Thousands of coaches and athletes are participating at an FCA Camp around the country and world this summer. Here are a few reflections from the hearts and minds of faces seen around camp.
Charles and Arlene (fiance)
Huddle Leader
Name: Charles
Sport: Tennis
Position: Huddle Leader/FCA staff in San Diego
Camp Experience as Huddle Leader: 1 year
FCA: How’s tennis going?
Charles: I’m learning. I’ve never played tennis before; I played football. But I’m learning to serve and use my backhand.
FCA: What are you learning?
Charles: For the physical aspect, there are a lot of beginners, and now we’re getting better. We’re working better. Spiritually, it’s been great to oversee these kids at a super critical time in life, and to talk with them on walks to practice and dinner.
FCA: Is being a Huddle Leader difficult?
Charles: I’m trying not to be with one person I specifically click with. I need to give everyone my attention and talk with everyone. And I have to be honest myself for transparency. If I want the kids to open up, I have to share with them about myself.
FCA: Was this what you expected this week?
Charles: At first, I was nervous to be in tennis. But really, the kids just need your time. You don’t have to be an amazing, professional athlete in the sport. They just need you to be there; God will do the rest.
***
Name: Arlene
School: UCLA (just graduated)
Position: Charles' fiance, former CC Huddle Leader
FCA: How had you heard of camp?
Arlene: My roommate was a Huddle leader and they had really needed another leader, so they contacted me. I had done regular camps before, but I wanted to do a Christian camp, so I said yes.
FCA: What was special about your time at camp?
Arlene: My girls got really close at the end. It was cool to see the transparency, what their doubts were, and to see girls come to Christ.
***
Name: Jenn Darrow
Position: Newport Mesa Area Representative
Camp Experience: 6 years (4 as Huddle Leader, 2 on staff)
FCA: What’s been rewarding for you this week?
Jenn: My role was to recruit and train Huddle Leaders, so I spent two days equipping girls. They are the “heartbeat of camp” to impact the hearts of high school girls’ lives. Getting to see girls pour into others and get into it and get excited, it’s good to watch them experience God in their own lives too. God’s doing cool things.
FCA: What’s been surprising?
Jenn: The level of play is looking good this year. We want it to be a strong athletic camp, and the level of coaching keeps going up each year.
FCA: What are you observing about God?
Jenn: God loves you. There’s an incredible diversity of backgrounds here, but to see the overlying theme of being secure in Him, watching it manifest itself in many different ways addressing that core issue of athletes aching to know how loved they are. God shows up, and it’s cool to see their excitement to be poured into, invested in.
Previous In My Voice Articles:
In My Voice, Week 1 Part 1
In My Voice, Week 1 Part 2
****Want to share an impactful moment that came from your camp? Send us a photo and quote to mag@fca.org or link up to us at @FCANews and Facebook.