This story appears in FCA Magazine’s July/August 2018 issue.
Hometown: Holmen, Wisconsin
Class: Junior
Notes:
- NSIC All-Academic Team (2017, 2018)
- MVC Sarah Mullenbach Award winner (2014)
- MVC Medalist and Golfer of the Year (2014)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
In seventh grade, Courtney Bergum went from casual golf observer to player. Her father, John, introduced her to the sport while also raising her to love Jesus Christ. Today, Bergum is an influential member in Winona State’s FCA Huddle as she shares her faith with fellow student-athletes. She is pursuing a career in physical and health education, and she plans to help younger athletes by incorporating Scripture into her teaching.
FCA: Who introduced you to FCA?
CB: My sister, Elizabeth, was a Huddle leader as a high school senior when I was freshman. She kind of dragged me to a couple meetings in the morning before school, and I fell in love with Christ even more through the people there.
I’ve always looked up to my sister as a role model; she cared about me enough to tell me, “This is something you should be doing.” Even on the mornings I didn’t want to go, I was thankful she took me. FCA definitely helped us grow closer.
FCA: When did your faith become your own?
CB: As high school juniors, my best friend, Kellyn Lamore, and I took over the Huddle and brought it to the forefront in our school. We made the commitment together to dedicate our lives to Christ and show other people that we were following Him.
Last summer, I joined a couple of girls from Winona State at the Athletes in Action Ultimate Training Camp in Colorado. That helped me refocus. After my sophomore year, I was just so focused on being a really good golfer that I fell into some traps of not getting into Scripture or talking to people about God. When we went to the camp, it helped me realize I’m not a golfer first; I’m a child of God. I’m playing because He’s given me the ability to play and spread His Word.
FCA: Why is FCA important to you?
CB: We gather as athletes from every different sport, and we’re all going through the same things, such as schoolwork or missing classes for your sport. Having that time of fellowship together, being able to not only build relationships with each other but push each other further in our relationships with Christ-—I think it’s important to have those people because it’s easy for athletes to get caught up in the busyness of our schedules.
You could be doing homework on a Wednesday night instead of worshipping the Lord (at FCA Huddle). I like to go to kind of reevaluate where I’m at, individually as well as with my team. As a child of God, in His eyes it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, but you want to build that relationship with Him.
FCA: How are you preparing for your senior season?
CB: This summer, I’m going to be out on the golf course every day. I’ll work hard on the physical game while continuing to push myself spiritually. I’ll be helping out with FCA Camp in Winona again this summer, just trying to make a difference in other people’s lives. Next year, I hope to help incoming teammates by giving them resources for anything they need and bringing them to FCA to create that relationship with other athletes, since I’ve found that so uplifting.
FCA Staff Quote:
“Courtney has been a strong leader with the Winona State FCA Huddle, and I have seen her faith grow in the process. She served as a Huddle Leader at our local youth camp last summer and did an outstanding job connecting with the youth.”
- James Bolin, FCA Area Director
Rochester, Minnesota
-FCA-
Photos courtesy of Carrie Bergum