Our 2008 Leadership Camp for student athletes, huddle coaches, and volunteers was a great success. This year's camp was held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN, on July 28-30.
The camp focused on learning more about God and growing closer to Him by participating in huddle time (small group time) with trained college athletes. Campers were challenged spiritually, physically, and emotionally, as they listened to powerful speakers who motivated them on how to live their Christian lives as athletes.
Camp staff consists of FCA staff, current collegiate and high school coaches, professional athletes, and current and former college athletes. Each one brings years of coaching and performance experience to FCA Camps and serves as a role model for campers both on and off the field of competition. For more information on 2009 camps, contact Carol Long, Central Indiana FCA area representative, at clong@fca.org or (317) 989-8825.
Here's what our 2008 campers thought about their experiences:
A 13-year-old middle school camper said, "God taught me that you can have fun and be a solid Christian at the same time. That there is more to the crucifixion and Jesus' life then what meets the eye. And I am just thankful that I was fortunate enough to be one of the few Prairie Grove students that went to this camp. I would definitely recommend it to other people."
One middle school camper shared their experience with us. "I learned from our huddle time that I had been putting other things before God on the ‘totem pole’ as our leader, Kalen, called it. I realized that He has always put me first and that I need to put Him first also. I had already accepted Him into my heart, but on the night where Joel talked about dedication, I recommitted my life to Him. That sermon REALLY moved me when he showed the clip of ‘The Passion’ because I finally began to understand what He went through just for us. I didn't have the guts to watch much of the short clip, but what I did see and hear really touched my heart. I really liked it when at the end of that they sang the song ‘The Stand,’ because I didn't have to care about what the other people around me thought. I just thought of Jesus. I closed my eyes and raised my hands to praise Him."
"At camp the second chapel God showed me idols in a different way,” commented a 17-year-old camper. “I mostly thought of an idol as a big golden calf or something else you set up and worship. He taught me that I need to really work on putting God first in everything that I do, and not make watching TV, going on the computer, or money an idol. The Holy Spirit really convicted me of that and I have already started to work on putting God where He belongs, at the top. Number one!" | |
Joel Penton
Born and raised in Van Wert, Ohio, Joel developed a passion for speaking at a young age. After finishing his football career at Ohio State University, Joel turned down the opportunity to play in the NFL to pursue full-time speaking. Joel currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Bethany, and serves as the Community Director for the Central Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
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