Local Area FCA Blog

David Parks joined the FCA staff in 2011 as the Upstate New York Director. In addition to continuing in that position, Dave has also accepted the opportunity to become the Donor Board Advancement Coordinator for the Northeast Region. This position will benefit the staff throughout our region by providing them with excellent resources and training in how to cultivate deep relationships that help local board members and donors connect their passions with the ministry in their area. “I am thankful to be in the role of Donor Board Advancement Coordinator of the Northeast Region and am excited to serve the leadership and staff members of our region. I look forward to seeing how God develops the already strong relationships between our board members and donors. What a blessing it will be to look back on these coming years and to see all of the ways the Lord uses our efforts." Regional V-P Nathan Bliss said, “I’ve had the great pleasure of working closely with Dave since he joined staff in 2011. He is a tremendous teammate and friend. Dave is systematic in his approach and has an incredible work ethic, but it is his willingness to serve others with open hands that is most impressive. FCA flourishes where our staff are able to build deep relationships within their communities. Our vision for building relationships with board members and donors goes far beyond dollars and cents. We have an opportunity to help these men and women fulfill their calling and see lives transformed by Jesus in the process. Clearly, Upstate NY has greatly benefited from Dave’s heart to do just that and I believe that God will continue to work mightily through Dave as he serves the Northeast staff.” Divisional V-P Rick Isaiah had this to say. “Dave Parks is a coach at his core and I am excited that he will be serving the Northeast Region staff as the Donor Board Advancement Coordinator. I believe God will utilize his coaching skills to equip our staff to advance our Donor and Board Advancement strategies, to minister to our donors more effectively and to strategically leverage their boards for greater impact.” Parks is an active member of Browncroft Community Church, where he has served in family and connection team ministries. He enjoys meeting people when they first discover that God has a bigger plan for their lives, and being used by the Lord to ask questions and listen, and be an encouragement for those people to go deeper and find out what He might have for them.

Ready 'After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 'Luke 14:22 Set “There is still room…. These 4 words have captured my attention since I read this passage of scripture recently. It reminded me of people all over the world who are looking to fill a void in their lives. They are looking for significance, they are looking for identity. They don’t know it yet, but they are looking for Jesus. We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives in America and we are hoping and praying that this virus passes soon. “Social distancing”, a safety measure during the pandemic, is the recommendation to stay 6 feet away from people when you are in public to avoid infecting others. While it is recommended to stay 6 feet away from other people and to wear face a mask, God is saying, come close to Him. He is not worried about a virus; He wants a relationship with all who will come. Because of God's love for us “…there is still room.” While I am committed to the Great Commission of making disciples, I believe that evangelism is a key component to biblical discipleship. As Christ followers, we must be about the work of the Great Commission, going out into the highways and the hedges, the alleys and gutters, in the FCA context, the locker rooms, football fields, wrestling rooms and courts, compelling all to come. We must do this as long as there is room and guess what…there is still room! Go 1. Write your memory of coming to faith in Jesus Christ. 2. Who has God put in your life who needs to know that there is still room? 3. Stop now and say a pray for them. Workout 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Overtime Father, I thank you that you loved us so much that while we were still sinning, You sent Your Son, Jesus to die for us. Please use us, Your children to compel all who will, to surrender their lives to Your Lordship and to walk with them as they grow in their relationship with You.

What comes to mind when you hear the word joy? One of the first thoughts that pops into my head is a carefree child running through a field, jumping in puddles or climbing a tree. A big smile on their face, they are relishing the moment, pure and simple. They aren’t concerned about running faster or farther than the day before and aren’t conscious of how they appear to someone looking on. They are taking utmost pleasure in the chance to move through the beauty of creation. This image fits well with my understanding of the word “joy” – happiness and contentment that transcends circumstances. As followers of Jesus, we always have reason for joy. The apostle Peter describes this beautifully: Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9) When we have this big picture joy, it naturally trickles down into the most seemingly mundane moments of our lives. But for athletes pursuing excellence, joy can be tricky to cultivate amidst the daily grind of training. Though our experiences differ, here are some themes I have seen and experienced in sport: As high-performing people, we set our sights on big goals, and chase after them with all we have. This means early morning practices, putting in the work when we don’t feel like it, enduring pain, and grinding out rep after rep with our eyes on the prize. When we don’t achieve our goals, or when we do and are left to seek the elusive “next big thing,” we feel empty. If we are not on our way to something greater than before, it’s hard to take pleasure in the process. Eventually our competitive days are behind us, and our approach to exercise changes. We might see it as something we have to do to stay physically healthy or look a certain way, rather than something we get to do and have fun with. The pursuit of athletic excellence is not a bad thing. God desires each of us to develop the talents He’s given us for His glory! And certainly, exercise is key to maintaining physical health throughout our lifespan. But our purpose can easily get lost amidst the daily grind, and consequently steal our joy. When the thought of going out and training or exercising every day brings about dread, or the only thing we look forward to is the end of a workout, something is off. Here are a few practical steps we can take to move joyfully, no matter what stage of life and sport we’re in: Focus on gratitude – A lifelong runner who has suffered many injuries, I’m often tempted to focus on what I can’t do anymore and be sad or bitter about it. But my heart is so much lighter when I recognize all I still can do and rejoice in it. No matter how much I might wish my body looked different or was capable of more, it truly is amazing that my heart pumps blood and my muscles contract and my eyes can behold the surroundings my Creator made, whether I am winning races or strolling through town. Make a list of all the things you’re grateful your body can do and reference it often! Make it fun – Enjoyable habits stick best! Exercise becomes so much more fun and sustainable when we chose activities we truly love. If you’re in a rut, think outside the box and try something completely new, like ice skating or rock climbing. Connect with others – Exercise is a great opportunity for fellowship. The minutes pass by effortlessly when catching up with friends, and it’s a surefire strategy for crowding out negative thoughts that might come up while moving solo. Pray and worship – When you do go it alone, invite God into it. There are so many ways to do this! Thank Him for the opportunity to exercise, and take advantage of distraction-free time to talk with Him. I once heard a great idea for interval workouts, such as running repeats on a track – dedicate each repeat as a prayer for one specific person, making it an effort motivated by love. If you like music, put on your favorite worship playlist! God is pleased when we worship Him, the Giver, as we delight in the gift. May your sweat be a joyful celebration of the gift of movement, as you run this race of life with endurance!

Ready “Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”” – Matthew 14:27 SET Have you ever encountered something that completely overwhelmed you? Maybe you faced circumstances that seemed insurmountable. Or, perhaps you found yourself totally out of your comfort zone and frozen by fear. We’ve all had those moments when we felt ourselves sinking into defeat, praying for the courage to rise above the challenge. Like a lifeline in the storm, that courage often comes from the inspiration we receive from the words of a teammate, a mentor or a loved one. To inspire means to breathe into something. Courage is what allows a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, or fear and still act. The word encourage combines inspire and courage and means to inspire with hope, courage and confidence. When you see a coworker or friend who is struggling or down, do you take some of the courage and confidence that you have and give it to them so that they are built up & filled with courage and confidence, too? That’s the greatest thing about being part of a team. Whether it’s at home, at work or in your community, we all have a team and we all will need to get picked up from time to time. The key, though, is that teammates must be willing to work together, lean on one another, and get real with one another. A great teammate is able to make the team more confident. A great teammate is an encouraging teammate who inspires others to face every obstacle with courage. GO Think about the best encourager you know. How did he or she make those around him or her more confident and courageous? Make a list of the challenges you face then share that list with at least one person who can encourage you to face them and overcome them. Find a few passages of scripture that detail ways Jesus encouraged the disciples and inspired them to place more trust in Him. Find a way to encourage a teammate this week. WORKOUT 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; Matthew 14:22-33 OVERTIME Father, thank you for surrounding me with people who are able to fill me with courage when I am afraid. Help me to be the leader, the teammate, the friend that you called me to be. Fill me with hope and courage so that I can be a source of encouragement for those I encounter today. Amen.

It’s Monday morning. The alarm goes off and your head fills with thoughts of the day’s obligations. You check your phone, take a shower, pack your bag… time to hit the road, but you haven’t eaten anything. You grab a granola bar as you rush to the car, scarf it down while you drive, and call it breakfast.

Veronica Tearney, Director of Strength & Conditioning (Nutrition and Spirit Program) at Syracuse University

When the world seemed to shut down in March, many people thought that society would return to “normal” in a few weeks or, at worst, after a few months. As the cool Northeastern nights set in, “normal” seems like a distant memory. Coaches are dealing with the prospect of another season without sports, students are either bracing for remote learning, or deciding which mask goes with their outfit and teachers are learning how to wear a mask without sounding like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Meanwhile, many of us are wondering when we’ll see the inside of our offices again. In times like these, I often ask myself, “are you zoomed out?”

Have you noticed that nutrition advice is ever-changing? Carbohydrates are good one day and bad the next. Breakfast used to be the most important meal of the day; now, you should skip it to save calories. For those of us working hard to be good stewards of the bodies God gave us, it can be downright exhausting to figure out the best way to eat.

Frank Reynoso has been on staff with FCA since 2005. Over the years Reynoso has had the honor of building up three regions through inner city development (Orlando, Miami & NYC). He also has served in national capacities, most recently as a member of FCA’s National Diversity Task Force. This August, Reynoso will assume a new role by becoming the Regional Metro Advancement Coordinator, a newly created position in the Northeast Region. While New York City will continue to be his primary focus for ministering to coaches and athletes personally, Frank looks forward to working with Northeast staff as they establish a vision and strategy for ministry in cities throughout the Northeast. Reynoso’s passion for the ministry and desire to see the ministry grow is clear. He stated, “I have been involved in over 200 camps and love to see coaches and athletes transformed by God’s love. I love training up chaplains/character coaches and look forward to Engaging, Equipping and Empowering volunteers and ministry leaders to impact their cities through Jesus Christ.” In addition to focusing on advancing the ministry in Metropolitan settings, Reynoso will also minister to the FCA staff in a Spiritual Formation capacity.