Speaking - Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

In January of 2013, I spoke to the youth group at Mount Pisgah UMC here in Johns Creek, Georgia. The next day, I received an email from one of the young students who had heard my story and message. He wrote, "You were awesome! Will you come speak in my school? I go to Piney Grove Middle School." I looked up the school on the web, and thought, "That's a public school...they'd never let me speak there!" So, I wrote the young man back and said, "I'd be happy to, if you can make it happen."

Well, I had heard of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before, but I really had no idea what they did. And I certainly had no idea that they held huddles in many of the public middle and high schools in the state of Georgia. The young man wrote me back and said, "I'll talk to our FCA leader and give him your name."

A few days later, I received another email. This time from the FCA teacher/sponsor saying, "One of my students has asked me to invite you to come speak at one of our huddles." I went there in January 2013 and spoke to about 150 kids, the first time I'd even been in a public school building. Afterwards, many of the students had tears in their eyes and thanked me over and over for coming to their school.

I then received the following email from an FCA board member in Forsyth County:

"On behalf of Forsyth/Dawson FCA, I want to send you a heartfelt thank you for speaking at Piney Grove Middle School yesterday. I was absolutely mesmerized by your story. It was by far one of the most powerful messages I have ever heard, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Many parents have emailed me to say that their kids can't stop talking about you and your message. More than a few have said that their kids were so moved by you that when they talk about what they learned it brings them to tears. One mom wrote to tell me that her son said that you were the most inspirational speaker he has ever heard, and that he got more out of your message than he ever has at church or any other spiritual gathering. In my own son's words, "That was the most awesome testimony ever!" You certainly had a huge impact on these kids. Your message of how God created each of us with a specific purpose is so timely for our middle school youth. I believe that no one can deliver it more effectively than you. God is using you in mighty ways. You obviously know the purpose for which God made you. All who have the honor of meeting you and hearing you speak are truly blessed. Bless you as continue to inspire and glorify God through your testimony."

After that, word began to spread all over the Atlanta area and beyond, and I began to get invitations to speak in more and more FCA huddles and other Christian clubs. I have now been to over 150 different schools in 5 states, and many of them multiple times! And after the COVID mess, I am now also doing Huddles via ZOOM, so I can speak to FCA huddles and Fields of Faith ANYWHERE in the world!

I constantly receive comments and messages from students with messages like: "You just changed my life!" and "You are the best speaker our FCA has ever had!!" God is amazing and awesome, and He has so graciously used my life story and message to impact several thousand students so far.