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SWLA FCA Disaster Relief
November 11, 2020
This past 9 months have been a challenge as we all have been thrown multiple curve balls, change ups, mixed in with well-located fast balls, with a surprise slider on occasion!!! We have all learned, or are in the process of learning, how to adjust in a moment’s time. HOWEVER, the one constant we have faced is change. It is good that we can trust in a Savior that “is the same yesterday, today, and forever”
because HE is our constant in a changing world.
As we close in on the end of 2020, SWLA FCA, would like to give an update on ministry the past several months.
Ministry through COVID and the 2 Hurricanes has been, and continues to be, a definite adaptation to ministering outside the box. Below is some of the ways we have adapted to these changes and ministered to Coaches and athletes.
Through the “blessing” of technology/ZOOM (I never thought I would call Technology a blessing!)
MINISTRY During Hurricanes Laura and Delta
Since our FCA core ministry is to coaches, our goal for Hurricane Disaster Relief was to “serve the servants” so that our coaches could be freed up to goabout ministering to their athletes.
Bigger than the challenges presented have been the “Blessing” of so many teams and FCA staff coming into SWLA to help physically and financially in our Disaster Relief efforts.
The below individuals and groups gave their time and energy to make it possible for SWLA FCA to serve 60+ Coaches Families clear lots and clean houses of debris, praying with each homeowner, and on many occasions sharing a “pre work” devotion.
Drew Beard, Southwest Regional VP
Terry Slack, Louisiana State FCA Director
Baton Rouge FCA Staff (TS Noble, Ira Jewitt, Alex Wharton, Amanda Jennings
Lafayette FCA Staff
Central Louisiana FCA
UL FCA
LSU Eunice FCA
SWLA Rodeo FCA
Cris Sanford Family
Clint Sanford Family
Drew Mill Family
Jon Ringo Family
Scott Fitzgerald Family
Brad Forsythe Family
Cade and Candice Marcental (the tractor was clutch)
Thunder Cat Youth Soccer Team and Parents
McNeese Baseball and Softball Teams
Southeastern University Coaches/Athletes
ULM Coaches / Athletes
Teurlings Catholic Coaches / Athletes
Catholic Pointe Coupee Coaches/Athletes
Andy Hankins/ Johnson Funeral Home
Equally important were the following individuals and teams that donated financially so that SWLA FCA could give out 70 $100 Gift Cards to Coaches Families from the Disaster Relief donations received to help with the expenses incurred during the hurricane evacuation and resetting up of households.
Fontenot Family
Tudor Family
Ben Watson Family
LSU A Men’s Basketball Team
Adam/Nicole Walsh
Former MSU athletes Liz Fesler, Alana Sidman, and Andrew / Kourtney Guillotte
Stillman Institute
The pictures posted with this update are of the individuals and teams that came to serve in SWLA during this devastating time. As you read over the above list, and look at the pictures with this update, please say a prayer of THANKS for these individuals and teams for their willingness to serve during a difficult time. They will never know the blessing and impact they had in the lives of the coach’s families in SWLA.
As we close in on the end of 2020, SWLA FCA, would like to give an update on ministry the past several months.
Ministry through COVID and the 2 Hurricanes has been, and continues to be, a definite adaptation to ministering outside the box. Below is some of the ways we have adapted to these changes and ministered to Coaches and athletes.
Through the “blessing” of technology/ZOOM (I never thought I would call Technology a blessing!)
- 1,000 Coaches and Spouses took part in our FCA Coaches/Spouse Marriage Camp
- Weekly “Huddle Up” meetings with coaches hosted by NFL player Ben Watson that feature pro athletes sharing their testimony
- Weekly Bible Study for High School coaches from multiple area schools
- Weekly Bible Study for McNeese coaches
- Weekly McNeese All Athlete FCA Meeting
- Weekly McNeese Team Bible Studies for Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Rodeo
Since our FCA core ministry is to coaches, our goal for Hurricane Disaster Relief was to “serve the servants” so that our coaches could be freed up to goabout ministering to their athletes.
Bigger than the challenges presented have been the “Blessing” of so many teams and FCA staff coming into SWLA to help physically and financially in our Disaster Relief efforts.
The below individuals and groups gave their time and energy to make it possible for SWLA FCA to serve 60+ Coaches Families clear lots and clean houses of debris, praying with each homeowner, and on many occasions sharing a “pre work” devotion.
Drew Beard, Southwest Regional VP
Terry Slack, Louisiana State FCA Director
Baton Rouge FCA Staff (TS Noble, Ira Jewitt, Alex Wharton, Amanda Jennings
Lafayette FCA Staff
Central Louisiana FCA
UL FCA
LSU Eunice FCA
SWLA Rodeo FCA
Cris Sanford Family
Clint Sanford Family
Drew Mill Family
Jon Ringo Family
Scott Fitzgerald Family
Brad Forsythe Family
Cade and Candice Marcental (the tractor was clutch)
Thunder Cat Youth Soccer Team and Parents
McNeese Baseball and Softball Teams
Southeastern University Coaches/Athletes
ULM Coaches / Athletes
Teurlings Catholic Coaches / Athletes
Catholic Pointe Coupee Coaches/Athletes
Andy Hankins/ Johnson Funeral Home
Equally important were the following individuals and teams that donated financially so that SWLA FCA could give out 70 $100 Gift Cards to Coaches Families from the Disaster Relief donations received to help with the expenses incurred during the hurricane evacuation and resetting up of households.
Fontenot Family
Tudor Family
Ben Watson Family
LSU A Men’s Basketball Team
Adam/Nicole Walsh
Former MSU athletes Liz Fesler, Alana Sidman, and Andrew / Kourtney Guillotte
Stillman Institute
The pictures posted with this update are of the individuals and teams that came to serve in SWLA during this devastating time. As you read over the above list, and look at the pictures with this update, please say a prayer of THANKS for these individuals and teams for their willingness to serve during a difficult time. They will never know the blessing and impact they had in the lives of the coach’s families in SWLA.
Our largest attendance ever was present for the 2024 SWLA FCA Huddle Leadership Training on Thursday August 27th at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles.
Romans 15:13 “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” Competition, Perspiration, and Intense Worship combined to fuel the 2024 Louisiana FCA Doing Sports God’s Way Camp into an electric worship and training experience for over 200 High / Middle School Athlete Leaders from across the state at Camp Bethany outside Shreveport. Our 2024 Camp Theme was 24/7…with the goal to encourage / engage coaches and athletes with God’s truth, to equip them to lead their staffs and athletes, and empower them to go deeper in their faith as they head into the coming school year. The four focus topics of the 24/7 theme are RESET, RENEW, REFUEL, and get READY to lead! SWLA and SCLA FCA sent 70 student athletes to the Sports Camp. THANK YOU to our faithful sponsors who made it possible for us to scholarship a portion of the camp cost for each athlete! This was a huge help for our families to ease the financial cost of sending their young person to camp. We look forward to watching the Lord work in the lives of these young people to lead their teammates in the coming school year!
2024 SWLA FCA Golf Event in the books!
On Sunday February 18 the SWLA FCA hosted their annual Day of Champions. 200+ athletes and coaches were in attendance for an afternoon of motivation and inspiration. Jacquise Terry, former Kent State All MAC, All Academic performer and currently on staff with the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge at the Dream Center Campus was our guest speaker. JT shared an inspirational message encouraging the group to grow in Godliness from 1 Timothy 4:8,9. SWLA FCA would like to express our appreciation to McNeese Soccer for being at the event to welcome our Middle/High School athletes when they arrived, Conner Smith, SJ Welsh FB for opening our event in prayer, Baily Tillman, McNeese VB for singing our National Anthem, Joseph Geier for sharing his faith story, Matt Kreneta, McNeese FB, for sharing how being a part of an FCA Huddle on campus has helped him grow spiritually, and Elijah Melandez, McNeese FB, for closing out the event in prayer! In addition, we appreciate Trinity Baptist for hosting the event, Mitch Bohannon, TBC, for running the power point for the event, JD Broussard, TBC, for leading in worship, our SWLA FCA Board for serving alongside us, and all the sponsors who financially support FCA Day of Champions to allow coaches, athletes, and huddle sponsors to attend free of charge. And lastly, THANK YOU to the coaches and huddle sponsors for getting their athletes to sign up and show up on a beautiful Sunday afternoon! Day of Champions was a huge success as a result of a tremendous collective effort!
On the weekend of January 12-14 Louisiana FCA held our annual College Athlete Retreat just outside Woodworth, LA. Of the 150 total athletes attending, our McNeese huddle won the high attendance award for the second year in a row with 40 athletes attending along with 4 staff members. The Purpose of this year's CAR was to train and equip student athletes to compete and live for Christ under the theme of "HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR 24/7? Training time included diving into God's word to RESET, RENEW, REFUEL their commitment to Christ and be READY to serve HIM in every area of their lives. Athletes were divided into huddles to go deeper in God's word. Thank you to Twin Lakes Camp for hosting CAR 2024, the FCA cook staff for preparing and serving the meals, and the Louisiana FCA staff for planning and organizing the weekend. Also, SPECIAL APPRECITION to all our FCA Sponsors who provided financial support for our 40 athletes to attend!
Our largest attendance ever was present for the 2023 SWLA FCA Huddle Leadership Training on Tuesday August 29 at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles. 20 Schools, 150+ HS/MS student athletes, 40 pizzas made for a great day to Engage, Equip, Empower and Excite our young people to lead for Christ on their campus, in the locker room, and on the field, court, or course of competition. Thank you, Trinity Baptist, for hosting our event, McNeese athletes Trey Vondenstien/FB, Mariana Torres/SB, and Amelia Broussard, FCA Staff in Lafayette for sharing, board members Charles/Beverly Allen, Janis Guillory and Denise Sanford for serving and the huddle sponsors/parents who drove their leaders to/from the event. We are looking forward to an awesome year!
TREMENDOUS weekend for our coaches and spouses to get refocused, refreshed, and relaxed as they head into the upcoming season. TIMELY word from our guest speaker and his wife Sherman and Sharon Smith, former NFL player and coach. (See their story in the documentary Show Me the Father), Jeff Fitzgerald (former College and HS HC and now NELA FCA staff) and his wife Kim. Along withgreat encouragement to our coaches and spouses from Jeremy Williams, 2X State 5A Boys Basketball Championship coach at Bossier HS and his wife Gloria, 5A State HS Girls Championship coach at Parkway HS in Bossier City. THANK YOU for the encouraging words from LA FCA Staff Andy Stroup, Hayden Slack, Terry Slack, Corey Steele, Mike and Ellen Dimaria, David McMullen and Jodi McMullen, and Hollis Conway as our MC! 2023 LA FCA Coaches Time Out is in the books!
2023 SWLA FCA Golf Event in the books! It took a tremendous team effort from our SWLA Board, Golf Committee, Event Sponsors, Hole Sponsors, Team Entries, Tarver Toyota cook team, and Lake Charles Country Club for each sharing their time, talents, and treasures to make this year a tremendous success.
On Sunday February 26 the SWLA FCA hosted their annual Day of Champions. 300+ athletes and coaches were in attendance for an afternoon of motivation and inspiration. Derek Blacksher, former McNeese Baseball player, told his faith story by sharing his 5 G's to growing in your relationship with Christ. The River Church Band, representing 5 schools and 5 different sports, played prior to the event as athletes and coaches arrived. Larry Duhon, Barbe FCA, shared his faith story. Grant Ashford, Barbe FCA, shared what having a consistent FCA on campus has meant to him and Maleigh Guillot, Lacassine FCA, shared how attending FCA Leadership camp spurred her spiritual growth. The Barbe Blue Belles, McNeese Football, Soccer, and Volleyball teams were on hand to welcome schools as they arrived. Trey Vondenstien, McNeese FB, served as our MC for the event. Special thank you to Trinity Baptist for hosting the event, SWLA FCA Board for serving alongside us, and all the sponsors who financially support FCA Day of Champions for making the event a success afternoon!
On the weekend of January 6-8 Louisiana FCA hosted our annual College Athlete Retreat just outside Woodworth, LA. Universities from Louisiana and Texas attended. The purpose of this years CAR was to prepare out FCA Student/Athlete Leaders to lead their teammates using the FCA E3 Discipleship Model ... Engage, Equip, Empower. We, McNeese FCA, had 16 athletes, 2 Character Coaches, and SWLA FCA staff attend! Thank you, Twin Lakes Camp, for hosting the event, our cook staff who providing 5 meals awesome hot meals for our athletes/staff, and Louisiana FCA for providing this opportunity as well as our Sponsors who provided financial support so that our athletes could attend.
