Coaches Ministry - Impacting the Iron Range

Minnesota FCA has coaches huddles all around the state. Some are large and some are small, but all are impacting coaches with the Gospel and growing them deeper in discipleship so they can go on and influence their teams for Christ. 

A few weeks ago, we shared about the coaches huddle at Bemidji State University. This group of ten coaches from one university is made up of committed Christ-followers growing in discipleship together. The impact on the FCA huddle has already been impressive, and we are grateful for the work God is doing in and through these coaches on a large scale.

But there is another coaches huddle in northeast Minnesota - with three coaches from three different high schools in the Iron Range. It may not be an impressive number, but ask Bill Adamson, NE MN Area Rep, and he will tell you that leading this huddle is more than worth it! 

It all started when one athletics director recommended that Bill start meeting with one coach to help him with his coaching. “At the end of each meeting, I would ask, ‘Do you want to keep meeting?’ and he always responded with, ‘YES! Please!’ At first, it was just building a relationship and talking about his last football game. Then I would give him some 3D coaching strategies and share some videos, and he watched every one.” He soaked everything in and continually wanted to learn more about each dimension of coaching.

When a coach implements strategies from all three dimensions, the transformation is remarkable. The first dimension of 3D coaching is the physical where the fundamentals are taught and the body is trained. The second dimension encompasses things like motivation, confidence, emotions, and team cohesion. The third dimension connects the body, mind, and spirit and incorporates deeper personal issues like character, identity, purpose, self-worth, significance, and value (Want to know more? Click here.)

As this high school coach began implementing the 3D coaching principles, Bill noticed a marked difference between this coach’s coaching style and that of the head coach. He also noticed the reactions of the athletes to both styles of coaching. This coach noticed the difference as well. Bill said, “He wanted to know more about the 3rd dimension and how God related to all of it.”

Bill gave him a book by Jeff Duke called, “3D Coach: Capturing the Heart Behind the Jersey.” The book goes deeper into the 3rd dimension, including the faith component. Before he started meeting with Bill, this coach was an occasional churchgoer, but as he started moving through this book and the 3rd dimension principles, he grew more and more excited about his own faith. 

In case you’re thinking it’s all talk, Bill said this: “I went to the first practice this fall, and compared to last year, there is a whole different level of energy and attitude. The other coaches even made a comment about how different it is.” Not only will the athletes be impacted, but the other coaches will be as well. What a win!

Since then, another coach has joined the huddle. The group started moving through a video study called “Doing Sports God's Way.” Bill and the two coaches would watch the video and do the lesson together. Each video contained a spiritual component. Like the first coach, the second had also been a casual churchgoer. Their faith walks were not a priority. As they worked through this study, that began to change. The final session is about making a commitment to Christ. Bill asked if they were ready for that, “and they both said, ‘Yes!’”

Now they are getting ready for their next study and thinking of who they can invite to join them while also learning to be better coaches to their entire football teams. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18). These two coaches, who only recently got serious about their walks with God, are already thinking like a disciple and desire to go and make disciples themselves. They are at the beginning of an exciting faith journey as they grow and learn with other coaches and bring these transformations to their teams and spheres of influence. 

God is truly making a difference in people’s lives, both for now and for eternity, through FCA and the coaches huddle. It makes clear why FCA’s mission of transforming the world for Christ is done “to and through the coach.” These two coaches were not living for Jesus before they joined the coaches huddle, but now they are committed to following Christ with their whole lives. They have the potential now to reach dozens of athletes every year with the Gospel. 

There is great potential for reaching hundreds of coaches around the state through FCA coaches huddles. The only limitation to seeing more heart transformation happens to be a number. As was stated at the beginning, while numbers shouldn’t be a driving force in determining whether ministry is successful, it is also true that more FCA staff members can reach more coaches who will reach more athletes who will impact their worlds with the Gospel of Christ for generations. 

Would you pray that God would continue to move in and through coaches and that He would raise up additional staff members who want to impact the sports world with the Gospel?