Discipleship Matters: David Melms connects graduates with current student-athletes

Sean Jensen • Apr 10, 2017

Hannah Gustafson didn't know what to expect when FCA staffer David Melms approached her and a Concordia University, St. Paul lacrosse player about a unique opportunity.

David had a female graduate looking to disciple current student-athletes."He saw us as leaders at FCA and he wanted a place to grow spiritually and ask tough questions and a space to grow in God," Hannah says.

For three months, Jen visits with Hannah and Katie at a campus coffee shop as  they get to know each other and work through "Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples," written by Francis Chan and Mark Beuving.

In the three years since the first connection, David and eight other graduates disciple to 19 current collegiate student-athletes who, in turn, disciple to 29 younger student-athletes.

At Macalester, David didn't have a mentor, which inspired him to brainstorm ways he could serve students as Minnesota FCA's Metro College Ministry Rep. But David is reluctant to focus on numbers.

"In the sports world, it’s easy to measure success," he says. "But I'm much more concerned about the quality of these relationships."

Robert Tomecek said being discipled to has been a "huge part of my relationship with Christ" and positive experience as a student-athlete.   " I can learn from someone who has been in a similar position," he says, "and someone I can trust and cares for me."

Now the senior soccer player is discipling to two younger student-athletes at Macalester.

"Knowing the importance that (discipleship) has had in my life and journey in Christ," he says, "I know the important role it can play in the lives of others."

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