Stories From The Field

More Than a Record Dwight began Becker High School’s football program from the ground up. There was no field, no equipment and initially only seven players interested in playing. Over the decades that followed, the program grew into one of Minnesota’s most successful. Yet Dwight told Allen that the lasting value of coaching has never been found simply in the scoreboard. His hope is that the young men who leave his program become better husbands, fathers and members of their communities. His approach to coaching begins with knowing his athletes personally, caring about them and making sure every player understands that he matters. “If a kid knows that you really care and you love him, he’ll run through the wall for you,” Dwight said. For Matt, that distinction became one of the central lessons of the book. “The goal in coaching is to win every game,” Matt explained. “Your purpose is to impact lives in a positive way.” That difference between goal and purpose has shaped generations of Lundeen’s players, coaches and family.

A message from East Metro MN Admin, Anna Shoberg: Last week I was working in our East Metro Camp Database, tying things up from the last few months of camps, when I realized....that this summer we hit an astounding milestone. The East Metro has seen over 1,000 elementary-aged students served at camps. THANK YOU, GOD!!!!! Our previous Area Director, Brent Voight, started running the very first FCA camps in the East Metro back in 2018. I was scrolling through the list of camper names we have kept over the years. As I scrolled through that list of names and realized that we had hit this mark, it left me in tears. Since Brent's very first camp at Community of Grace back in 2018 until the last day of our camps this summer, there have been 1,000 kids from all over our neighborhoods who have participated in one of our local camps. This is NOT just a list of names. These are students who have come and heard the name of Jesus. Every day, for at least a week, many of them more as they came back year after year.

Leadership is influence . We may never know exactly who we will influence, when that influence will happen, or how deeply it will shape someone’s life. For huddle coaches and athletes across Southwest Minnesota, that influence becomes intentional through The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Southwest MN FCA recently held its annual Leadership Summit where we engage, equip, and empower coaches and athletes to lead their huddles well and, more importantly, to become disciples who make disciples. 

A message from the Northland FCA LEADership Camp Director, Brent Voight.

Another shared something many of us need to hear: "It impacted me by showing me that I'm not alone in my struggles. I have people around me going through the same things. Then it helped me realize there was only one plan—the Cross." A first-time camper described discovering not only a deeper faith, but a community of people walking through similar challenges: "I realized the people around me were having many of the same struggles I was. It helped me learn how to walk through those things with the Lord while building meaningful friendships. I can't wait to come back." That may be one of the greatest gifts of camp. Students discover they aren't alone. They learned that everyone carries burdens, that Christ meets them in those struggles, and that authentic Christian community is a powerful reminder of God's love and faithfulness. These six students represent just a small glimpse of what God is doing through FCA Camps across Minnesota. As they return home, back to classrooms, locker rooms, practices, and everyday life, our prayer is that what God began this week continues to grow. Jesus never promised His followers an easy life. In fact, He promised we would face trials. But He also promised His presence. Would you join us in praying for these six young leaders? Pray that they would continue putting Christ first, boldly living out their faith, and sharing the hope they found at Leadership Camp with teammates, classmates, friends, and family.

2026 marks 15 years of Jr. Sports Camp in Southwest MN!

"The question isn't whether storms will come. The question is what we're standing on when they do."