Brownwood FCA Students Bless Needy Children

The Brownwood High School FCA huddle recently partnered with Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child to bless needy children around the world. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The FCA students enjoyed a fun evening and packed over a dozen shoe box gifts with toys and necessities that they purchased. They prayed over the journey of each box and child who receives it. It is a simple gift, but makes an incredible impact both on the giver and the recipient. The Brownwood students were reminded of the joy and spirit of Christmas giving. The children who receive these boxes will share that joy and ultimately hear of the true reason for the season, the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is just one way FCA is sharing Christ and revealing His love through coaches and athletes, not only locally, but also globally.

The Brownwood High School FCA huddle meets every Monday night at 7:30pm, and the Middle School FCA huddle meets every Thursday during their lunch periods. Ty Lang, JB Gibbs, and Josh Alcorn are the Brownwood coaches who assist the students in leading the high school FCA huddle, and Judy Kennedy and Scott Swanzy are the middle school FCA huddle coaches. Please remember to be in prayer for our coaches and athletes. God has blessed our schools in this area with many godly administrators, teachers, and coaches, but the fields are still white with harvest.

 

Fields of Faith 2012

On October 10^th, 2012 the Brownwood Area FCA hosted their 6^th Annual Fields of Faith at Gordon Wood Stadium with a record 3,000+ in attendance that came from 50 different schools. The gospel was presented and students were given the opportunity to respond. 150 students accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior for the very first time. Another 384 students came forward during the invitation and made decisions to recommit their life to Christ through repentance.

Fields of Faith is a peer-to-peer event. Students invite their own classmates and teammates to hear fellow students share their testimonies, be challenged to read the Word of God and follow Jesus Christ. An athletic field provides a neutral, interdenominational rally point where a community can come together.

Locally, around 130 volunteers and 85 different churches partnered together with the Brownwood Area FCA Leadership Board to organize the event. Brownwood High School assistant football coach, Ty Lang, served as the emcee and four area students spoke to their peers: Hannah Hartman from Santa Anna HS, Nathan Ross from Brownwood HS, Rick Henderson from HPU, and Jacey Neeley from Goldthwaite HS. The guest speaker for the night was Abilene pastor and Hardin Simmons University Associate Professor of Theology, Dr. Kelvin Kelley. The worship band was the Clayton Tyner Band.   

For more information on Fields of Faith visit their website: http://www.fieldsoffaith.com/

 

     

  

See You At The Pole

Santa Anna High School

On Wednesday morning, September 26^th, students from all across the Brownwood area joined thousands around the world as they participated in See You At The Pole, which is the annual global day of student prayer. Locally, FCA student leaders helped organize the effort as they met at their campus’ flag pole and stood in the gap for their schools, country, and nations in prayer for spiritual awakening and revival.
For more information on See  You At The Pole  visit their website: http://syatp.com/

Early HS

Early HS

Early HS

Brownwood HS

Brownwood HS

Brownwood MS

Area youth groups met that evening at Coggin Ave. Baptist Church for a Saw You At The Pole Rally



Campus Ministry Highlight

The start to the 2012-2013 school-year has been an exciting time in the Campus Ministry of the Brownwood Area FCA. Santa Anna, a school that has never had any FCA presence on campus, started their very first Huddle. Thanks to their coach, David Garcia, and a group of several other student-leaders Santa Anna now has a very healthy FCA Huddle meeting every Friday in the gym right after the pep-rally. This Huddle meeting consists of about 30-40 students on average who come to hear testimonies, Scripture devotionals, and Bible studies led by their peers. With the hiring of new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Stephen Hermesmeyer, Comanche High School is another campus in our area who is now enjoying a solid FCA ministry on Thursday mornings of around 35 students who did not have a Huddle this time last year. In the 7 counties that make up the Brownwood Area FCA, there are 22 other certified Huddles of approximately 950 students, (both athletes and non-athletes) that are actively using the powerful medium of athletics to share the gospel of Jesus Christ on their campuses.
 
Another exciting highlight from around the area took place recently at Blanket’s FCA Huddle. Every Friday morning before school, anywhere from 50-60 junior high and high school students, which is basically the entire enrollment 7^th-12^th grades, pack the gym for free donuts and Bible study. On this particular Friday morning, two HPU volleyball athletes, Sarah Davies and Carlee Ammons, volunteered as guest speakers to encourage the area students in their own walk with Christ. Sarah and Carlee, who are also student leaders of HPU’s FCA huddle, shared an inspirational message about being competitors for Christ by selflessly putting the team and others first in sports and in life.
     


HPU athletes, Sarah Davies and Carlee Ammons, speak to local FCA Huddle in Blanket.

 

   

FCA: Influencing the Influencers

Coaches Appreciation Luncheon

As the 2012-2013 school year got under way, The Brownwood Area FCA kicked it off by hosting their annual Coaches Appreciation Luncheon back on Sunday August 5th. Over 120 area-wide coaches and their families joined us for a free meal at the Brownwood High School cafeteria. Coaches were challenged by guest speaker, Mel Tjeersdma, three-time NCAA DII National Champion head football coach at Northwest Missouri State.

Seeing as coaches are at the heart of FCA, this was a great way to start the new school year off by ministering to the men and women who have the greatest platform on our campuses, possibly even our communities. Billy Graham once said, "A coach will impact more lives in one year, than most people will in their entire lifetime." At some time or another, every single one of us has been either positively or negatively impacted by a coach in our life. It is for this reason that FCA intentionally and strategically focuses on ministering to and through the Coach to accomplish our mission of impacting the world for Jesus Christ. If we can reach the coach, then we can reach the athletes. If we can reach the athletes, then we can reach the campus. If we can reach the campus, then we can reach the community. If you can see this vision then I invite you to run with us and join Team FCA in prayfully supporting, encouraging, and serving our coaches. Help us influence the influencers and lead the leaders to coach biblically and use their platform to point others to Christ.

 

 

FCA Coaches Camp - 2012

2012 FCA Coaches Camp Team Photo

Left: Josh & Angie Prock of HPU
Right: Terry & Shelly Bean of Brady

Last weekend, July 12-15, coaches from all over the state came to our annual FCA Coaches Enrichment Camp at the beautiful Horseshoe Bay Resort in the Texas Hill Country. The weekend is a retreat for single and married coaches to get away for a time of rest and refreshment. This camp ministers to coaches through Bible studies, worship, small groups, fellowship, prayer support, discipleship and mentoring. Coaches are at the heart of FCA and this conference allows us to serve, equip and encourage them as coaches in their own relationship with the Lord so they in return can use their influence to impact the world for Jesus Christ. This year we had two couples go on scholarships from our Brownwood area, Terry and Shelly Bean from Brady, and Josh and Angie Prock from Howard Payne University. Along with these coaches, I want to say THANK YOU to our financial teammates and donors for investing in this ministry and making an eternal difference in the lives of these coaches and the many more student-athletes that they will touch. Below is a letter that Coach Josh Prock wanted to share with all those who provided a way for him and his wife to attend this year’s FCA Coaches Camp.

“To All:

Angie and I would like to thank you so very much for allowing us to attend the FCA Coaches and wives retreat this past weekend. The weekend started on Thursday and when we arrived we were in awe of how beautiful the area was, it was an amazing place. That same night we started our sessions and God began to work in both of us. Every day we had tremendous learning sessions with great speakers that were inspiring to all of us. We also had a little time each day to enjoy some free time with each other. On the last day, Sunday, God continued to work in my life and Angie’s as well challenging us to get better in different areas of our lives. Once again, we are so thankful to all of you for allowing us this time to get refreshed and renewed. I look forward to serving with you another year and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need me for anything.

Thanks Again,

Josh Prock”

HPU Head Women's Basketball Coach,
Josh Prock and wife Angie.

Big Country FCA Area Coaches - 2012 Coaches Camp 



Smith-Davis Band Leading Worship

FCA Sports Camp 2012

Area Rep, Corbin Young's football huddle.

During the first week of July, FCA Sports Camp 2012 was held at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. With over 1,000 people in attendance, this was the largest FCA camp in the country this year. Athletes competed and trained in their selected sports of football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, and cross-country and were instructed by some of the best high school coaches across the state. However, this was much more than just a sports camp. Athletes grew stronger in their sport and even more importantly in their faith and relationship with our Father in heaven. Hundreds of students were introduced to the love of Jesus and received Christ for the first time, while others repented and re-committed their lives to God. Taylor Castleberry, one of our HPU students, served as a small group huddle leader and had the opportunity to invest in these lives for eternity. Below is a letter which explains his experience.

HPU student, Taylor Castleberry's football huddle.

"Dear FCA Supporters,

I want to start by saying that I feel no other organization or ministry is more effective or relevant than FCA. I feel that we have the largest mission field of any ministry, and God has given us the ability to meet young athletes where they are. Over the years I have gotten to see firsthand how God has done MIGHTY things through FCA, and been lucky to be a part of it. This year at FCA Sports Camp in College Station, TX, lives were changed forever. You go into a week like that hoping and praying that God would do great things, and maybe even use you in the process. From my perspective, He did above and beyond that. From the day Corbin and I arrived at A&M and met all of the other college students and athletes that were going to help lead out that week, I felt such a powerful connection. We were all there for one purpose, to make Christ known to those kids that week. And there is nothing more powerful than the unity of believers coming together for a common goal. I was blown away, and the kids hadn't even arrived yet.

I had the PRIVILEGE of being assigned the largest small group in the entire camp, 14 high school boys. While it would have been logical to view that as a challenge and maybe a burden, I knew that God had designed for every one of those kids to be in my group before time even began, that's powerful. While practices and training were a success, God used our time on the field, and free time together to open the door for me to share the love of Christ with them all week. These kids came from every walk of life you could imagine, but for that one week out of their lives, we were all brothers. Some thought FCA Sports Camp was just a football camp, but by the end of the week, God had begun to soften their hearts and I was able to just share the truth of God with them. While several of my kids got re-connected and re-dedicated to Christ, I was unable to see any of the boys accept Christ for the first time. While that was my prayer the whole week, God undoubtedly used me to speak words, and Scripture in to their lives, and I cling to the promise that God's Word will NEVER return void. Whether they were ready to make that decision to give their life to Christ or not, God will use those words and Scriptures down the road to meet them when it is their time.

My experience with these guys was better than I could have imagined. Me getting to serve them strengthened my faith and love for Christ. I went to bless those kids, but was blessed tenfold in return. I thank God for that week and for the POWER of FCA.

In Christ,

Taylor Castleberry"

Above: Taylor Castleberry leading worship
during Huddle Leader Training weekend.

Above: Shelby Shipley's basketball huddle,
ACU student & Brownwood Coach Bob Shipley's daughter.

Video Message from FCA President, Les Steckel

Below is a link and password to a recent video message from FCA President, Les Steckel, to encourage the 1,000 plus men and women on staff with FCA. Please watch and enjoy this brief seven minute video update and be both encouraged and challenged by the verse and inspiring story of a defining moment in the history of FCA.

Video Message from FCA President, Les Steckel:

http://dev.fca.org/12addressjune/

password: athletes1954

FCA Leadership Camp

Daniel Mendoza, Tyler Johnson, Faith Bean, & Coach Terry Bean.

Last week, June 4-8, we enjoyed a great week at FCA Leadership camp in Abilene at the Hardin Simmons University campus. Through the worship led by the Marcus Dawes Band, the messages preached by Jon Randles, the campus ministry mechanics and faith fundamentals taught by FCA staff, and the huddles led by college athletes, around 500 middle school and high school students are now better equipped to share the gospel on their campuses and use their influence to serve and lead FCA huddles all across the state of Texas. It was a great week of inspiration and perspiration where God truly changed lives forever. 78 students were saved by receiving Christ for the first time. 164 students surrendered to God's call and re-committed their lives to following the Lord, while another 160 students indicated growth in their spiritual lives through the challenge of God's Word. The Brownwood Area was represented by 3 students, from Brady Middle School, who are pictured above. Thanks to the fundraising of their huddle and donors in their area, these 3 students were able to attend camp on scholarships and each had amazing experiences that I look forward to sharing with you in the future. Also pictured above is the Brady Middle School Huddle Coach, Terry Bean, who drove them to camp on Monday and picked them up on Friday. It is because of godly coaches like this and faithful donors like yourself that athletes like these have the opportunity to grow in their relationship with Christ. Thank You for making an eternal difference!

Prayer after Competition in Gym

My huddle won the coveted "Golden Plunger" for Junior-High Competition Champions of the week!

2012 FCA All-Stars

The Brownwood Area was well represented at the annual Big Country FCA All-Star Classic with 16 athletes and 3 coaches from local high schools who competed for the South team. The South girls won the basketball game at ACU's Moody Coliseum on Saturday, June 2nd, and Katie Isom of Early was awarded the game's MVP. The South guys, however, lost a close battle in the football game later that evening at Shotwell Stadium, with Stehl Ratliff of Brownwood scoring their only touchdown. We want to congratulate the 2012 All-Stars once again, and thank our many sponsor for your support in making this great event possible.

Below is a list of our 2012 All-Star class from the Brownwood Area.

Next year, the Big Country FCA will be adding men's basketball and women's volleyball games to the All-Star weekend. The Brownwood Area FCA will host the men's and women's basketball games at the Brownwood Coliseum on Thursday, June 6, 2013.


South Football All-Stars:
- Stehl Ratliff (Brownwood)
- Brandon Kramer (Early)
- Blake Stembridge (Bangs)
- Taylor Roberts (Bangs)
- Kyle Andrews (Brady)
- James Ross (Comanche)
- Wayne Worsham (Coleman)
- David Mora (Mason)
- Korey Zavala (Mason)

South Football Coaches:
- Bob Shipley (Brownwood)
- Stephen Hermesmeyer (Comanche)

South Basketball Coach:
- Jerry McSherry (Brady)

South Basketball All-Stars:
- Kristyn Jacoby (Brady)
- Sara Byrd (Brownwood)
- Katie Isom (Early)
- Brianna Childs (Early)
- Keirstyn Williams (Bangs)

South Cheerleaders:
- Keelee Allen (Bangs)
- Amanda Grove (Early)


The expansion of more games next year is a great opportunity for our area, and we look forward to reaching more people through this ministry. The FCA All-Star experience is much more than just a game. Among their many activities, the All-Stars are hosted in local homes, fed and entertained by local churches and restaurants, given FCA Bibles, and take part in devotionals throughout the week. Please contact Corbin Young if you are interested in volunteering for next year.

Save the Date!

Below are a list of upcoming FCA events to put on your calendar:

• May 26 - FCA/AYSA Awards Banquet - 6:30-8:30pm - ACU Teague Special Events Center   
• June 2 - Big Country FCA All-Star Games - Girls Basketball 12:00pm @ ACU - Football 7:00pm @ Shotwell Stadium
• June 4-8 - FCA Leadership Camp - Abilene - HSU Campus
• July 2-6 - FCA Sports Camp - College Station - Texas A&M Campus
• July 12-15 - FCA Coaches Enrichment Conference - Horseshoe Bay Resort
• August 5 - Coaches Appreciation Luncheon - Brownwood HS Cafeteria
• October 10 - Fields of Faith - Gordon Wood Stadium

FCA Camper Thank You!

With summer right around the corner, and FCA Camp season upon us, I was reminded of a sweet letter I received from Sherlyn Hogue, a Brownwood freshman who attended Leadership Camp last year. Thanks to special people like yourself who support this vital ministry, we were able to send Sherlyn to camp on a scholarship last summer. Below is a copy of her thank you letter that explains the great experience she had at FCA Camp.

That is what FCA is all about! Thank you for investing in FCA and making a difference in the lives of young people like Sherlyn. Please be in prayer for the students and coaches all over the state and country who will be growing in their relationship with Christ at camp this summer.

For more camp info and online registration visit our website: http://www.fcacamps.org/

3 Time State Champion Coach & Super Bowl Champion Dad: Sam Harrell to Speak at Upcoming Brownwood Area FCA Community Luncheon

Hometown hero, Sam Harrell, will return to Brownwood this month on Monday, April 23^rd to speak at a community luncheon hosted by the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The Harrell family is deeply rooted in the very heart of Texas high school football. Sam Harrell’s father was an assistant on the legendary Gordon Wood's coaching staff at Brownwood in the 1970’s. Sam played quarterback for Coach Wood and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1975. After leaving for college and getting a start in coaching at Plainview, Sam returned to Brownwood in 1982 and also became one of Wood's assistant coaches.

Now a member of the Gordon Wood Hall of Fame, Sam Harrell said: “Brownwood is home for me.” All three of his boys were born here in Brownwood. His wife, Kathy, is a school teacher. His oldest son, Zac, followed his footsteps into coaching and is currently the Offensive Coordinator at Van High School. Graham Harrell, his middle son, was the record setting quarterback at Texas Tech University and is currently the back up quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, and was a part of the 2011 Super Bowl XLV Championship team. Sam’s youngest son, Clark, just finished his college career at Abilene Christian University and now works as a financial planner. Sam and Kathy also have two grandchildren. 

Sam left Brownwood in 1990 to take on his first head coaching job at Reagan County. In 1994, Sam became the head football coach at Ennis High School, where he got to coach his three sons, and built a power-house class 4-A program that won three state championships in five years: 2000, 2001, 2004. The mastermind of one of the most prolific offensive attacks in Texas high school history, Sam Harrell was one of the first coaches to employ a no-huddle spread offense. During Sam’s sixteen years as head coach of the Ennis Lions, his teams went 153-51 with thirteen consecutive playoff appearances. He was elected to coach the Texas All-Star team in 2002, and was the president of the Texas High School Coaches Association in 2008.

However, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, Sam progressively got worse and was forced to step down from coaching in 2009. Transitioning into administration next, the severity of his situation and medical needs only became greater, so he retired from Ennis ISD in 2011.

Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as MS, is a chronic, unpredictable, autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. The immune system eats away the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves. Symptoms vary from person to person. Mild symptoms include numbness in the limbs, weakness, fatigue and blurred vision. Severe symptoms include paralysis and loss of vision.  Harrell first noticed the vision in one eye was going blurry, a condition that would worsen with heat and exercise. Over time, he gradually lost his ability to walk. The most challenging part of MS is the fact that American neurologist have no real hope or cure for the disease, only medication that can slow it down. Sam Harrell is encouraged, however, by accounts of medical advances being achieved outside of the strict U.S. regulatory environment. He has been to Panama three times now for stem cell treatment, and is more mobile and doing better than he has been in the past three years.

Through it all, Sam has a positive attitude and said, "MS may take away the things you do, but it doesn't take away your life.” Sam and Kathy are ultimately at peace because of their faith that God is in control and said, “We don’t blame God for this small thing, after counting our many blessings in life.” Instead, Sam is using MC to honor the Lord and will be here to share his story at the FCA Community Luncheon on Monday, April 23, 2012.

From his coaching experience, Sam Harrell brings a great perspective on the influence of FCA and believes it is a great organization. Harrell said, “FCA is the avenue that helps coaches focus on the heart of athletics, which is relationships. More important than the X’s and O’s and even winning, coaching is all about molding the spiritual lives of young men and woman.”

Unlike previous FCA Community Luncheons, this is not a fundraiser. FCA simply desires to report the ministry impact from the past year to the community. In addition to Sam Harrell, Dallas Huston will emcee the event. The luncheon is from 12:00-1:00 p.m., doors will open at 11:30 a.m., at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church’s new fellowship hall. Tickets are $8 each and can be purchased at the Brownwood High School Athletic Office, or from the local FCA staff and board members. Contact Corbin Young, Brownwood Area FCA Rep., at 940-389-3210 or cyoung@fca.org. Board Members: Kevin Gabaree, Dr. Rick Evans, Kirk Wall, Darlene Wall, Stephen Haynes, Ricky Cavitt, Dr. Carol Boren, Dr. Brad Johnson, Tracey Carrier, Robert Damron, Tony Daniel.

Brownwood Area FCA

Community Luncheon

Monday, April 23, 2012

CABC New Fellowship Hall

12:00-1:00 p.m.

(Doors open at 11:30am)

Guest Speaker: Sam Harrell

Emcee: Dallas Huston

Tickets: $8 each

HPU Football Player Speaks at Local FCA Huddle



HPU student-athlete, Josh Kennedy

One campus ministry highlight from around the area which deserves notice is Howard Payne University football player, Josh Kennedy, visiting and speaking to the FCA huddle at Blanket High School earlier this month. This is a beautiful picture of the FCA impact, where a college athlete being discipled through FCA, uses their influence to pass on the truth and invest in a group of younger students at a local high school FCA huddle.
Josh is a junior Chemistry major, receiver on the football team, and active member of the college campus FCA huddle. Josh quickly volunteered when the opportunity and invitation arose to lead the morning devotional at Blanket’s weekly FCA huddle meeting.
The students welcomed Josh with open arms and soaked up every word God placed on his heart as he shared his testimony about growing up in Branson, Missouri. He explained how the absence of his divorced and drug addicted mother led to his own struggle with alcohol and drug abuse at the early age of 9 years old. After several years of wondering the streets unsupervised, CPS finally stepped in when he was 13 and placed Josh in foster care. From there, he was then adopted by his current parents, Fred and Rosalie Powers, who live in Fort Worth, Texas, where Josh finished his teenage years and graduated from Southwest Christian High School.

Josh said, “God took a bad situation and turned it into a good thing with my adoption, because my new parents took me to church for the first time and introduced me to the love of Jesus Christ who is my Lord and Savior.” Through John 3:16, Josh encouraged the students with God’s love and showed them that there is always hope and forgiveness in Christ regardless of your background. 

The message spoke volumes and is just one example of how God is using this vital ministry to impact our area for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes on school campuses everywhere. Since then, I have recently found out that there were at least 6 foster kids there that day that I’m sure could relate to Josh’s story in more ways than one. God is good! Amen. 

Josh Kennedy praying at Blanket FCA Huddle.

About Blanket FCA:

The Blanket FCA huddle meets every Friday morning before school at 7:30 a.m. in their gymnasium. With the leadership of Blanket volunteer/Brownwood Area FCA board member, Robert Damron, the Blanket FCA huddle was newly started last school year. Due to the support and weekly attendance from him and AD/Head Football Coach, Tyler Tabor, Blanket has one of the strongest FCA ministries in our area with anywhere from 30-40 students, over half the high school enrollment, attending every Friday morning hungry for God’s Word and donuts of course.   

Corbin Young & Josh Kennedy pictured with 5 Blanket Middle School girls.