Orange County, Calif., hub of the volleyball world, lends fertile ground to glean both athletic and spiritual growth. This is where the heart of FCA Volleyball lies, but what gives it its pulse is the summer internship. Twenty five collegiate volleyball players from around the country gather for team building and leadership training, and to develop a comprehensive vision plan to impact their team, campus and community.
But don’t expect the summer to be an excuse to sit around beaches and live in a Biblical bubble. As Internships Director Meghan Locklair explained, “This internship is full of very hard workouts and very long weeks. They are challenged and have to lead and carry a lot of ownership. God clarified we’re doing this for them to go back to their world. That’s why we begin our discussion with, ‘Get ready to say goodbye! You’re not here to stay. You’re here to get equipped and go back.’”
Cori (first row, center) and fellow interns outside their home church.
Former Tulane University outside hitter Cori Martone learned firsthand how ten weeks with FCA Volleyball can turn a person inside out. Martone, who finished her senior volleyball season last fall, heard about the internship years before but never felt right about going. This year, when the opportunity presented itself, she took it.
“I definitely think it was God’s plan (not going until now) because all the stuff I had to go through to come full circle wouldn’t have happened if I went a year earlier,” she acknowledged. “I was ready to hear what Daniel and all the leaders had for us, and I was ready to take that next step.”
Martone knew the internship would develop leadership skills, which initially caught her attention since she felt comfortable in that role. Little did she realize what else lay in store for her and how it would impact her relationship with Christ.
Each July, the entire internship crew flies to South Carolina to run their biggest camp, ministering to middle and high school teams. At a camp training meeting a week and a half beforehand, Martone and a few others were pulled into another room and notified they’d be the speakers sharing their testimony.
Her reaction?
“I immediately started bawling,” Martone revealed. “I was like, ‘Nope! Can’t do it. No thank you.’ Being in front of people is one of my biggest fears.”
Martone sharing her testimony to the South Carolina camp.
Her day’s topic was “With God,” and when Martone owned up to the prayer she asked God each day—to be used in a big or small way—Philippians 4:13 sprung to mind.
“At first I was like, ‘God, give me something that’s not so cliché. That’s like the one verse everyone knows,” she admitted. “But it would change meaning for me in the next few weeks.”
She prayed for words but none came. She knew God put that verse on her heart for a reason, but for weeks drew a blank. She carefully examined how God was calling her to fast in preparation for her speech, and when she began, the second day found her weakened.
“I told my housemates, ‘Girls, I’m really struggling with this fast,’ and as soon as I said that, God gave me all this strength,” Martone said. “I think He wanted the girls I was living with to know I can’t do this on my own—He will give me that strength.”
Her testimony finally came on the flight to Camp, at the last minute, in His timing. Through her dependence on surrendering to His plan, God enlightened Philippians 4:13 in a new and vibrant way.
“A lot of my testimony is that I’m very independent in my abilities, so I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed. I finally said, ‘God this is something I can’t do; You have to do this.’ For the first time, a weakness of mine was my strength because He was there.”
FCA Volleyball helping with a local camp.
This reliance renewed within Martone has stuck with her in the weeks since leaving California. Back in New Orleans, Martone is beginning to implement the plans she prepared during the internship. Her prayer is to see the city and its people transformed through club teams and outreach.
“They’re so passionate about everything, but I want them to be passionate for Christ,” she said. “I think that would be a city that’s unstoppable if that could happen.”
Before taking her newly charged relationship with Christ to her community, Martone reflected on the summer’s journey, marking the milestones as an intern.
“I learned how to love on people, that God is giving me endurance, and at my time in SC, learning God is with me and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I was radically changed to help change people radically.”