update - FCA Golf

Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images
Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images
FCA GOLF MINISTRY
UPDATE
SUMMER 2011
1PT»Z1V\YUL`Z
Dear FCA Golf Teammate,
One of the all-time favorite games of young people is “Capture the Flag”. If you have ever played it you would know
that the goal of this outdoor and often very physical game is for one team to capture the other teams’ flag and bring it
back to their territory.
The goal of FCA Golf is to “capture the heart” of young aspiring golfers! This is not a game but rather a real life battle
to point young people to Jesus Christ.
The stakes are high especially when you consider what young people are bombarded with today. In this age of
information, the world tells you, “be good, be happy and that God is there for me anytime (that’s true) but doesn’t require
anything in return (not true).
My Bible tells me that the cost of being a follower of Jesus requires everything! Matthew 16:24 and these are the
words that Jesus whispers:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
The purpose of FCA Golf is “to present Biblical truth to young aspiring golfers in a way that is fun and relevant.”
Bottom line, we desire to produce young Christian leaders who will go into their world and make an impact for Jesus
Christ!
Author Tim Elmore puts it this way and sums up my feelings and my heart:
“I see millions of young people who catch a vision for what their life can count for. They’ve moved from complacent
gamers or Facebook junkies to engaged change-agents. They embrace life and decide they can indeed transform society.
They see an inward picture that ignites an inward passion. They’ve discovered their gift and decided to serve it up to the
world. In a term, they become life-giving leaders.”
FCA Golf is all about impacting young aspiring golfers in order that they can make a difference for Jesus Christ to a
world that desperately needs Him!
You are invited to join the FCA Golf team as we capture the hearts of young people all around the world.
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Impacting the World for Christ through the game of golf.
In His Grip,
CAMPS
Summer 2011
It’s been one GAMECHANGING summer...
leading worship, playing golf and
having fun with campers all week.
Pictured: Christian artist Toby Mac and campers at Pine Needles camp in June.
By Matt Roop, PGA
Director of Camps
W
hat just happened here?”
said 2011 Mission 4:33 team
member, Gareth Gobey, with an
awestruck look across his face. “I’ve
never experienced anything quite like
that!”
The first week of golf camp was
coming to a close in St. Augustine,
Florida. And as the camp staff sat in
a circle debriefing the week, everyone
was amazed by what the Lord had
done in the lives of 27 golf campers.
God had shown up and young lives
had certainly been changed. What
happened? God answered our
prayers!
For the second year in a row, The
Palencia Club graciously opened
their superior teaching facility and
beautiful golf course to FCA Golf
for another great week of camp in
St. Augustine, Florida from June
13th-17th. Dan Meinert, Director
of Instruction at the Palencia Club,
assembled another great team of 10
instructors including Daniel Creamer,
Sports Psychologist, and Gerry
James two-time world long-drive
champion to name a few. In addition
to several hours of one-on-one
instruction, campers were grouped
into foursomes each afternoon
to play 9-holes in preparation for
the final-day’s 18-hole flighted
tournament. Each camper made
obvious improvement and had plenty
of fun doing it. “FCA Golf camp was
great! The instructors gave good
pointers and were fun to be with. I
was very comfortable in my Huddle
and felt very close to God. It was an
amazing experience!” said Andy, one
of our campers.
A unique aspect of FCA Golf camp is
found in a summer internship program
FCA Golf offers called Mission 4:33.
FCA Golf’s Mission 4:33 team is small
group college golfers who dedicate
their summer to FCA Golf Camp by
playing golf, worshiping, leading Bible
studies and showing our campers
what it looks like to be a Christian
athlete. The Mission 4:33 internship
exists to equip college golfers for
Christian ministry through the game
of golf. The name Mission 4:33
comes from Acts 4:33, “And with
great power the apostles were giving
their testimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great grace was
upon them all.” Needless to say,
these individuals play a vital role in the
overall experience each camper has
at camp. This year’s team was made
up of one veteran, Teal Twaddle,
from Maryville, MO and two new
team members, Kaitlyn Harville, from
Morristown, TN and Gareth Gobey,
from South Africa. It was neat to see
how God used each team members’
personality, gifts and abilities to reach
each camper in a different way. Their
testimonies, vulnerability and actions
spoke loudly, allowing each camper to
gain a greater glimpse of God’s glory
and love.
Just two weeks later, FCA Golf
relaunched its premier camp in
historic Pinehurst, North Carolina, at
Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club;
where FCA Golf’s founding Director,
Bill Lewis, conducted FCA Golf’s first
golf camp 31 years ago. In addition
to a first-class group of instructors
and huddle-leaders, Christian music
artist and Grammy Award Winner,
Toby Mac, hosted this year’s camp
fcagolf.org
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When youth are removed from their
regular routine and plugged into a
community marked with honesty and
vulnerability, where Biblical truth is
spoken, true life-change can happen
quickly. This past spring I asked you
to join us in praying that all 20 FCA
Golf Camps nationwide would ignite
a GAMECHANGING moment in the
life of each camper attending. If you
were one of the many who joined us
in prayer, THANK YOU! Nothing is
more exciting that witnessing God’s
faithfulness in answering these
prayers—one GAMECHANGING
story after another! ⚑
Mission 4:33 intern Gareth rides the wave of camp
By Gareth Gobey
Mission 4:33 Intern
in touch with Matthew Roop, FCA
Golf’s Director of Camps.
I
About the time I began discussing
Mission 4:33 with Matt, I had just
finished raising $2,000 for a mission
trip to South America that had been
cancelled. God has a great sense
of humor, because that $2,000 was
the exact amount of money I was
challenged to raise in order to cover
my travel costs for the Mission 4:33
internship. It was clear that God was
leading me to work with FCA Golf, but
I was still a little scared to jump in with
both feet.
t’s amazing to see how God works.
During my final semester at William
Jessup University (in Northern
California), Steve Burdick, a close
friend, mentor and Director of College
Golf Fellowship, encouraged me
to look into a ministry internship
opportunity with FCA Golf called
Mission 4:33.
John Darby, a College Golf Fellowship
intern, had served on the Mission 4:33
team years before and also encouraged
me to pursue the opportunity. Shortly
after, I was talking with Jim Esary, FCA
Golf’s Executive Director, who put me
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As I began learning more about
Mission 4:33, I saw a glimpse of
Matt Roop’s heart. Our phone calls
really made me feel so drawn to
this opportunity. I felt like Matt was
Impacting the World for Christ through the game of golf.
genuine and trustworthy. His heart
for the kids that would be coming to
camp was so amazing. It seemed like
we were going to have so much fun
together as a team with such fantastic
leaders like Matt. I loved that I was
going to be travelling to different
locations during the summer, as I am
South African and I absolutely love to
travel.
As I continued to learn about Mission
4:33 and prayed about it, I became
really excited about the opportunity.
I was going to be able to use golf as
a platform to share the Gospel with
kids. This is my absolute passion!
Additionally, I really wanted to gain
experience in ministry—and Mission
4:33 was going to allow me this
opportunity while playing golf for a
much bigger purpose!
short time period. The bond of Christ
is powerful—as He connects us so
closely with other believers to share
our lives with.
much and made me want to be more
radical.
The relationships built this past
As Derik spoke during the final night
summer were a major highlight. The
of camp, the most beautiful thing
bonds made with Matt Roop, Dawn
happened. God’s presence filled the
Spending time with and building into
Santo and the Mission 4:33 team
room and really became apparent
the campers in my huddle group
during our leadership training and St.
during worship. The room was so
was so awesome. I absolutely loved
Augustine Camp were so incredible. I
dense with His Spirit, it felt like I could
seeing God actively pursue campers
felt like I was a part of a family away
have swam in it. My heart felt like it
and transform them right before my
from home. I can’t believe how much
was going to explode out of my chest
eyes. I really got a glimpse of God’s
I grew in my own faith by just being
as tears were running down my face.
glory and how much he longs to be
around Matt and Dawn. I learned
Every single kid was crying their eyes
in relationship with us. It was just
so much by just watching them
out and embracing each other. It was
so amazing when He would open
interact with people, seeing their
something that I had never
hearts for the Lord
seen before. I was so
and
experiencing
very overwhelmed. I just
the absolute joy
smiled in His marvelous
overflowing in their
beauty. His love became
lives. I have never
so real and tangible that
laughed and cried
night.
so much in ten
days.
The love
Mission
4:33
has
God
surrounded
impacted my life in a huge
me with was truly
way. Seeing the “inside”
indescribable.
He
of ministry was really
showed me how to
cool. I always thought I
be open, vulnerable
had to be a really gifted
and real with people
communicator and know
who genuinely cared
my Bible inside-out in
about me. It was
order to serve in ministry.
like nothing I had
But the most impactful
ever
experienced
Pictured: Gareth with camper at the Toby Mac FCA Junior Golf Camp in Pine Needles.
thing
I saw was each
before.
The time
leader’s
servant
heart
and leadership.
a camper’s eyes so that they could
Matt & Dawn took to pour into us and
It
has
shown
me
how
God
chooses to
see God’s glory in the fullest. To see
to serve us was something very out of
use us for His purpose—which is very
the look on the campers’ faces is
the ordinary. Their servant leadership
humbling. I have learned that by being
something that I will never forget. I will
humbled and inspired me so much.
obedient to where God was leading
cherish these memories forever.
me, He blessed so many aspects of
I felt like God took my expectations
my life and the people around me.
Other highlights would include the
for this summer and blew them so
Being able to stay with and minister
unbelievable wisdom I gained from the
far out the water. All I could do was
to my family in Texas was great. We
speakers at the golf camps I attended.
smile, laugh and cry in His absolute
had amazing conversations and I
These people where so humble, real
glory. God stretched me so much
even had the opportunity to teach my
and committed to sharing the Gospel.
this summer and used me in ways I
cousin about the Bible. The softening
Just being with them had a huge
never knew I was capable of. I was so
of hearts that has taken place in my
impact on me. Derik, the speaker at
very inspired by the other FCA huddle
family has been remarkable. God
St. Augustine Camp, was preparing
leaders at all the different camps that
is working even when we can’t see
to become a full time missionary in
I went to. They made such a huge
it. I am so filled with joy from God
Taiwan—you don’t get much more
impact in my life. It was incredible
choosing to use me this summer. He
committed than that!
It was so
seeing so many young people on
has allowed me to see His glorious
amazing to see how ordinary and
fire for Christ who were so down to
grace and love cover over so many
normal he was, yet he had a strong
earth and real about the struggles
people. I am truly blessed. ⚑
desire to be obedient to where God
they faced at college. I made such
was leading him. He inspired me so
wonderful friends at camp in such a
fcagolf.org
5
OUTREACH
May 2011
The PLAYERS Championship Breakfast leads
ministry swell into summer.
The office couldn’t have been
friendlier or more frenzied. Dawn
is an organizational marvel and
immediately put me to work. With an
event the size this one is, there are
always things to do and we did get
them all done – how helpful I was is
unclear but I definitely tried to not be
an onus.
On the day of the event we arrived
at the Sawgrass Marriott bright and
early. We had been there the night
before, setting up each of the tables
with numerous amazing volunteers,
which made things go a lot faster. 650
high school and junior high kids were
expected as well as 17 pros, one at
each table. Toby Mac was on his way
to lead worship and also entertain
us all. By 6:30 a.m. enough food to
feed an army was set up; remember
we were feeding teenagers. Queues
were forming outside, everyone was
starting to get excited about the
event and the buzz was incredible.
above: Grammy award winning Christian
artist Toby Mac performs at the PLAYERS
Championship Breakfast.
By Gina Sharpe
GAMEDAY Coordinator
T
he first official event I attended
as the newest member of the
FCA Golf Ministry was the Players
Championship Breakfast in May of
this year in Jacksonville, Florida.
I had been working with Ben
organizing GAMEDAY events for a
couple of months and had numerous
conversations with our other staff but
no face-to-face meetings. So, first
order of the day was to get to town
and meet everyone. The ever-helpful
Jeff Snider picked me up at the airport
and despite huge language differences
(he is from Kentucky and I am from
England) we got along famously.
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A wave of people entered and
checked their table number before
getting their food. We had people all
over the conference room helping
attendees find their tables, chatting
with coaches, and generally catching
up with others they
hadn’t seen in a
while.
Now
you
may ask what was
I doing? Well, being
the technical genius I
am, I was helping the
sound guy. OK, so
not a techie at all but
he needed someone
to push buttons on
the projector. Yup, I
know but someone
had to…Anyway it
didn’t end up being a
Impacting the World for Christ through the game of golf.
dud job at all. I just happened to be
sitting at the table with Toby and his
band. I got to know them quite well,
how they love to minister to all kinds
of people, and we had a good laugh.
The morning went so fast with the
climax being Kevin Streelman and
Toby Mac interviewing each other.
Toby had everyone on their feet
singing and worshipping together
throughout the morning and each pro
sitting at the tables got to chat to all
the kids sitting with them, answering
their questions and sharing their faith
in an environment that was relaxed
and fun. I know that I came in on the
tail end of all the details and how
much work goes into event such as
these but, I have to say, it was an
enormous success proven by how
many people left with huge smiles
on their faces. To cap it all off, the
players and the band stuck around,
signed autographs and had photos
taken with many of the attendees.
What a fun morning! ⚑
below: PGA TOUR professional Kevin
Streelman during breakfast with one of the
local golf teams from the First Coast Area.
2011 PLAYERS Championship Breakfast
left: PGA TOUR professional and 2-time champion in
2011 Mark Wilson with some of the over 650 young
people who attended the PLAYERS Championship
Breakfast in May.
below: PGA TOUR professional and 2007 Masters Champion Zach
Johnson enjoys the morning with a group young players fron the
Ponte Vedra / Jacksonville area.
above: PGA TOUR professional and 2009 British Open
Champion Stewart Cink with a local ladies golf team from the
First Coast Area.
right: PGA TOUR professional Josh Teater during breakfast
with excited young aspiring golfers.
fcagolf.org
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TOURLIFE
February - June 2011
Husband and wife making waves on the LPGA
Futures Tour.
By Daniel & Isabelle Beisiegel
LPGA Future’s Tour Player
I
t has been such a blessing for us
to embark on this journey this year.
In December 2010, at the eve of the
LPGA Qualifying tournament, Izzy
knew that she wanted to help in some
way this year if the Lord sent her to
the Futures Tour. She knew that the
former leader (Janell Howland – now
coaching at Ole Miss) was stepping
down and that the tour really needed
the Christian fellowship to continue.
The news from Erica Blasberg’s
suicide on May 9, 2010 really brought
to the forefront the need for Jesus,
family, and community on the different
golf tours.
The year has been an amazing
learning experience – we went through
the Bible study by Tony Dungy, titled
“Quiet Strength”. One of our goals for
the year was to focus on prayer, and
we sent weekly emails to circulate a
prayer list for the players, their friends
and families, and leadership of the
golf tour.
Another objective was to try to help
each person know their purpose in
Christ, especially that it lies beyond
a golf score at the end of the day.
Tony Dungy’s book and study really
emphasized what true success is for
us children of God… in a nutshell:
glorifying Him and impacting lives
for Christ. With so much traveling
and uncertainty in golf careers, this
really means blooming where we are
planted and keeping a grateful heart.
Finally, we tried to focus on reaching
out to others in the love that Christ has
given us, and we hope that the Lord
is making those seeds grow. We are
looking forward to 2012 and see what
God has planned for us! ⚑
The touring lifestyle, the demands on
performance, and the financial stress
of professional golf can take their toll
over the years… So when Izzy did not
gain her LPGA Tour card, she was not
so distraught because she had already
felt called to help out on the Futures
Tour, and really looked forward to the
adventure. And when the Lord sent
her to qualify and play on the men’s
Canadian Tour this summer, Daniel
went along and he also felt called
to start TOURLIFE there. It began in
Canada with 2 gathering the first week
and started growing. Friendships were
formed throughout and it has been a
blessing to see God working in other
people’s hearts and lives.
The most amazing part of being part
of a group of athletes active in FCA is
witnessing how God answers prayers
and petitions of the heart at just the
right time in someone’s life, thereby
reminding them of His goodness and
love for them.
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Pictured: Daniel and Izzy Beisiegel at the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary, Alberta Canada
Impacting the World for Christ through the game of golf.
Nationwide TOURLIFE surfs into season’s end
By Jose Alvarez
Nationwide TOURLIFE Rep
T
When I began serving with FCA
Golf leading TOURLIFE on the
Nationwide Tour I had no idea what to
expect. In other words I didn’t know
that I didn’t know! After five years
of serving as the chaplain on the
Nationwide Tour, I am still learning, but
I do know more than when I began.
This year I have seen players, wives,
caddies and reps get more serious
and concerned about their lives and
what really matters in life. There has
been good turnout at the weekly
fellowship we call “TOURLIFE” as well
as early morning breakfast meetings
on Wednesdays. It seems that people
are getting real about their need for life
change and beginning to realize it’s
not about what they do that genuinely
begins that change, but in Whom they
trust. Jesus came to rescue us and it
is awesome when we see others begin
the journey in a relationship with Him.
Another blessing this year has been
the great “TMT’s” (Tour Ministry Teams)
that are taking root around the country.
These are made up of people who live in
the communities where the Nationwide
Tour has tournaments. They host the
weekly TOURLIFE fellowship, provide
meals and help support FCA Golf. It
gives them a chance to invite their
friends to an event where pros,
wives, caddies and reps from the
Tour become real people in need of a
Savior just like themselves.
What allows us to keep serving is
the many who continue to support
TOURLIFE financially. In addition to
those supporting us financially we
couldn’t continue without our great
TMT’s. They include: Hal McGregor
in Valdosta and the great host team
of the Manwell family. Tim Chapman
and his team at Stadion in Athens,
GA; Joe & Marcie Palmer in Greenville,
SC; Ken & Nicki Kinion in Raleigh, NC;
Bob Roberts, Dee Wampler and the
great people of 2nd Baptist Church
in Springfield, MO; John & Nancy
Hedrick and hosts Dave and Linda
Dickens in Kansas City, MO; Tom &
Julie Natale in Knoxville, TN; Ken &
Aleta Rannick in Chattanooga, TN.
Without these teammates TOURLIFE
would not be possible.
I am often asked about the highlights
of the ministry and even though there
really isn’t enough time to scratch the
surface, I would have to mention the
following as encouragements that
show God’s goodness and the power
of His word and involvement of the
Spirit of God.
• A player begins the journey
of freedom from a drinking
addiction after a TOURLIFE
Fellowship
• A player trusts Jesus as Lord
and Savior in Knoxville, TN
• A wife gets encouragement
from my wife Michelle
• A caddy gets help and support
from strangers
• A rep is presented a financial
blessing in a tough time of
need
• 40+ players, wives and
caddies attend movie, “Seven
Days in Utopia” in Pittsburgh,
PA
• Many first time attendees get
a glimpse of what Christian
love and fellowship is all about
• Watching former Nationwide
Tour pros win on the PGA
TOUR: Scott Stallings and
Webb Simpson.
Scott
attended FCA Golf camps as
a kid, then later served as a
huddle leader as a college
student, and now has helped
with “GAMEDAY” on the PGA
TOUR.
Each of these people as well as
countless others represent a story of
God’s grace at work in their lives. To
God be the glory as we continue to
make much of His name and His story!
We have seven tournaments left and
then its back to Q school for some,
retirement for others, uncertainty for
many and the PGA Tour for a few. We
pray for them all to have a committed
relationship with the Lord and a clear
understanding that golf is what they do
and not who they are. Please pray we
at FCA Golf and TOURLIFE continue
to be faithful to the calling. ⚑
Pictured: Jose Alvarez praying with a caddy during a Nationwide TOURLIFE event.
fcagolf.org
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Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Ministry
PO Box 664
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004
866.526.4653  [email protected]
fcagolf.org
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