four weeks this story has become profoundly significant to me. On the night of December 11th my world was turned upside down. My family was gathering at my mother’s house to celebrate the next chapter of life for my grandparents as they were relocating to Rhode Island that weekend. We started the evening with a celebration and ended the evening by dropping off my wife and almost one-year-old at the local emergency department because my baby girl became suddenly ill. Due to COVID restrictions, I was not allowed to accompany Kari and Emma in the hospital. I was left to drive around Syracuse alone with just my thoughts and the fear of the unknown. I had to wait in silence.

While driving I prayed the same way as the father in the story. “Jesus, please heal my baby girl. I ask for a miracle!” But in my head, there was real doubt that he could do what I was asking. Could Jesus really move THIS mountain? MY mountain? Like the father in the story, I had faith and I had doubt all at the same. These moments of total silence had me wrestling with the very same question Jesus asked the father, “What do you mean ‘If I can’?”

When Jesus asked the father this question, I imagine that something shifted deep inside the father. Jesus saw the measure of his pain, his faith, his doubt, and even his unbelief and was still there to help him. In this moment, the father realized Jesus could handle his doubts and simultaneously become his source of faith. That is how I experienced Jesus that night driving in the silence. I am grateful that God did move MY mountain and restored Emma back to life with the support of the medical team.

Each one of us will have moments in life where our external and internal world fall silent and our doubts and fears and faith are revealed. While extremely challenging, these moments present us with the opportunity to see Jesus for who he truly is – the God who is more than able. I pray some day we can sit together over a cup of coffee and share about these moments and the God who always meets us in the silence.

The FOUR

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:47:11 GMT

Our first camp of 2020 is on the horizon and we have almost reached maximum enrollment! Volleyball players from all over the Rochester area are currently waiting in anticipation to develop their core volleyball skills and improve their game. Those skills will certainly be honed at camp, but the greatest growth we pray will be spiritually. With athletes coming from many different places spiritually, how do we communicate a gospel message that is transformational for everyone? With FOUR simple, yet profound truths.

The FOUR pillars of the Gospel.

1 - God loves you. ♥

I am amazed at how easy it is to overlook this simple truth. For some of us, we hear this truth every Sunday at church. Yet there are many who have never heard that they are loved by the God of the universe. As we repeat fundamental skills of a sport, we must also repeat this fundamental spiritual truth. We were made by God; we are forever loved by God; and we are sculpted with a purpose for God.

2 - Sin separates us. ÷

In “The FOUR” we use the division sign to symbolize that our sin has divided us from God. Our greatest challenge at camp is not in communicating Jesus as savior. Rather, it is the obstacles that lie in the heart each person that prevent them from seeing their need for a savior. Only God can reveal this to them. Our campers will spend time talking and praying about this crucial step with their huddle leaders in a small group setting.

3 - Christ bridges the gap. +

Through our camp speaker and small group settings, we highlight that sin is not where the story ends. We focus on the greatness of God’s love. He loves us so much that He would not allow us to be separated forever. Jesus’ death on the cross, being the ultimate act of love, restores us back to God and changes the dynamic of our relationship with God forever.

4 - Will you trust Jesus ?

We invite every athlete and coach to live out a relationship with Jesus. We share with our athletes that it is one thing to know about Jesus, but it is another thing to live out a relationship with Jesus every day. It is like being invited into a relationship with a new friend or being invited to try out for a sports team. Jesus offers us an invitation to trust Him with our entire life.

I have enjoyed sharing with you about how we use “The FOUR” to share the gospel with every athlete at camp. Would you please pray for the hearts of the athletes attending our upcoming volleyball camp? Perhaps you would take your involvement a step further and consider attending an FCA event (camp, huddle or board meeting) to see how God is transforming the world through the influence of coaches and athletes who love Jesus!

Unified and Galvanized

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 12:53:02 GMT

Being a Buffalo Bill fan is frustrating right now. There is so much potential, but the results have been lack luster in the past two games versus the Titans and the Chiefs. Part of the lack luster performance has been the defense. I believe one of the main issues is trust. When I was playing defense, we always talked about doing your 1/11th. What that means is trusting the player next to you will do their job because they are trusting you will execute your assignment. When the whole defense is firing on all cylinders and every player is executing their role of the defense, they are unified and galvanized. What I mean is it nearly impossible to beat a defense who is working a one and is galvanized in their passionate purpose to achieve their goal.

Rarely we see the concept I spoke about above play out in our daily life. There is a lack of ownership when we miss an assignment, and a lack of conviction to become the best at our give assignment. Paul spoke about this concept when he said we are all the body of Christ. Some are the hands. Some are the feet; but we are all unified to achieve the purpose of leading ourself and others into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. For me I get amped up when local churches unify under the banner of Jesus to achieve a common goal.

This past week all of FCA from across the global gathered on fields, homes and offices to unite. This is our Fields of Faith. It is an opportunity for coaches, athletes, parents and friends of FCA to gather under the team of Jesus for unity and to galvanize our mission. The Northeast Region host a virtual Fields of Faith where over 90 different coaches and friends of FCA gathered. It was a night of stories, encouragement, empowerment, and reverent prayer for the platform our coaches have.

Just like the defensive side of the ball in football, when the body of Christ is unified and galvanized in purpose the mission of Jesus Christ is impossible to stop.

Perseverance

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 19:02:12 GMT

Meeting with a coach before the start of the school day has become increasingly challenging. The calendar invite was set. Location has been agreed upon. When we arrive, we discover to our disappointment that the diner is closed. We put our heads together and come up with another diner up the road. As we pull into another parking lot, we are not greeted with the glowing neon OPEN sign. For a second time we put our heads together to think of a Bruegger’s bagel which we know is open. Our hope is high as we walk up to the door, the smell of fresh bagels in the air, only to realize there is no dining allowed inside. Alas, we have coffee and food in hand but no comfortable morning breakfast booth. So, we resorted to a shady conversation from our parked cars and we pray for each other with the driver’s side windows down.

This story and this season have taught me many things about perseverance. When ministry looks like an early morning unorthodox conversation while partially hanging out of a driver’s side window in a parking lot, I know God is still faithful. The greatest battle through this current season is simply showing up. We make the phone calls and host the zoom appointments, but nothing beats a good ole fashion face-to-face meeting. I am grateful for the dedication of our coaches who are investing in community with one another. I am optimistic about the future of ministry because of the perseverance of our staff and our coaches. I am hopeful for the impact we will make on the next generation because we have modeled perseverance well during this season by the grace of Jesus.

I thank God for YOU because you are a significant driving force in my ability to persevere. Through your support, prayers, and unwavering financial investment, I continue to wake up and find ways to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

Pivot

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 15:02:37 GMT

When a player holding the basketball moves one or both of their feet illegally this is called traveling. The whistle blows and the team loses possession of the ball. Thus, you will hear basketball coaches emphasize the pivot foot – the foot that stays planted on the ground allowing the player to turn in many directions. When a player picks up their dribble, even though they cannot advance up the court, they can still change perspectives because of their pivot foot to look for an open shooter.

The new FCA fiscal year launched on September 1st and I am adopting the idea of pivoting as we look ahead. Our ‘who’ has remained the same (coaches and athletes). Our ‘how’ has remained the same (huddles, 1-on-1 discipleship, camps, book studies, etc.). Our ‘why’ has remainder the same (to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes). The area in which we need to pivot is our ‘what.’ Meeting in person is no longer easy and convenient and there is a lot of red tape to walk through to host a camp. It can seem as if COVID has tried to trap the advancement of our ministry forcing us to pick up our dribble. However, we are now planting on our pivot foot and changing perspective to find the open opportunities.

This upcoming fiscal year we are staying ‘default aggressive’ as Jocko Wilink would say. We will still host camps, but will pivot our perspective to host camps for sports that can be socially distant (volleyball, track, soccer, etc.) We will still have coaches and campus huddles but will pivot our perspective to mix virtual with in-person gatherings. We will still engage coaches and athletes in 1-on-1 discipleship, but we will pivot our perspective to live life alongside each other either virtually or in-person.

We may be pivoting, but we are still focused on making the most of every possession. We are praying for growth, for healthy sustainable ministry, and for healthy staff. Please partner with us by asking God to lead and provide for Greater Rochester FCA to ADVANCE in the following areas: fiscal growth, donor involvement, talent (staff) expansion, board development, and ministry opportunities that reach coaches and athletes with the gospel. Your prayers make an impact!

Ron Burgundy and FCA

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 13:57:41 GMT

With my phone in my left hand, I swipe down with my right index finger over and over to refresh my Gmail account. I was expecting more emails to follow the shocking news I just read. The Empire 8 (division 3 College conference) had officially postponed their fall season. Surely, some news about the high school football season would appear. Up to this point I was holding on to hope, along with our athletes, that we could have a semblance of a season. We had not allowed doubt to creep in, but this was my breaking point. Quarantine had taken its toll on me and the upcoming football season was the carrot on the metaphorical stick.

To describe this mentally low point, the best comparison I can draw is to the movie, Anchorman. Ron Burgundy is standing on a bridge after causing a motorcyclist to have an accident. Ron was asked by the motorcyclist what he loves in this world and he responds by pointing to his dog, Baxter. The motorcyclist proceeds to bend over, pick up Baxter, and dramatically (and comically) punt the dog off the bridge. Receiving the news of the local college conference season postponement was like COVID-19 asking me what I love in this world. I point to the upcoming football season, and then watch the season being dramatically punted off the bridge of hopefulness.

I am not alone in my disappointment and grief. In a recent conversation with a coach, this is what he said about the postponement of the fall season, “It is like losing your grandma. Especially if that grandma was someone you had dinner with every weekend, played cards with daily, and always shared laughs with.” Coaches are grieving. Athletes are grieving. The opportunity to compete has been stolen from them once again. For an athlete or a coach, this is the equivalent to having the wind knocked out of you.

I am concerned about the mental and emotional health of our coaches and athletes in this prolonged season without sports. To help them process through this significant loss, Greater Rochester FCA will be hosting a webinar on August 18th with a professional counselor. Patrick Cayouette will share healthy coping practices to understand and move through grief. Now more than ever, coaches and athletes need a hope that cannot be wrestled away. They need Jesus. Would you join me in prayer for all coaches and athletes in our area that their discouraged hearts may be touched by the Lord!

Jesus, give us the opportunities to be a clean window for our family, friends, coaches and athletes to see you with clarity. Amen!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 17:24:20 GMT

If you’ve ever gone through a challenging time, I bet there was a well-meaning friend who said to you, “Laughter is the best medicine.” If this is true, then why do we as adults forget to smile and laugh?

Since we have been blessed with a new baby that arrived last December, it is always a joy to see her smile. You make a noise with your mouth, smile. You play peek a boo, smile. You enter the room after a nap, smile. This simple joy can get squashed as an adult. I cannot remember the last time I got an electric bill, smile. A large appliance broke, smile. Paid yet another month of student loans, smile. The point I am getting at is that we need to discover this joy because as time goes by it becomes increasingly easy to take ourselves too seriously.

I find this to be true as a leader in ministry. It is easy to become overwhelmed or over-consumed with work because there is always more ministry to be done. The same is true for coaching. It is easy to become consumed with game plans, practice plans, developing athletes, and chasing hard after our individual and team goals. I am thankful for my collegiate volleyball coaches huddle that meets every Thursday. I never expected that I would laugh as hard or smile as much as I do with this group of coaches. Like my daughter, they remind me about the importance of joy and laughter in the middle of working hard. They remind me that our God is a God of joy!

Jesus came to give us life and life to the fullest. I know I want my life to be filled with laughter. So, take some time today to get around people that make you smile and try laughing a little. It really is the best medicine for the soul!

I Can Teach You WHAT. I Can't Teach You WHY.

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:33:33 GMT

As a coach and a leader, I have many catch phrases. One of my favorites is...

“I can teach you WHAT. I can’t teach you WHY.”

We all have an internal fire we need to fan every day. This fire is our ‘why’ and it drives our dreams, grows our vision, and powers us through the mundane of everyday life. As a director for FCA, I choose to bring on staff and volunteers for their ‘why.’ I cannot create their fire for them, but I can help them discover it, develop it and direct it.

I have always had a deep passion for investing in young leaders. This is part of my ‘why.’ Through our summer internship program, I am looking to fan the flame and direct this passion toward several college athletes that are looking to develop their full potential as leaders. Practically this looks like, learning professional skills through a podcast course; deepening their spiritual life through the study of God’s Word; and donor relationship development. We took a deep dive into this material over the past two weeks and let me tell you, each of these young leaders has a passion to use whatever platform God gives them, be it sports or a job, to be world changers through the power of Jesus Christ. They bring their ‘why’ to our meetings, and together we explore the ‘what.’

I desire to build a culture of leaders who have an unquenchable fire in their belly to lead coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. Will you partner with me in this mission through prayer?

• Pray for me as I grow my relationship and influence with our interns this summer.

• Pray that I will help them find their confidence in Christ as they step out to lead.

• Pray for them to build an ability to fail forward.

• Pray for these young leaders to focus on their ‘why’ over their ‘what.’

Just Show Up

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:35:09 GMT

Tuesday night I received a text from one of my athletes inviting me to join him the next morning to run sprints on the biggest hill in Penfield. My schedule was already packed, and I knew it was going to be a mentally exhausting day. I was hesitant to say yes, but I knew that this connection was a priority. “Of course!” I said, “But the only time I can go is 6am. Are you still in?” After a bit of convincing, he and I were standing at the top of this massive hill the next morning, watching the sun come up over the trees. We took a moment to prepare our minds and our bodies for an intense work out.

I could have said no and offered a great work out that he could do on his own. I could have told him I didn’t have the time because my day was too full. I could have ignored the text and just not responded. But I chose to prioritize this relationship and show up. And let me tell you, I am so glad I did! Mid work out we had a spontaneous discussion about motivation, and I was able to share authentically about Jesus being the deepest level of motivation in my life. If I didn’t show up at 6 am on the hill, I would still be looking for ways to breach spiritual conversation with him. If I didn’t show up even though I had a full day, I would still be fighting for this young man’s respect. If I didn’t show up, our relationship would not grow.

God did the same for us. In the gospel of John, we read, 'And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ' (John 1:14 NLT) Our God wasn’t okay with sitting on the sideline. Our God wasn’t okay with being separated from his creation. God sacrificed His only son to live among us, to do life with us, to satisfy our deepest relational need.

Jesus is our model for ministry! He showed up and lived life alongside His creation. Our mission at FCA is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. For us to do that, we need to practically show up in the lives of people we love and care about. We need to be the ones that lean over the fences at practice and encourage an athlete. We need to be the ones who will stand in the corner of a gym to be a coach’s advocate. We need to be the ones that consistently show up.

Everyone ends up somewhere. Few end up somewhere on purpose.

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Wed, 27 May 2020 17:45:45 GMT

If the vision is the “why,” then mission is the “what,” and the strategy is the “how.” It is essential for ministries and businesses to keep the synergy between these three to achieve their goals. The vision, the mission and the strategy may be separate entities, but they must work collaboratively with one another. Andy Stanley says, “Everyone ends up somewhere in life. A few people end up somewhere on purpose.” At FCA we have a clear mission, to lead every coach and every athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church, therefore we must approach our ministry with great intentionality.

So, “how” do we achieve the mission? We use the FCA E3 Playbook: Engage, Equip, and Empower. It’s a practical strategy tool to help us develop authentic relationships with coaches and athletes. Every FCA staff member is currently doing a 4-week training on how to use these strategies in their area of influence.

Engage

We Engage coaches and athletes through genuine relationships by sharing our lives and the Gospel

Equip

We Equip coaches and athletes to grow in Christ through God’s Word.

Empower

We Empower coaches and athletes to Engage, Equip, and Empower others to know and grow in Christ.

Let me share a quick story with you about a time where this strategy played itself out relationally. Last fall, I met with a local coach for the first time. It was a cold call with a coach who was known by another staff member. I went into the meeting looking forward to growing my network of coaches by one, and eagerly wanted to know how I could support his role as head coach. Leaving the meeting I was blown away because we came out of that meeting with the start to a genuine relationship. As we shared life together, I was caught up in his contagious attitude to reach others, which was driven by his passion from the Gospel. We shared meals, resources, and grew in Christ together. Now, the same coach I met just under a year ago was empowered to launch his own huddle with coaches in his same sport and prays for them weekly! God was working with the end in mind, but He deliberately used me to see His goals met all it took was for me to continuously step out in faith to follow the plan. We ended up somewhere, but it was all on purpose.

As the FCA staff walks through our E3 Playbook this month, I am excited for the synergy it will bring to our vision and mission to lead every coach and every athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. I invite you to dive into the E3 playbook attached to this blog so you can join us on this incredible mission! Thank you again for your continued support and involvement!

Impossible isn't a fact. It is an opinion.

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Wed, 20 May 2020 17:43:30 GMT

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Coach Simple. Play Fast

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Wed, 06 May 2020 20:15:43 GMT

The field marker shows it 3rd down and long. I bend down, put my left hand in the cold turf, and twist my left foot in twice to gain good grip. My eyes fix on the offensive tackle, and I see his weight shift to his heels intuitively telling me he is preparing to pass block. I prepare for my launch because I have two steps to beat him to the spot. My one goal is to see the quarterback on his back looking to the sky. In barely a second, I move with such determined motion. My body functions from memory and before my mind has time to create a thought, I have beat the tackle to the imagined spot on the field, and I have an open window to throw my entire body towards my one prize - to sack the quarterback. There is no room to think or play slow, the only requirement is to play instinctively; to know how to act when the opportunity arises. This is how you “play fast!”

I learned how to play fast, because my coach was able to take his complex game plans from his mind and distill them down so I could see the goal, learn the steps, adjust my moves, and execute. In other words, He “coached simple.” The more time I spent on the field with my coach, seeing his plays, hearing his voice, repeating the play; the more I began to see things through my coaches’ eyes and play instinctually. Eventually, I did not need to think about what to do on the field, I just knew what to do. It was now automatic.

Jesus is the ultimate at “coaching simple.” He takes his elaborate game plan for the world and breaks it down into simple commands. The goal is to love God and love others. As we spend time “on the field” with Jesus and in His word, his ways become our ways; His thoughts become our thoughts. When presented with the opportunity to act in love, we don't want to miss it trying to figure out the correct response, we want to “play fast!” Send the text! Make the call! Say the prayer!

Ministry Begins When You Leave

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 12:47:11 GMT

“What one-liner would you give to an athlete to repeat?” This question was asked in a recent FCA coaches’ huddle. One coach answered, “Leave it better than you found it.” Another coach responded with, “Do the little things right and the big picture will follow.” We all have sayings that we repeat to ourselves to remind us of the character we want to develop or the person we want to become. If you hang around me for a while, you’ll notice that I have quite a few one-liners of my own. One saying I heard recently about ministry rings so true to me. “Ministry begins when we leave.”

During the several years Jesus was with his disciples, he consistently tried to cast light on the fact that he would not be with them for long. He would be crucified, buried, and raised to life on the third day. After his resurrection, Jesus spent only 40 days with them. Once he returned to be with the Father, the ministry was now the disciples to carry on with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 29-18-20 NLT) Basically, the disciples’ ministry began when Jesus left.

It is deeply satisfying to me when modern day ministry follows this biblical discipleship pattern. This is our goal at Greater Rochester FCA, and we are watching it happen within our ministry to coaches. Every Friday morning for the duration of quarantine, we have been hosting a Coaches’ Huddle where local coaches can gather for a time of prayer, bible study, and fellowship. Recently, a coach that has been attending asked if it was possible for him to replicate this huddle within his collegiate volleyball coaching community. Within six days, this coach formed a virtual volleyball coaches’ huddle of his own with several new coaches. I was invited to attend, not lead! It was powerful to watch two coaches from our original huddle pray, invest, and engage their peers.

I invite you to be a part of what God is doing in our Coaches’ Huddles. Would you take a moment right now to pray for the Greater Rochester FCA staff - Dave, John, Adrienne, and myself? Pray that God would equip our staff as they bring the love of Jesus and EMPOWER local coaches. Pray that the ministry of FCA will carry on in the heart of each coach long after we leave. And finally, pray that our coaches would be brave enough to extend the love of Jesus into their own communities.

Trembling Before The Red Sea

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 17:31:36 GMT

Carrying what they could on their backs, the Israelites finally fled Egypt and praised God for their freedom. No longer were they threatened by the oppression of slavery. The God they cried out to, while under the abuse of their oppressors, had found a way where there was no way. Holy and set apart, the children of God had been rescued!

God’s people were now free, but they were not yet safe. They found themselves standing on the shore of the Red Sea with no boats, no time, and no faith. Bearing down on them was certain death and re-enslavement, and their oppressors followed close behind. “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves in Egypt? What have you done to us?” they cried. (Exodus 14:11 NLT)

Without knowing the second half of this story we can quickly assume God is cruel. But our God is the One who sacrificed His own Son for you and me; the One whose love never stops, never gives up, and never fails; the One who always makes a way where there is no way. The God of the Israelites commanded Moses to raise his staff over the Red Sea, and by His mighty power, His people crossed to the other side on dry ground.

I love how King David recalls this great miracle amidst his own tragedy, “Your road led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters – a pathway no one knew was there!” (Psalm 77:19 NLT) During this public health crisis and time of quarantine, I can relate to the Israelites as they stood before the obstacle of the Red Sea. Lately, my fear has gotten the best of me as I wonder how to move forward and am concerned about what is pushing in from all sides. But God exchanged my fear for hope as I meditated on this truth in Psalm 77. My heart softened into safety as I remembered the great majesty of our God. Even when I cannot see the way through, God has most certainly made a way!

With that perspective in mind, how do we at Rochester FCA continue to go after our mission to lead every coach and every athlete into a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ when we can no longer physically be with them? When sports are shut down? Well, what seems impossible, has become a great opportunity. We are transferring all our meetings and coaches' huddles to video calls. Virtual prayer gatherings, bible studies, and sports talks are already being launched! Truly, there are endless opportunities to connect with an anxious world right now and all it takes is an invite and a screen. Perhaps God intends for our reach to be even greater during this time of quarantine! Let us unite, as we stand before this public health crisis and trust that God has already made a way for His hope and love to be shared. You are welcome to join us for one of our virtual prayer gatherings or huddles and be a part of our ministry in action!

Fulfilling the Vision

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:36:31 GMT

My hand reached down to grab the manual window crank. You know, the kind that takes Herculean strength to roll the window down just a few inches? I then pushed my face toward the window and yelled with urgency, “Excuse me! I need directions to the nearest gas station?!” When you feel lost, everything feels important. Instead of “We could use some gas in the tank soon.” The tone switches to, “We need gas right away!” Instead of, “Where is the nearest restroom?” The tone switches to, “I need a bathroom now because I am about to pee my pants!” A sense of direction is vital to end up in the place you desire to be and to combat the tyranny of the urgent. When you have a clear vision, and a roadmap to get there, you have the ability to filter every decision through that vision.

In one of our recent one-on-one staff meetings, John ran a ministry idea by me. We decided to workshop it through our FCA vision - to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. When you have specific vision, it frees you to advance the ball forward in strategic ways without getting distracted, overwhelmed or even lost. Vision allows you to find the best ideas and solutions, while preventing you from settling on the average ones. FCA is not a specific sports ministry, we are a coach and athlete ministry. We believe and trust the most strategic way to accomplish our vision is to and through the coach. Therefore, everything we do must filter through these two questions: How will this idea/solution serve the local coach? Does this empower coaches to share the love of Christ with their community?

Vision statements give us a clear and compelling picture of the future as it can be. Most of us have a clear vision statement for our work and our ministry. It’s easy to have vision for the things we do because the result is more easily measured. But the greater challenge is developing a clear vision statement and roadmap for who we desire to BECOME in Christ. Have you asked yourself what kind of dad/mom, husband/wife, friend, you want to become? I encourage you to start writing down your vision in these areas today and enjoy the journey as you become who you truly desire to be!

Go Undefeated At Home

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:29:38 GMT

It was the summer solstice. My groomsmen and I were gathered in the side hallway of the sanctuary waiting for our turn to enter. I was already nervous when my friend Jason leaned in and whispered, “Don’t lock your knees or you are going to pass out.” As the last word fell out of his mouth, the doors opened for us to enter and I remember seeing the sea of family and friends we invited to this once in a lifetime event. The rest of the ceremony is a little blurry in my memory, as it was filled with nervous anticipation of the moment when our lives would be forever changed. Still, I will never forget the moment Kari and I promised to love one another other till death do us part.

“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Matthew 10:7-9 NLT). We have all heard these words spoken as a nice sentiment in wedding ceremonies, but in reality, are these words truly embraced for the covenant promise they actually represent? Unfortunately, in many marriages, the answer is no. Serving as a football coach I hear my fair share of stories from students about their broken homes – homes with emotionally absent dads or even physically absent fathers. These stories shatter my heart because these young people are looking for someone that can show them what a committed husband and father really looks like. Coaches have an amazing platform to influence young people’s perspective of healthy family. When a coach prioritizes their spouse above extra time watching game film, it honors God and demonstrates Kingdom priorities. Every coach wants to win at their sport, but so often we lose at home during the season. If we realign our priorities to God’s priorities by keeping our spouse first, we can go undefeated at home in all seasons, and make a lasting and transformative impact on our athletes.

This February, FCA hosted a marriage getaway for 41 coaching couples from Upstate New York. They were given the opportunity to work through the very principle I spoke about above. For some of these coaches, it was the first time in years they had meaningful conversations with their spouse that didn’t involve kids’ schedules, work, or the mundane. Marriages were certainly being reprioritized! Bottom line - we owe it to ourselves, and the athletes we coach, to love our spouse as Christ loves us. If you feel something trying to split what God has joined together, ask God to show you what it looks like to make your spouse first so you can go UNDEFEATED at home!

Pass the Baton

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:25:03 GMT

It was a typical gray winter morning in Rochester. As I fumbled through the front door of the high school with a box of shirts, my backpack, and my much-needed cup of coffee, I was greeted by the school’s Athletic Director, Matt Thomas. Matt guided me to the field house to set up for our football camp. As we were getting everything ready, I found my mind silently racing with disappointment. I kept asking myself, “Why do we only have 13 athletes registered for camp?” Whenever I feel defeated in ministry, I need to lean into God’s truth in Isaiah 55:9, ‘For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ Even if my plan doesn’t rise to my preset standard, God’s ways are always higher.

Halfway through the camp, God kicked through the door and left my expectations on the floor. I witnessed 13 athletes fully captivated by a young man named Noah who just finished his final football season at the University of Rochester. He was sharing about God’s faithfulness and impact on his life as an athlete. It was powerful. That moment shattered my disappointment and I immediately stopped wallowing about the low numbers. I saw the significance of the moment – the passing of the baton of faith from a seasoned college athlete to a group of youth athletes. God was having his way.

As I write this blog post I cannot stop thinking about what I witnessed at football camp. I keep asking myself this question, “Who will be the few I pass my baton to?” And so, I ask you the same question. Who will be the few you pass your baton to? Just like Noah, who had the courage to stand in front of an intimidating group of young athletes and pass the baton, we too have the responsibility to pass our baton of faith.

Jesus, give us courage when we are afraid. Jesus, give us boldness when we desire to hide in the shadows. Jesus, help us prioritize relationships over the ratio. Jesus, open our eyes to the young people you have called us to pass our baton of faith to. Amen.

Come and See

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:19:38 GMT

Following our wrestling camp at the beginning of November, our field staff member Dave Toth was fired up for a couple of coaches who were in attendance. I had a conversation with Dave following the camp and with fire in his eyes, he was committing to minister to these few coaches who were open to learning more about following Jesus. Dave didn't do a fancy dance or have special words, he just faithfully showed up. Just like the four friends who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus (Mark 2:1-12), Dave faithfully brought these coaches closer to Jesus. Part of showing up is the bold invitation to 'come and see’ (John 1:39), which Dave and one of our committed volunteers did with one coach. This coach has been coming to church with them to ‘come and see’ (John 1:39).

At the end of one of the sermons, the pastor requested the whole room bow their heads and close their eyes. As every head was bowed and eyes closed, the pastor gave an invitation for anyone who desires a personal relationship to boldly raise their hand before God to communicate their desire for Jesus to become their Lord. Through the quiet rustling of people shifting in their seats, our volunteer peered through squinted eyes to see if this coach they have invited to ‘come and see’ (John 1:39) had boldly proclaimed faith in Jesus. With a hand raised, tears welled up in the eyes of our FCA friend to see what many pray for: a coach to come to confess faith in Jesus Christ.

Our mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. On that Sunday morning through a bold invitation to ‘come and see' (John 1:39), Dave and our FCA volunteer left with their soul doing cartwheels because Jesus gained one more lost sheep.

In my role, I have the blessed opportunity to be a part of these stories indirectly because God gave me the vision to pursue multiplication, not addition. I love that I get to invest in our staff and uplift them as the heroes they truly are. Jesus invested in the 12 disciples who then went out multiplied His ministry. We are praying for the 12 who will say yes to the opportunity to join the charge of leading every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.

Oozing Confidence

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:16:41 GMT

Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the history of the world. It is a passion shared by some of the top collegiate athletes and it is shared by the two siblings on the living room couch. Not only is wrestling one of the oldest sports, but it is also one of the most challenging. No other sport demands two people to enter a space measuring 28 feet in diameter to leave only one to walk out in 6 minutes or less victorious.

Joey McKenna, a three-time All-American, stood in front of a room filled with 40 local wrestlers at our Tom Ryan Wrestling Camp. Joey was eloquently explaining to these aspiring wrestlers how he overcame the pressure before a match. Before knowing Jesus, Joey explained he placed all his confidence in his preparation and his technique. But what would happen to this confidence if you didn't walk off the mat with your hand raised? Joey started following Jesus in college and when he made this decision, he had unwavering confidence because he trusted in God's plan.

Paul wrote, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). I hear the confidence oozing from his words. Just like Joey we have two options, we can either put all our trust in our gifts or put all our trust in Christ. How different would our life look like if we oozed confidence because we are confident in God's plan?

Building A Coaching Staff

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:31:25 GMT

This month I have been reading the book All In by Gene Chizik, who was the head coach of the Auburn Tigers when they won the National Championship with Cam Newton. Before he was with the Tigers he took his first head coaching job of the Iowa State Cyclones. Gene’s first task as head coach was to assemble his staff so they could get a jump start on recruiting.

My first month on staff with FCA feels similar to Gene’s experience at Iowa State. It was his first head coaching job, and this is my first job as a director. Both roles need a great supporting cast if they have any desire to be successful.

The dreams to grow and expand FCA are only capped by the capacity of staff we have, which is why this past week we hired a part-time staff to oversee our FCA ministry at Roberts Wesleyan College. I am thrilled to have Adrienne Cali join our team because of the experience she has with ministry, but more importantly for the potential of what FCA could be at Roberts Wesleyan.

Adrienne is a great support staff to push forward our dreams of having a ministry full of healthy coaches and athletes at Roberts, but also help us develop an internship that will pave the way for future staff to join our Rochester team.

The addition of Adrienne was a result of much prayer and following God’s leading. Please join us as we continue to pray for the addition of more staff in the coming year. We have some candidates in the waiting, and pray it will be not just a fit for FCA but a fit for our candidates and their families.

You're Joking, Right?

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:26:25 GMT

During a double session in the heat of August, the defensive line came jogging over asking if I could give them a 5-minute pep talk, not because they needed to be encouraged but because they needed a break. As I’m standing and most of the linemen are on a knee around me, they start debating if we should have a storytime, or if they could just rest. Then, jokingly, one of the linemen speaks up, “Coach is a priest, so we need to have prayer time.” Unanimously the group agreed. A million thoughts raced through my mind, the two most pressing were “am I allowed to pray with these guys?” and “Of course I am going to pray! This is awesome!”

The latter thought won out I bent down on one knee, all the linemen grabbed hands, and we prayed that morning during practice. Two days later when it was again defensive day, we gathered for our defensive line time and without hesitation, all the players dropped to a knee, removed their helmet, grabbed hands, and waited for me to lead them in prayer.

I sit writing this story, blown away by the idea that what started as a joke as now rose to the level of tradition to be practiced not just in our practice, but even before games with spectators watching this group of young men. God will always give us situations to share his Gospel, but the challenge is, will we have the boldness to step out and declare His goodness?

Build Your Huddle On the Rocks

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:21:15 GMT

'And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.'

When Jesus spoke these words He was speaking to putting all your faith and trust in Him. But I have seen it in a new light since purchasing our first house you need to have a plan to grow and prosper. A growing relationship with Christ is centered on faith, but it also grown through spiritual disciplines which focus us on what is important. This is why we emphasize reading our bible and spending time in prayer and worship daily. Structure is good. It's important as we choose daily to build our house upon the rock.

In my first weeks of FCA ministry, I have taken a look at the current state of our Huddles -small groups for athletes and coaches. Is our ministry currently a house build upon the sand, or has it been built upon the rock? Do we have the structure to succeed and to grow? I do not seek to directly expand FCA in Rochester right away, but rather to build into a solid foundation. We must provide a structure for our volunteer coaches and set them up to do great ministry.

Even though Jesus' words were talking about our personal walks with the LORD I see meaning in how we go about ministry. Join me in praying for our current Huddles at Penfield, Wayne, Livonia, Wellsville, Roberts Wesleyan and U of R. Pray that we may provide the structure for these Huddles to be built upon the rock.

Top-Ten Recruit

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:19:29 GMT

Recruiting is so often filled with woo and conversations. There is a hopefulness that the recruit will come to your school. But there is rarely a recruit who has their mind made up and is ready to commit. And there is no coach who can sway their view.

Jesus was the greatest recruiter. We need to not look past his interaction with Peter and John by their fishing boat. Jesus uttered four words to change the lives of these men: "'Come and follow me.'"

As we look for coaches to disciple and lead the charge for FCA, so often the recruitment goes like former example. But in my first two weeks on staff, I had a Jesus recruitment moment. a local high school coach emailed me requesting to start a Huddle at his high school. Jesus spoke into this coaches life and recruited him to lead a movement at his high school. Because of the power in Jesus' words, and the faithfulness of one coach, we are launching my first new Huddle at Wellsville High School.

If you are a coach and are curious about what it could mean to lead a Huddle in your community or campus, head over to our contact page to get connected.

Walk-On vs. Scholarship

jtanner@fca.org (Jesse Tanner) — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:16:45 GMT

When an athlete makes a commitment to a university, they are either on a scholarship or they, walk-on. Walk-ons have to earn everything. They are most often tagged as the hardest workers, because they are grinding for the opportunity to receive a full scholarship.

Joining staff with FCA has been a lot like committing to a university as a walk-on athlete. With this comes fear, anxiety, and stress. All of which can permeate into family dynamics. But there is a side of "coming on as a walk-on" that isn't discussed. The major concern when we committed to FCA was how to climb the mountain that is support raising.

Since we began this venture of inviting others to invest in our mission reaching coaches and athletes, it has been extremely rewarding for our family. Just like a walk-on who is driven to earn the full scholarship, the challenge of support raising has deepened the faith of our family.

The thrill of setting out a new venture was exhilarating, but then the soreness of two-a-days sunk in and the grind of facing the senior giant offensive lineman every day wore us thin. But the high of sitting down across a friend, family member, or stranger to share the vision of changing culture through the next generation of leaders has been exhilarating. It is the driving force that keeps us moving forward in faith.

Many days it feels like when Jesus approached Peter and the other disciples at their fishing boat. With one small command of "'come and follow me,'" all those men dropped their livelihood to chase a dream. They didn't know what was to come. They didn't know how it would end, or how they would be the vehicle to carry the message of God's saving love to the ends of the earth. All they committed to was following Jesus daily, step by step. Support raising is not something to be feared, it is a faith changer. Support raising has drawn our family closer together and has tightened our focus on what is most important - following Jesus step by step.

Recruitment To FCA

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 17:14:42 GMT

It started ordinarily, but by the end of the day I was challenged to dream how God can do more than one can think or imagine. I was driving to meet with my mentor, Dave, who is the NY State Director for FCA. We met monthly to talk about leadership, family, and ministry. We ordered our regular cup of coffee and sat down in the spot that became our monthly meeting territory. As we caught up, Dave shared that the Area Director for FCA had moved on and they were searching for a replacement. I learned Dave was subtly recruiting me for the position. All of this felt vaguely familiar as Dave was the coach who recruited me out of high school to play college ball at St. John Fisher.

I listened to the scope of the position, but I was comfortable at Browncroft. I loved my role as the Middle School Director and was just starting to grasp the full role. But there was something so intriguing about the idea of sharing the gospel with athletes and coaches. I knew from my own experience with coaches the gravity of their impact on athletes, for better or worse. Could I really be thinking about this jump? Could God truly call me away from what he called me to just three years ago?

After three months of deliberations with Kari, we heard God speak to us clearer than hearing your name called in a quiet room. He was telling us, "'Do you not believe? I promised you I can do immeasurably more than you think or imagine. I have made you and created you for this purpose.'" With hearing God's challenge we felt if we didn't move, it would be like telling God that we know better. So we made our verbal commitment based on God's unfailing, unwavering recruitment promise.