Blog Layout

Update: Jim Hamilton is currently State Director and Western Director since this article was last published.

Take a look back on FCA West Divsion Leadership Boost and the intense 36 Hour experience for our FCA WY Staff with Navy SEALs. 

Hello! Welcome to our FCA WY Blog. 

We hope that the stories and updates here give insight into what God is doing in our square state. We want to engage, equip, and empower our WY athletes and coaches, along with connecting our amazing FCA community of volunteers and supporters. 
 
That’s why… 
 
We would like to share with you in this post about FCA's West Division Leadership Boost with NAVY SEALs in California last year:
  • About the FCA West Division Leadership Boost
  • FCA Wyoming Looks Back 
  • How NAVY SEALs Mindset Helps FCA WY

Alright, let's get to it! 

About FCA's West Division Leadership Boost

The FCA West Division Leadership Boost serves as a yearly opportunity to connect the West Division Leadership Team (FCA Directors and Staff) and boost their leadership to the next level.  This year's Leadership Boost was an amazing experience that we look forward to sharing soon. 

Until then, we want catch you up on 2018's event because it was a brutal challenge that our FCA WY absolutely rocked. There were Navy SEALs, too. So extra awesome. 

Last Year's Event
In 2018, the Western Division Leadership Boost (FCA Staff)  met in California to grow together as a team and get outside their comfort levels.  

This 36 hour leadership experience, hosted by Jimmy Page (VP of Western Division of US FCA), involved FCA Leadership training, along with an immersive, intensive program led by an organization of veteran Navy SEALs. 

Watch the video below to see FCA staff's extreme experience!   

FCA WY Looks Back 

For Current State Director (then Western WY Area Director), the experience at Leadership Boost 2018 impacted him in a big way.  

"Those hours at Navy SEALs training for the West Division Leadership boost were brutal. In fact, the best way to describe this experience is this - it sucked! Seriously, it was horrible at times.  

But... 

It was also one of the best FCA and personal experiences I have ever had. The idea behind our time there was to learn how to embrace how much it sucked," says Jim, while he shared his experience, speaking at a local church.
Screenshots courtesy from West Division Leadership Boost 2018 video.

"Life and the Christian life can be challenging at times and the ability to embrace the hard stuff will help you get through.   That perspective also applied to our Navy SEALs training, covered in sand, drenched, and exhausted on the beach and in the woods."  

Jim continued, "What helped us get through the drills was to change our mindsets with the Navy SEALs Trainers' 40% rule. This rule says that when we think we have given our all, we have only given 40%. We are actually always capable of so much more.  

In the end, the Teams' success relied on both the individual and groups working together and being prepared for the obstacles ahead.  

No one could give up because we all needed each other. Just as Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:14-16."


"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders. Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you..."
Screenshots courtesy from West Division Leadership Boost 2018 video. From left to right - second photo of Ernie Mecca (former State and Area Director, currently Field Staff for Medicine Bow) and Aaron Frude (UW FCA Director.) 

How This Mindset Impacts FCA WY 

Likewise, the concept of "being all in" plays such a vital role - to surviving not only Navy SEALs training - but also for FCA remaining a sustainable sport ministry in Wyoming as a whole state.

To sum it up - we want everyone in the FCA community to feel connected and apart of something great.  

AND WE NEED EACH OTHER TO DO JUST THAT.  

So, how does Navy SEALs Training Impact FCA Wyoming? 

Along with tackling the obstacles and challenges in the tough terrain, the staff saw this event as an opportunity to accomplish and experience 3 objectives as FCA leaders:  

- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable 
- Expand leadership capacity through adversity 
- Develop a Team work culture  
 

And ultimately, we want to transfer this FCA Leadership training objectives into FCA Wyoming. We want to work hard at serving our areas through recruiting and training volunteers, helping coaches and athletes grow in sports and faith, and continue to be a unified team with staff and volunteers throughout Wyoming and our regions.

This requires transparency, too. 

We want to be honest - many challenges exist in doing ministry, particularly in Wyoming.  As if geographic and weather challenges were not enough, our Staff must find funding in the least populated State and work with communities with some of highest statistics of  suicide and depression rates, the highest divorce rates in U.S. and growing homelessness rates, along with a low church and Bible study attendance compared to the national average (see references below.) 
 
So, while living in Wyoming, provides breath taking and inspiring view of God's Creation and serving strong, independent and resilient folks, the isolation and harsh conditions make this square state an amazing opportunity to share Christ's love and bring belonging.  

But...

We see that as the most amazing part of sports ministry. Wyoming boasts a strong sports culture, with over 60% of youth in some kind of sport.  Our strong sports culture gives student athletes an opportunity to connect and our small but packed communities to unite.  

FCA WY wants to see this Sports Culture transformed so that EVERY Coach and Every Athlete will be led into a relationship with Jesus and His Church.  We want to do that through our ministry with FCA Student Leaders, FCA Huddle Leaders, Volunteers, and Camp. 

And we gladly accept this mission and its challenges!! 

There you have it.  FCA WY and Navy SEALs training - it really happened!

Blessings

-FCA Wyoming 


What Next? 






References

https://www.bgsu.edu/content/dam/BGSU/college-of-arts-and-sciences/NCFMR/documents/FP/hemez-divorce-rate-geo-variation-2016-fp-17-24.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/suicide-20-states-with-highest-rates/19/

https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming-s-homeless-population-continues-to-grow-despite-sharp-drop/article_83559a96-5320-56b2-ac8b-0124857422ca.html

https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/wyoming/
Share by: