by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
A mentorship program was launched officially Feb. 27 in Sartell by members of the Sartell Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The launch involved four boys from the Sartell High School hockey team who visited the Sartell Middle School Fellowship of Christian Athletes on that evening. The boys helped students with playing foot hockey and gathered the youth in the middle of the gymnasium where Carter Kasianov, captain of the high school hockey team, talked about the importance of perseverance.
“You need perseverance in school, sports and in your life,” he told the younger students. “The hockey team has worked on being positive this year and lifting each other up on the ice and in the locker room. If someone is down, we encourage them, and we noticed our team is better because of it.”
Kasianov ended his talk with a scriptural reading from Romans 5:3-5. “Not only should we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Athletic group leaders helping with the mentorship program this year are Jackie Pinkerton, a captain with the high-school girls’ hockey team, and Brandon Snoberger, captain with the high-school boys’ basketball team. Any high-school student interested in volunteering for the mentorship program is welcome to join. In 2016, seniors who help with the mentorship program will be eligible to apply for a Sartell Fellowship of Christian Athletes scholarship.
FCA huddles are held twice a week at Sartell. The high-school huddle takes place from 8:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays at the high-school auditorium, and the middle-school huddle happens from 7:30-8 p.m. Fridays at the north gym of the middle school.
Anyone with questions can contact SartellFCABoosterClub@gmail.com.
The FCA, founded in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1954, is an organization of coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school and middle-school levels. Its members “use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ.” Its meetings, now worldwide, often revolve around prayer “huddles” in schools or rallies with music and guest speakers.
In the FCA there are coaches’ ministries, which use Bible studies, prayer support, discipleship and mentoring, resources, outreach events and retreats.
There is also a campus ministry led by student athletes and coaches that involves huddles, team Bible studies, chaplain programs and coaches’ Bible studies. Outreach programs also take place, including the annual Field of Faith events on school grounds.
Two other aspects of FCA are a campus ministry that offers athletic, spiritual and leadership training at camps; and community ministry, which involves outreach programs through adult involvement in churches, organizations, businesses, clubs and area sports teams.
Students at Sartell Middle School take part in physical activity during a meeting with their high-school peers – four members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In the background are four of the FCA members (from left to right) – Carter Kasianov, Keenan Lund and JJ Lund.
Four Sartell High School members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently spent time with Sartell Middle School students. From left to right are Alec Adelman, junior; Carter Kasianov, senior; Keenan Lund, junior; and JJ Lund, senior.
Four members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from Sartell High School give a pep talk and inspirational message at Sartell Middle School. The middle school also has a chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, whose members attended the meeting with the high-school visitors.
