HISTORY. Mission. Vision. Values

Transcription

1

2 Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, middle school and youth levels to use the powerful medium of sports to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is the largest interdenominational, school-based, Christian sports ministry in America. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ. Mission 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. Vision To see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Values Our relationships will demonstrate steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word through Integrity (demonstrate Christ-like wholeness, privately and publicly,) Serving (model Jesus example of serving,) Teamwork (express our unity in Christ,) and Excellence (honor and glorify God in all we do.) HISTORY (Vail 1992) Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) was founded in 1954 by a high school basketball coach who recognized the incredible influence of athletes and coaches in our society. Specifically, he recognized the potential influence of Christian athletes and coaches who were not ashamed of their faith, and desired to use the platform and influence to be positive role models and share God s love and truth with others. FCA is a 501(c) (3) non-profit interdenominational organization promoting positive principles to sports-minded individuals around the globe. FCA is the largest sports ministry in the world. Over 2 million athletes and coaches were impacted by FCA in The FCA Ministry is made up of over 1,000 staff in 450 field offices across the United States. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Lacrosse Ministry was officially established in the summer of 1988 with a lacrosse camp at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA, followed by its first outreach breakfast at the US Lacrosse Coaches Convention that December. The first FCA Lacrosse Team competed in the Vail Lacrosse Shoot-Out in July, The first FCA Lacrosse Staff person was hired in The ministry has since grown to over 4,000 members and has developed the 4C s of the FCA Ministry (Coaches, Camps, Campus, Community) to have a significant impact upon the lacrosse community. The FCA Lacrosse Ministry is for any athlete, coach, fan or friend of the lacrosse community who loves lacrosse and has an openness or desire to grow in his/her relationship with God. FCA is committed to developing three-dimensional athletes and coaches who want to fulfill their potential physically, mentally and spiritually. (Lake Placid 2013)

3 WELCOME FROM FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES LACROSSE Dear FCA Lacrosse Teammates, Thank you for being a part of FCA Lacrosse in 2013! We are excited to have you with us and we welcome you into the FCA Lacrosse Family. This experience will be a great time of fun and fellowship together as we explore this year s FCA theme, RELENTLESS. (based on Hebrews 10:39) But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life. The heart of every FCA Lacrosse player and coach should be RELENTLESS. The passionate pursuit of greatness propels each player to the edge of his or her ability and beyond. Fierce persistence and unyielding determination have defined the great players throughout the history of the game. We want FCA Lacrosse players to be RELENTLESS in conditioning, RELENTLESS in practice and RELENTLESS in competition. Their never-ceasing commitment to excellence brings out the best in them and those around them. It defines how they become the best that they can be. God s love for us and His pursuit of us is RELENTLESS. His plan for us is to have abundant and eternal life in Jesus Christ. When we relentlessly pursue God with a desperate, determined heart, God will use us to the edge of our abilities and beyond. It s time to live like a champion for the Lord. It s time to be RELENTLESS! It is an exciting time to be a part of the FCA Lacrosse Ministry as we work together to influence, equip, and impact hundreds of lacrosse players, coaches, and their families. FCA Lacrosse is strong and expanding. We are positioning ourselves for significant growth not only in the United States, but also internationally as well. We hope that you continue to join us and consider getting further involved by praying for the ministry, serving in the ministry, giving to the ministry, and connecting other families to the ministry. Together we will continue to see the lacrosse community impacted for Jesus Christ! Many blessings, Ryan Horanburg, Executive Director Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lacrosse 3

4 FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES LACROSSE STAFF HOW IT WORKS Many times we are asked how FCA Lacrosse operates. We are always excited to share our story and how God has used our ministry and our personal stories to impact the lacrosse community. Unlike other club teams, sports organizations, or for-profit lacrosse programs, FCA Lacrosse operates completely on financial support raised by the staff and leadership board. Ryan Horanburg Executive Director Merissa Bogdanor Women s Director mbogdanor@fca.org Scott Hodgson Men s Ministry shodgson@fca.org Josh Hoffman Men s Ministry jhoffman@fca.org Drew Wardlow Men s Ministry dwardlow@fca.org Jen Noon Women s Ministry jnoon@fca.org Lauren King Women s Ministry lking@fca.org THIS IS OUR FULL TIME JOB There are currently five full time staff people for FCA Lacrosse. All five staff people are responsible for raising our personal income by inviting friends, family, and members of our community to partner with us and financially support our role in this ministry. Everyone on the FCA Lacrosse staff has made a leap of faith in their spiritual lives and has followed God s calling to be in ministry and invest in impacting the lacrosse community for Jesus Christ. We work year round developing relationships and impacting the lacrosse community both nationally and internationally. While the summer is non-stop tournaments, camps, clinics, and trips, we spend our down time planning events, organizing logistics, raising financial support for the ministry, attending lacrosse conventions, investing in athletes, and much more. What about player fees and registration costs? We work hard to keep player fees and registration costs as low as possible. All of our coaches and huddle leaders volunteer their time for the reward of having an impact on the lives of lacrosse players around the country. All player fees include tournament registration costs, FCA Lacrosse gear, FCA Bibles, group ministry events, as well as help defray the cost of travel for our volunteer coaches and huddle leaders. JOIN A HOME TEAM If you appreciated your experience with FCA Lacrosse and/or want to join our ministry in support of our mission to impact the Lacrosse community for Jesus Christ, please consider supporting our staff financially. We encourage you to experience the deepness of God s love by returning the blessings he has given to you. We ask that you take the time to pray and see if God is leading you to give to this specific ministry. God is teaching us how pleased He is when we honor Him and make sacrifices that require us to depend on his provision. Throughout the Bible, God calls us to give our first fruits, our tithe, or treasure, etc in His name so that we can further depend on Him. When we do this, it is amazing to see how God in turn provides for us. I hope that you will take the time to learn about this ministry, our vision, and what God is doing in the lives of lacrosse players involved with our ministry Each FCA employee has a Home Team that consists of people who contribute monthly to meeting the employee s support needs. Please consider joining a Home Team and the ministry of FCA Lacrosse. It is a wonderful opportunity to stay involved with the ministry, to support our roles in the lacrosse community, and to allow athletes the chance to grow in their sport and their faith at the same time. You can easily sign up for monthly support online at or send your monthly or annual check by mail to the FCA Lacrosse office in MD (913 Ridgebrook Road, Suite 300, Sparks, MD 21152). Thank you for taking interest in where God has called us and for taking the time to consider supporting God s ministry to the lacrosse community. We pray that you have been impacted by your experience with FCA Lacrosse this year. 4 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

5 WHAT NOW HOW TO STAY CONNECTED TO FCA It is the goal of the FCA Lacrosse Staff to find a way to keep you connected to FCA throughout the year, and there is no better way than to get connected at the local level. In addition to that, we will keep you informed with everything that is going on within the FCA Lacrosse community through the FCA Lacrosse Weekly Update, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Did you know that FCA does more than just lacrosse and that you can be involved with FCA all year long? FCA has over 1,000 staff all around the country, and there s an extremely good chance that there is someone right in your own back yard. One aspect of something done at the local level is called Campus Ministry. Campus Ministry is designed to impact high schools and middle schools. There are four goals of Campus Ministry. Sharing Christ - Ultimate purpose and meaning comes from a personal relationship with Jesus. Our Campus Ministry desires to help athletes realize that faith in Jesus has positive effects in a person s life. Seeking Christ - Campus Ministry provides the environment and direction to help those who are interested in seeking God. Opportunities come in Huddle meetings, team Bible studies, team chapels, etc. Those involved also are trained to seek God on their own through quiet times, personal Bible studies, involvement in a local church, etc. Leading Others - The FCA Campus Ministry can serve as a training ground for leaders of tomorrow. These student-led, student initiated groups provide opportunities for these emerging leaders to have a great impact as they learn to be a leader for Christ. Loving Others - In FCA s Campus Ministries, we strive to demonstrate and live lives of total acceptance and love. In these environments, young people have the opportunity to grow and develop into the people they were destined to be. How do I get connected to a local ministry? Contact your FCA Staff. They will help you get connected back home. To find information on your local FCA office call toll free (800) , or visit fca.org and click on the find local staff link. 913 Ridgebrook Road Suite 300 Sparks, MD

6 MORE THAN WINNING Since the first FCA Lacrosse Team competed in the Vail Lacrosse Tournament in 1992, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Lacrosse Ministry has been blessed to win several lacrosse tournament championships. In 2013, FCA Lacrosse was blessed with the following Championship Teams: 2013 U-13 Boys Warrior Vail Tournament, Championship Team 2013 U-17 Boys Warrior Vail Tournament, Championship Team 2013 Gait Cup B Division, Champions MORE THAN WINNING 2013 Boys High School Gold Division Lake Placid Tournament, Championship Team 2013 Boys High School Silver Division Lake Placid Tournament, Championship Team 2013 Girls High School Division Lake Placid Tournament, Championship Team At FCA Lacrosse we think it s important to recognize the championship success that we have had on the field. But, it s important to remember that it is possible to be victorious and still not finish first! As followers of Jesus Christ, we encounter all sorts of battles, wars, and struggles. We battle against personal weaknesses. We war against a sex and alcohol saturated label on the sport of lacrosse. We struggle with making godly choices. Sometimes at the end of the day, we feel defeated. But, by keeping our eyes on Christ and His Word, we gain small victories every day. As we obey Him in the small, daily choices in our lives, He sets us firmly on a winning course. FCA Lacrosse looks forward to having many victories both ON and OFF the field in

7

8 It is estimated that less than five percent of coaches across the country are coaching according to Biblical principles. At the same time, FCA Lacrosse recognizes that one coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime. The opportunity for coaches to use their platform to reach young people for Christ is unprecedented. THE FOUR Cs OF MINISTRY John Wooden, Basketball Hall of Fame Member, Former Head Basketball Coach, UCLA FCA is a great organization, and it serves an outstanding purpose. It is a wonderful opportunity for young people. I like to see how it has progressed at the various campuses throughout the country. At FCA Lacrosse, our desire is to help coaches become deliberate and intentional about coaching their players in three dimensions: mind, body, and spirit. We feel like this effort to coach beyond the 1st Dimension (strength, power, cardiovascular, speed, quickness, technique, repetition, tactics) certainly can help you achieve the results you are after on the scoreboard. More importantly, however, we feel that coaching in the 2nd Dimension (motivation, confidence, intensity, focus, emotions, mental imagery, goal setting, team cohesion) with the intent of capturing the hearts of your athletes (3rd Dimension), will lead to true significance, as you play an instrumental role in the internal transformation of the athletes who have been entrusted to your care. FCA Lacrosse ministers to coaches through staff contacts, resources, and the annual IWLCA, IMLCA, and US Lacrosse Coaches Conventions will mark the 26th year that FCA Lacrosse has had a breakfast at the US Lacrosse Coaches Convention. The 2014 Convention is taking place in Philadelphia, January Nick Myers, Head Lacrosse Coach, Ohio State University I fully support FCA and the blessing it is. Anything I can do to get my players connected to with others who can share their Faith I am in full support of. FCA Lacrosse camps offer male and female athletes and coaches a week of inspiration and perspiration. Camps provide athletes a wide variety of ages and skill levels the opportunity to receive top instruction both ON and OFF the field in their sport and in their faith. 8 Campers at FCA Lacrosse camps are given an opportunity to hear the gospel from college coaches and players who share the love for the game of lacrosse with Jesus Christ. The best way to understand the experience that a camper has at camp is to experience it yourself.

9 Campus Ministry is initiated and led by student-athletes and coaches on middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country. The backbone of FCA Lacrosse Campus Ministry is Team Bible Studies. These Bible Studies are led by players, sponsors, or coaches and utilize resources provided by FCA as the content for studies. FCA Campus ministry is the largest Christian campus ministry in America. We serve thousands of adult volunteers who work hands on with the students. Often we say that significant ministry begins not when the FCA staff show up on campus, but when the staff leave. Our goal is to encourage, equip and empower volunteers so that we truly give the ministry away. Therefore, it is imperative that we provide training and structure for Huddle Coaches. FCA Lacrosse reaches the community through partnerships with the local churches, businesses, parents and volunteers. These ministries not only reach out to the community, but also allow the community to invest in athletes and coaches. We are blessed to have an active, caring, and generous lacrosse community that helps to provide the resources and support necessary to help our ministry happen. THE FOUR Cs OF MINISTRY The two main components of the FCA Lacrosse community ministry are Teams Ministry and International Ministry. FCA Teams are available for male and female lacrosse players all across the United States. Teams begin at the youth level and continue through the grand master s level. FCA Lacrosse teams compete in various lacrosse tournaments throughout the country. FCA Lacrosse teams compete in various lacrosse tournaments through the country. In 2013, FCA Lacrosse had 68 teams playing underneath the banner of FCA. Internationally, FCA Lacrosse is just getting started. We had our 2nd International FCA Lacrosse trip take place in 2013 to Nicaragua. We are continuing to lay the foundation for future opportunities to take FCA Lacrosse players, coaches, and family members oversees and are planning to have two opportunities in Right now we are working together with a couple partners, while examining how each ministry would be grown and enriched in a mutually beneficial working relationship. We have one full time staff person, located in Ukraine, who is focused 100% on lacrosse. 9

10 LAUREN KING Christopher Newport University Class of 2013 Hometown: Fairfax, VA High School: W.T. Woodson 09 Position: Attack How did you get involved with FCA? In High School I served at local FCA camps as a camper and a huddle leader. I was challenged to think about why I believed, and how I could share Christ with others. FCA provided me opportunities to serve, share, and grow in my faith. PLAYER PROFILE How have you continued your involvement with FCA in college? At CNU some other athletes and I saw the need for ministry among athletes and started an FCA Huddle. It is powerful to be a part of a community where athletes can come together and share struggles and provide encouragement in one another s lives. Life as a student athlete would be much harder without the support that my FCA friends have provided. I know they will be with me through the wins and the losses. How is FCA Lacrosse different from other sports organizations, teams, or programs? FCA Lacrosse is unique because it provides the opportunity for lacrosse players to unite together in Christ and spur one another on in faith and lacrosse. The friendships that I have made are valuable, and I am grateful to connect with other college lacrosse players who I see at camps, tournaments, and games and know that we are all playing for the same purpose. What is your vision for FCA Lacrosse in the future? I am eager to see more girls unite together and draw closer to the Lord through lacrosse. Providing a network for Christian lacrosse players is so vital because it can be lonely trying to play for Christ on the field. I am excited to see the FCA Lacrosse community grow because there will be more athletes having an incredible life-changing experience. 10

11 FRANKIE KELLY University of North Carolina Class of 2014 Hometown: Lutherville, MD High School: Calvert Hall 10 Position: Midfield How did you first get involved with FCA? For as long as I can remember, I have been watching, playing for, and coaching FCA lacrosse teams. Growing up, this ministry gave me amazing people to look up to in the lacrosse world. How did being involved with FCA affect you? These guys proved to me that being a Christian in the lacrosse community is a cool thing, and that it is possible to have true fellowship outside the usual locker room banter. FCA teams grew and encouraged my relationship with God all through middle and high school. How has having other Christian lacrosse players on your team helped you in your faith? In my first two years at UNC, my experience with FCA gave me the tools and the courage to reach out to teammates through our weekly team Bible study. These Bible studies have been very rewarding, as several of us Tar Heels have grown closer to each other and closer to God through studying scripture and talking about life. PLAYER PROFILE What about your upcoming junior year excites you? I m pumped to dive deeper into relationships with my teammates, especially the incoming freshmen and my cousin, Patrick. I want to be intentional about drawing my teammates closer to the message of the gospel through our Bible studies and weekend trips to church. Overall, I can t wait to start the second half of my college career and continue to use any influence I have as a college lacrosse player to glorify God. 11

12 MARY SCHWARTZ Head Women s Lacrosse Coach Roanoke College - Salem, VA (2005-present) Head Women s Lacrosse Coach at Davidson College - Davidson, NC ( ) ODAC Coach of the Year 2009 Hometown: Blue Bell, PA How did you get involved with FCA? I met with FCA staff in Virginia to talk about how we could partner to reach the lacrosse community. I have a passion for reaching players and coaches and telling them about Jesus, and I realized that is what FCA is all about. I connected with the FCA Lacrosse sport-specific ministry. Partnering with them to reach the women s lacrosse community, I was the Head Clinician at Gettysburg Camp the first year the camp included girls. COACHES PROFILES How has your involvement with FCA Lacrosse influenced your life? It was encouraging to see other coaches and players at camp who held a shared vision of impacting the lacrosse world for Jesus Christ. FCA Lacrosse helped me find other coaches to connect with, somewhere to turn for encouragement and prayer, and overall just a sense of support in a world of competition and negativity. GLEN MILES Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach, St. Margaret s Episcopal School - San Juan Capistrano, CA Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach, San Clemente High School - San Clemente, CA ( ) USA National Team Member (1990) United States Naval Academy (1986) First Team All-American and McLaughlin Award Winner How did you get involved with FCA? I have been around FCA Lacrosse since it began in I was not a member of an FCA Lax team but a competitor. I actually probably had a bit of attitude about the Christian guys having no idea what that meant at the time. Deep down I knew there was something special about a relationship with Christ but I was not willing to listen in those days. At a lax tournament in the summer of 2004 I was invited to fellowship with an FCA Lax team and later actually played on the team in the same event. It was during this time that I experienced my spiritual rebirth. How has meeting other Christian lacrosse players and coaches helped you in your faith? Playing with and coaching other Christians has been an absolute blessing. There is a tremendous bond between players and coaches that exists simply through the game and the spirit of lacrosse, and we take those bonds to another level as brothers in Christ. Another very cool thing is that when you have a few brothers around you during stressful times and times of various temptations, you have a supportive fellowship that allows you to express your challenges and fears in a spirit of trust and absolute truth. 12

13 1. One Way 2 Play - Drug Free (OW2P) is a systemic program developed to confront the problem of drug use among students by instilling values, encouraging goal setting, and establishing accountability through positive peer pressure. It challenges students to sign a commitment card to be alcohol and drug free. 2. OW2P contains three critical elements that make this program one of the most effective in America today: Faith that they can be forgiven and receive wisdom to make good decisions, and have the strength to carry out those decisions (faith based programs are proven to be the most effective among young people today!) Commitment to say No to alcohol and drugs, as well as help others keep their commitments, and sign the commitment pledge (students have a 60% greater chance to follow through on a commitment that they sign.) Accountability to their friends, group leaders and families to keep their pledge (5 key accountability questions allow students to have peer help students have an 85% greater chance to follow through on their commitment if they stay accountable to a peer once a week.) 3. OW2P is implemented through our existing programs that have a 57-year history: Camps (over 45,000 athletes and coaches attended last summer who were presented with the OW2P program) and Huddles (6,300 in-school campus clubs on the Middle School, High School, and College levels who are challenged at least once a year.) OW2P meets two great needs as we work to establish a huddle in every school: (1) serves as a way to meet the needs the coaches face every day; (2) it is a known fact that drug and alcohol use is an epidemic among the youth today. 4. OW2P provides resources to assist the group leader. Implementation packets contain a booklet that outlines the philosophy and concepts behind OW2P, videos, books, clothing, merchandise, and media kits. One very consistent response I get is, Wow. It wasn t just another boring assembly with some authority figure pounding information into our heads. Their response typically is, Thank you for taking the time to come down to our level and reason with us. And that makes a difference. Steve Fitzhugh, former Denver Bronco One Way 2 Play - Drug Free! is FCA s program to confront the problem of drug use. It goes far beyond Just Say No! campaigns because it helps you create a powerful, healthy atmosphere and provides clear information and guidance for young people. We address the entire scope of the teens lives, not just one behavior. This comprehensive approach takes longer to communicate and more care to implement, but the quality of relationships which are built will be the basis for healthy communication for any topic your group discusses. More than 545,000 students, athletes, coaches and those whom they influence have signed OW2P cards, committing to live and play alcohol and drug free. Young people who want to live and play drug-free are being given the opportunity to make a commitment. To have a OW2P Drug Free presentation at your school or for more information call or go online to

14 MATT STOVER FCA MARYLAND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER NFL PRO-BOWL KICKER PARENT OF FCA LACROSSE PLAYERS JENNA, JACOB AND JOE I have come to believe that the life you have is God s gift to you. The life you live is your gift to God. Ever since the first grade, football was a big part of my life. When I was eleven, I was a punt, pass & kick champion. I was a kicker, punter & wide receiver in high school, but I chose to specialize in kicking. Louisiana Tech signed me to a full scholarship, and I went on to kick all four years at Louisiana Tech, where I received many honors. The dream of my life was to become a professional football player. That dream came true on April 23, 1990, when I was drafted by the New York Giants. I was the only kicker chosen in the entire 1990 draft. The Giants went on to win the Superbowl my rookie year. My dream of being able to play professional football came true, but it did not bring the inner fulfillment and peace of mind I was seeking. The world told me that I would find satisfaction in and fulfillment through my success on the field, and that money, fame and material possessions would fill the sense of incompleteness and lack of peace I felt. But I found that neither a Superbowl ring nor a Championship team could satisfy me and fill the void in my life. Later that same year, I left the Giants to play for the Cleveland Browns and continued my search for fulfillment. THE PURSUIT OF FULFILLMENT I found the answer! I was at a Christian conference for professional athletes, and the speaker was talking about Mark 8:35 & 36. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? I had always gone to church, so I knew about Jesus Christ. However, He wasn t in control of my life I was. God was someone who I would go to at my own convenience whenever I needed something. I had an open/closed door policy. I would open the door when I needed something (like making a field goal or scoring high on a test), and close the door when I didn t need Him or didn t want Him to see what I was doing (especially if I was doing something bad). I wanted to let my old self go and allow Jesus Christ to come into my life and take control. THE DISCOVERY OF FULFILLMENT My life began to take on many new changes when I placed Christ in control. What I had sought through athletic accomplishments, I now found in a growing relationship with Christ. Having achieved the peace of mind I was looking for, I no longer had to please everybody else, or be what everybody else wanted me to be. It was easy to follow the crowd, but growing as a Christian gives me the courage to stand where I want to be, even when it is different from others. Because of Christ, the way I play the game of football has also changed. Before February of 1992, I was playing football for myself for my own glory. My motivation is no longer just to be the best, but rather to be the best I can be for God s glory and honor. I have come to believe that the life you have is God s gift to you. The life you live is your gift to God. It is a great feeling to kick that game-winning field goal with six seconds remaining and you re down by two points. You have 80,000 fans wishing you will either make it or miss it, and one or the other will happen. If I make it, I know the success from kicking the game-winning field goal is still not enough to fill the emptiness in my life. I also know that if I miss it, Christ is in control of my life, and that I get my fulfillment from knowing Him personally not from making a field goal. If you have never had a relationship with Christ, I hope you will consider making that decision. In summary, some of the things you need to know to grow in your relationship with God are: 14

15 WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEVELOPING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? GOD S POSITION The Scriptures tell us that God is a God of love, grace, mercy, compassion, righteousness, holiness, justice, and perfection. (John 3:16, Matthew 5:48) MAN S CONDITION The Scriptures tell us that man falls short of God s standard of perfection and could face the penalty of death or eternal separation from God, thus failing to enjoy God s love. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 59:2) GOD S PROVISION The Scriptures tell us that God s love for us is so great, that God, in the person of Jesus Christ took the initiative in searching for us. God ultimately substituted His Son, Jesus Christ s perfection for our imperfection. Through Christ s death, burial, and resurrection, God ultimately satisfied both His love and perfection, thereby making a relationship and eternal life with Him possible. (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 4:10, John 3:16) MAN S DECISION The Scriptures tell us that the search for God ends in a choice to either accept or reject God s provision for our imperfection or sin. Accepting God s gift involves admitting the truth about ourselves, that we have failed to measure up to God s standard and that we are separated from Him, and be willing to trust and receive His provision/ Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Romans 6:23, John 1:12) PRAYER Such an expression of faith often begins with a prayer like this: Dear God: I admit that I am imperfect and that you are perfect. I know I am a sinner and understand that my sin separates me from You. I believe that Your love is so great that You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to live, be crucified, die and rise again so that my sins could be forgiven. Jesus, I believe You came to heal the broken hearted and to set the captive free and by faith, I want to place my trust in You as my Savior. Thank you for forgiving me and healing me and giving to me the gift of Your love and eternal life. Amen.

16 Joe Breschi, Head Lacrosse Coach, University of North Carolina Thank You FCA Lacrosse! What you do as an organization is an inspiration to all of us in so many ways. Meredith Newton, University of North Carolina 2011 As athletes, God has given us a platform to glorify Him through our sport. The sports world has its challenges and temptations, but FCA Lacrosse has encouraged me to stand firm in my faith and use my sport to impact lives for Jesus. Kevin Buchanan, MLL Player for Boston Cannons, Ohio State 2008 FCA Lacrosse allows me to practice two things that are extremely important to me, my faith and lacrosse. Chris Garrity, Former MLL Goalie of the Year and U.S. Men s National Team Member FCA has given me an opportunity to share my passion for both my Christian faith and lacrosse with other athletes, coaches and fans. It is a foundation for which I immediately felt open to be a part of and share with others. Joe Cummings, Charlotte Hounds, University of Maryland 2012 Last summer was an amazing experience with FCA. They are truly making a difference in the lives of lacrosse players. I was thankful to be a part of it. KC Emerson, Johns Hopkins 2015 Playing with FCA was a turning point experience- meeting so many amazing people was inspiring. I ve kept in touch with many of the girls. I really needed FCA and it had such a great impact on me. Thank you for doing what you do and being a great influence in the lives of many young women, like myself. Brendan Porter, LXM Pro Tour Player, Rutgers University 2011 FCA Lacrosse has been so instrumental in helping me grow in my faith, and understanding how to glorify God with my sport and life daily. Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lacrosse 913 Ridgebrook Road Suite 300 Sparks, MD