Huddle Guide

Vision - "To see the endurance world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches."

Mission - "To present to athletes and coaches, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church."

Core Values - Integrity, Serving, Teamwork, and Excellence Purpose Statement - To achieve FCA's Vision and Mission in the endurance community through: Uniting and Equipping Christian endurance athletes to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and share that faith with others.

Last revised Jan 2011

Contents of this Guide:

Introduction:

Guide Introduction
Huddle Introduction
A National Ministry

Huddle Leaders:

Introduction
Job Description
FCA Criteria
FCA Endurance Expectations

Huddle Formation:

When to form a Huddle
The Process

Huddle Meetings:

Initial Thoughts on Programming
Intentionality of Events
     •   Uniting Activities
     •   Equipping Activities
     •   Presenting Activities
     •   Periodization    
     •   Come and Go Strategies
Programming Ideas

Other Considerations:

“Active” Huddles
Frequency of Meetings
Church Partnerships
Other Ministry Partnerships
Funding (FCA Endurance)
Funding (FCA in General)
FCA Field Staff
Huddle Leader – Staff Reporting

Resources Available
Monthly Huddle Report (MHR) template

For additional information, please contact:

Chris Anderson
National Director
canderson@fca.org
605-335-7555
www.fcaendurance.org

Guide Introduction:

This FCA Endurance Huddle Guide is meant to supplement FCA’s resource, “The Manual –The Handbook for Adult Ministries” (Manual). The Manual outlines general FCA information and principles that apply to all FCA adult ministries, including Endurance Huddles. The information contained within the Manual is extremely valuable for Huddle Leaders to know and understand, equipping them with basic knowledge regarding FCA and adult Huddle administration. The Manual is available via download through our site or fcaresources.com/promotional/community-ministry-manual A hard copy can also be purchased through the National Office for $11.00.

This Endurance Huddle Guide (Guide) will expand upon information contained within the Manual, giving more specific direction regarding Endurance Huddle Ministry. While we pray the information contained here will be helpful, we realize that this is all a work in progress. If you feel that there is something missing or needing correction, please contact Chris Anderson with your suggestion(s).

Huddle Introduction:

FCA Endurance Huddles are FCA Adult Huddles (chapters) with an endurance focus. “Huddle” is a term FCA has used since 1966 to describe a small local group or chapter of individuals who have a heart for Christ, athletics, and the mission and vision of FCA. A Huddle is a group of individuals who come together locally for fellowship, spiritual growth, and outreach.

Among other things, Huddles provide an opportunity for relationships to be formed locally, strengthening ministry possibilities. They create a vehicle that allows for members to serve, encourage, and strengthen each other within and outside of the endurance community. With pooled resources of time, talent, and treasure; a group is also able to accomplish things that individuals couldn’t alone. Lastly, Huddles provide a non-threatening base group to bring others into, both Christian and non- for spiritual exploration and growth.

Because Huddles provide so many growth and ministry opportunities, FCA and FCA Endurance highly encourage their formation and development. As a local group, united and working together in your community, you will experience more, accomplish more, and have a much bigger impact on everyone (both saved and non-). You’ll also have more fun!

Part of a National Ministry:

While Endurance Huddles operate in a given geographic area and have significant flexibility and freedom in programming, style, and administration; it is important to note that they are not a ministry in and of themselves. A major part of the initial vision for FCA Endurance was the creation of ONE ministry team, made up of individuals and Huddles across this country, united in purpose, strategy, and name. As a Huddle, you are a part of that one team. Rather than becoming many separate teams or franchises (each Huddle) loosely connected under one umbrella/name, we feel that it is vital to our vision and mission to stay united as much as possible. Huddles are strategic pieces of a National Ministry, one united team, serving, operating in, and impacting their local community as a part of the larger whole.

Huddle Leaders: Intro

Before we continue talking about Huddles themselves, from both the formation and programming side of things, we need to address the second most important part of the Huddle (after prayer), the Huddle Leader! As a volunteer intensive ministry, FCA Endurance is dependent upon God to provide servants who feel called to help lead and guide the ministries of FCA in the field. As the Team continues to be blessed with growth in size and opportunities, there is no way that a small staff can keep the Team engaged and organized in local activities. In order to continue to grow our impact, we need to shift more opportunity and responsibility onto those called to serve locally. This role is filled by a certified Huddle Leader(s), the backbone of Huddle ministry.

Huddle Leaders: Biblical Examples

Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." Exodus 18:17-23

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4

I pray that I’m not taking anything out of context here, but in each of the above passages, the Lord organizes His people to meet the needs of others. Huddle Leaders are a key part of this within FCA Endurance, leading their local communities as members of the National Leadership.

Huddle Leaders: Job Description

FCA Endurance Huddle Leaders are national ministry volunteers called to accomplish FCA’s vision and mission locally through endurance sports. United with other FCA staff and volunteers, their calling is to unite and equip local endurance athletes “To present to athletes and coaches, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.” Following the Biblical example of leadership, a Huddle Leader is a servant of the Huddle he/she serves.

Huddle Leaders: Criteria

The following is from the FCA Ministry Leadership Application (MLA) for all FCA Ministry Leaders:
  1. Committed Christian – you have accepted the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and are demonstrating this by walk and talk.
  2. Vision – you will help FCA fulfill their Vision: “To see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches.”
  3. Athletically Focused – you are involved in the world of sport, have an athletic background, and/or understand that athletics is a powerful medium to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
  4. Influence – you will use the gifts and talents that God has entrusted to you to be a Christ-like example in your relationships and be a Christian role model.
  5. Church – you will be actively involved in a local church.
  6. Time – you will be willing to invest time in ministering to athletes and coaches.
  7. Values – your relationships will demonstrate steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word through Integrity, Serving, Teamwork and Excellence. Integrity – you will demonstrate Christ-like wholeness, privately and publicly. Serving – you will model Jesus’ example of serving. Teamwork – you will express your unity in Christ in all your relationships. Excellence – you will honor and glorify God in all you do.
  8. Grow – you will seek God’s will with all your heart through prayer, Bible reading, and other spiritual disciplines.
  9. Minister – you will be involved with one or more of the FCA Ministries that encourage, equip and empower coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of sports to impact their world for Jesus Christ. The FCA Ministries are: Coaches Ministry, Campus Ministry, Camp Ministry and Community Ministry
  10. Policies – you will function within all the FCA policies, guidelines and authority structure.

Huddle Leaders: FCA Endurance Expectations

In addition to the general FCA criteria and responsibilities listed above, FCA Endurance has a few other expectations to consider. These are made with the desire to strengthen local Huddles, increasing their impact. It is the desire of National FCA-E leadership to help support and equip HLs to successfully and joyfully achieve the below.

  1. Be a FCA Endurance Teammate: In order to serve within the ministry, it is vital that you are an active part of it.
  2. Be United: In addition to leading a local Huddle, we expect Huddle Leaders to be in community with the National Office, FCA-E staff, and other Huddle Leaders regularly. This communication is meant to strengthen and encourage you as a leader, as well as provide valuable feedback, accountability, and idea sharing within our leadership team.
    • Be a member of the TheBody (fcaendurance.ning.com)
      Be an advocate that other Teammates are also a part of this community
    • Be a member of the TheBody Huddle Leader Group (you will be invited/added once approved as a HL)
    • Participate in quarterly Huddle Leader conference calls
    • Communicate with the National Director monthly
    • Communicate with your local staff person monthly (brief update)
  3. Be Equipped: In order to equip the Huddle, you must be equipped yourself.
    • Team Awareness: While we don’t expect each Huddle Leader to know everything about the ministry, they are truly the “expert in the field.” To gain this expertise will require some initial and ongoing effort, including reading this guide, web site content, newsletters, online community ( Facebook, and/or NING) posts, and other correspondence, and by actively engaging in our community.
    • Spiritual Disciplines: This is primarily covered in the MLA expectations above (5. Church & 8. Grow). Other endurance specific information will be made available through the National Office via resources and training conferences.
    • Prepared to Share: We expect each Huddle Leader to be proficient in at least one sharing/presenting technique that can be implemented and taught. These techniques can be gained through your church, other local ministries, or FCA Endurance (via resources and training conferences).
  4. Be a Uniting/Equipping Servant:
    • Contact new members in their geographic area within 48 hours of learning of the new member. You will be notified of these members once a Huddle is established.
    • Produce a brief Monthly Huddle Report (MHR), minimally outlining current Huddle activities, recent success/praise stories, and upcoming ministry opportunities (educate, inspire, and invite)
      • Send to new members as they sign up (include with a above)
      • Send to current members, National Director, and local FCA staff (meet United above)

Huddle Formation: When to form a Huddle?

Typically, Huddle formation has followed one of two routes. We’ve seen both work, and to a degree, some falter a bit. Look these over, see which one you fit into, and decide how God would have you respond.

Called Leader - In this case, an individual learns of FCA Endurance and is inspired to form a Huddle in his or her community. This may be due in part to their desire to reach their community, their desire to be part of a local Huddle personally, or a vision of what could be. Regardless, we pray that the Lord has called this person into leadership. In this scenario, an individual takes on the calling solo and goes through the process of certification with the hopes that others will catch his/her vision and join once the Huddle is rolling. We’ve seen the Lord work through this route, but from our experience it can be a tougher way to go simply because the weight of the Huddle is on one person. Should you feel called to go this route, we would love to move forward but highly encourage you to start raising interest and inviting a few other key core members as you move forward. In this way you move a bit closer to scenario two.

Teammates Organize - In this scenario, the Lord has already called a number of Teammates from a certain geographic area. The Teammates may have joined FCA Endurance on their own, not even aware of the others, or they might all be connected as a Teammate invites his/her friends and contacts to join the Team. As these neighboring Teammates become aware of each other, they decide to organize as a way to experience the benefits of a Huddle, including a larger impact. In this process, one or more leaders is/are called to organize and lead the group. The benefit of this route is that the Huddle already has at least a few core members to tap into for Huddle activities and resource needs.

Huddle Formation: The Process

The steps for Huddle Formation are listed below. Details for each step follow the list.

  • Pray
  • Investigate FCA Endurance and Endurance Huddles
    • Includes reading this guide
  • Research existing Huddles
  • Find and Certify Huddle Leaders
  • Contact the national FCA Endurance office
  • Certify the Huddle
  • Begin programming

 

Huddle Formation: Step 1 | Pray

All ministry needs to start, continue, and end in prayer. Seek the Lord's will for your endurance community and the calling God has put in your and other potential Huddle Leader’s heart(s). Pray for this ministry in your area and for those God would bring to serve and be ministered to/through this Huddle. While this is the first step, it is also the last. As a Huddle Leader, seeking God regularly through prayer will be vital to the Huddle’s and your ministry.

Huddle Formation: Step 2 | Investigate FCA Endurance and Endurance Huddles

While we do not expect those in Huddle leadership to know everything about FCA, we do desire for them to be our experts out in the field. To be the expert requires a little time and work in getting to know the ministry you desire to represent and lead. Also, in order to commit fully to serving and leading, each person should know who and what they are committing to. As such, we invite and request everyone exploring Huddle formation to explore FCA, FCA Endurance, and Endurance Huddles. The easiest way to do this is through spending time going through the content on our website (www.fcaendurance.org), including the information on FCA, and this manual.

Huddle Formation: Step 3 | Research existing Huddles

If a certified adult Huddle is currently meeting in your area, it makes sense to join them rather than start up something new. This saves time and other resources, as well as unites more individuals within a community. Huddle research includes both FCA-E Huddles and other Adult FCA non-Endurance Huddles.

To determine if there is already a FCA Endurance Huddle in your area, visit our Huddle website: fcaendurance.com/huddles If there is a Huddle listed, contact the Huddle Leader (on this same page) and get plugged in. They will no doubt welcome your participation and willingness to serve. The best way to determine whether there is a non-Endurance Adult FCA Huddle in your area is through your local FCA staff person. FCA field staff have the best feel for the FCA ministries taking place in their/your area, and they will be a valuable resource to you in your role. As such, if you don’t know your local staff, now is the time to make an introduction. To find out whom your local FCA staff person is, please visit: www.fca.org/hotpicks/FindlocalStaff.lsp This web page will ask for your zip code and pull up your local staff person and his/her contact info.

If there is already an Adult Huddle in your area, talk to its leadership about joining. Perhaps you could run an endurance component to what they are already doing. Our desire is to unite people interested in ministry through sports, and by joining an existing Huddle you will have more access to Christian community while adding some likely welcomed programming to what they are already doing. If you, the current adult Huddle leadership, and the local staff person believe that each group would best be served through starting a new, separate FCA Endurance Huddle, then we will proceed in that manner.

Huddle Formation: Step 4 | Find and Certify Huddle Leaders

After prayer, Huddle Leaders are the most important component of Huddle “success.” Specific details outlining Huddle Leaders were addressed in the previous section. We will address the administrative portion here.

A Huddle cannot be active and certified, and therefore technically exist, without a “certified” leader. FCA requires that any volunteer interested in representing FCA in an official capacity, including leadership roles such as an Endurance Huddle Leader, have an approved Ministry Leadership Application (MLA) on file. The MLA serves a few functions:

  • Gives FCA general contact information about its leaders
  • Shares the applicant’s history within FCA and his/her general sports background
  • Shares valuable information regarding a volunteer’s spiritual history, walk, and understanding of salvation
  • Shares FCA’s Ministry Leader expectations and responsibilities
  • Ensures the applicant agrees with FCA’s Statement of Faith, Sexual Purity Policy, and Youth Protection Policy
  • Allows FCA to conduct a background check
  • Plugs these leaders into the national database

Basically, the MLA allows FCA to get to know the applicant and ensures that our leaders are minimally qualified to lead and represent FCA in an official capacity. Having an approved MLA on file also establishes the individual as a volunteer and may help cover him/her in the event of a lawsuit resulting from a FCA activity.

To fill out the MLA, go to: www.fca.org/hotpicks/mla.lsp As you do this, we ask that when asked about which ministries you desire to participate in, you select: Adult Huddles, Sport Specific Ministry, and Endurance. This will all make sense as you do it, and by selecting these boxes, your MLA will be routed through the FCA Endurance office, expediting the processing of your application. It is also requested that once complete, you email canderson@fca.org, notifying FCA Endurance of the completed form.

Lastly, it is worth noting that Huddle leadership can, and when available, should be shared. By having co-leaders, the Huddle is able to tap into a larger pool of Spiritual gifts, experiences, personalities, and resources. It also helps the leader(s) by distributing the responsibilities. Each leader needs to have an approved MLA on file to serve in this capacity.

Huddle Formation: Step 5 | Contact the National FCA Endurance Office

While this step can be taken at any time as you have questions and/or begin considering this role, it needs to have happened by this point. Before you move on with certifying the Huddle, please contact the FCA  Endurance National Director Chris Anderson at 605-335-7555. This call serves two purposes.

First, it serves to update the National Office of your intent to certify a new Huddle if it has not been discussed before. The call allows the National Office to track down your MLA if they don’t already have it and prepare to plug you and the Huddle into existing Huddle networks. The call also allows you to share your heart, calling, and local vision for the Huddle.

Secondly, we pray that the call will help prepare you to be successful as a Huddle Leader. Understanding this guide will help, but running ideas through an experienced set of ears should be valuable as you begin. Also, as a Huddle Leader, you will be working closely with the National Office, and the sooner the relationship can be established, the smoother things will likely go. The call is meant to be a dialog that will help equip and encourage you in your new calling.

Huddle Formation: Step 6 | Certify the Huddle

Finally, the Huddle becomes a reality. This is actually the easiest step and takes just minutes. Before discussing how to certify the Huddle though, I want to briefly share why to certify the Huddle. Certifying the Huddle serves two primary purposes.

First, it officially ties the Huddle into the network of FCA ministries, both within the FCA National Support Center (Kansas City, MO) and the FCA Endurance National Office (Sioux Falls, SD). This allows us to list and link the Huddle on websites, be sure Huddle Leaders are kept in the know regarding relevant FCA news, and refer others to this Huddle community. It is also important to know that a Huddle does not exist, at least as recognized by any part of FCA, until it is certified.

Secondly, after certification the Huddle is covered under FCA’s liability insurance. While we pray that you/we will never need this, we live in a litigious society. Should something happen during a “Huddle event” where someone was injured, we want to be sure you and FCA are covered. The last thing we want is for you to lose your house in a lawsuit because you were serving unprotected.

Certifying the Huddle is quick and easy, and is done through the National Office.  When you're ready to certify, call Chris Anderson at 605-335-7555.  Certification lasts 1-year and expires on August 31.  Each certified Huddle will receive a Huddle renewal form in early summer to renew for the following year, and renewal is done through the National Office.

The last topic of Huddle certification is naming the Huddle. As you certify, you will be asked to name your Huddle. While we hate to squash creativity, we have established a pattern that helps us easily track endurance Huddles within the FCA database. As such, please name your Huddle: “FCA Endurance –[fill in geographical area here]”. Regarding the geographic area, you are free to choose whatever you wish, but we will refer to your huddle in terms that others will easily understand. For example, the “FCA Endurance - Inland NW” Huddle means something to those who live there, but nothing to everyone else. For this reason, we refer to it as the Coeur d’Alene Huddle.

As a certified Huddle, the Adult Ministry Manual mentioned on page 3 will be a valuable resource for you, outlining many FCA Huddle administrative procedures. It also contains a number of potentially useful forms. If you have not downloaded or purchased this resource yet, now is the time.

Huddle Formation: Step 7 | Begin Programming

If you’ve gotten to this step, you now have a certified Huddle with at least one recognized servant leader. The majority of the rest of this guide is designed to help you take the Huddle from recognized to reality, making an impact on the endurance community around you. This process can go many different directions depending on a number of factors, and the remainder of this guide will suggest different ideas that we pray will help you plan activities that engage, unite, and equip your Huddle to present Christ through sport, impacting your community for Jesus.

To proceed, read through the rest of this guide, pray about your calling personally and within the Huddle, and seek feedback from those you intend to serve, other Huddle Leaders, and the National Office. Also  begin/continue to pray for opportunities. See what doors the Lord opens and closes. Look to see where the Lord is already moving. As you do this, it’s time to start putting together a calendar.

Huddle Meetings:

The content and/or programming for “Huddle Meetings” will vary drastically, dependent on many factors, including who is leading, who is involved, and current area opportunities. While this guide will give some direction and examples, each Huddle will behave differently based on the Huddle Leader’s and Huddle Member’s Spiritual gifts, personalities, experiences, resources (time, geography, opportunity, etc), and other factors. While I know this lack of uniform guidance and structure will frustrate some, we know that one size does not fit all. We also realize that we don’t have everything figured out yet, and some of the best ideas are yet to be discovered. That’s one of the main reasons for maintaining communication within the leadership community… so we can learn and grow together. That said, this guide will prayerfully help lead you as you decide the best steps to take towards success.

Initial Huddle Leader Programming Advice:

As Huddle Leaders consider the best ways to start and grow a Huddle, three pieces of advice have proved to be helpful. These are based on the idea of maximizing the Huddle Leader’s strengths while minimizing stress. If you can implement these ideas into your strategy, the Huddle Leader will likely be happier and more successful, which will often times translate directly onto the success of the Huddle.

  1. Start with Your Gifts: I would encourage each Huddle Leader to analyze where their gifts lie and tap into his/her God-given strengths. Spiritual Gift assessments are a great place to start, but simply exploring what you enjoy, what you are good at, what you have experience with, what you’re passionate about, what activities you would like to be involved in, and what others have affirmed in you should be valuable. Once you’ve got an idea of this, you’ve got an idea of where to start.

    The basic premise of this advice is that if you are doing what you’re good at and enjoy, you will likely succeed, and this will bless others you are interacting with (the Huddle). The last thing anyone needs is one more set of tasks that create stress or anxieties in already overflowing schedules. While this is sometimes necessary for personal growth and the administration of any group, we want to minimize it. We also pray that others will be brought into the Huddle with other gifts and passions to tap into. As this happens, allow them to lead in these areas to diversify Huddle meetings and activities without requiring you to do more, especially in areas where you may struggle.

    Examples: If you are a gifted teacher, a Bible study or evangelism course might be a great start-up activity. If you enjoy hospitality, perhaps leading social activities (BBQ or Ironman party) would work best for your talents. If you enjoy service, organize the Huddle to do packet pick-up for a local race, etc.
  2. Start with What You are Already Doing: Lets face it, most of us are really busy and adding one more thing to most schedules is a source of stress. Therefore, it is suggested that you start with something that you are already doing or plan on doing regardless of the Huddle. From there, you simply call it a Huddle activity and start inviting others. By doing so, you are not adding something more to your calendar. Also, in a worse case scenario, if no one shows up, while you will likely be very disappointed, you have not “wasted” any time.

    Examples: (1) If you are already committed to riding your bike every Saturday morning, make this a Huddle activity. While you will have to do a little bit of work to market the activity (inviting others), the ride is already happening with or without a Huddle meeting. You just need to be consistent about the time and place where you start from. Will you be bummed if no one shows? You bet, but you were going to go riding anyway. Just invite them again next week. You now have a program going and have added minimal “extra” to your schedule. (2) Are you currently (or planning on) studying the book of Timothy? Invite others to join you, and you’ve got a Huddle Bible study!
  3. Tap into Other Group Opportunities: As you start your Huddle, consider what you might feel called to do and see if someone else is already doing it. It is certainly easier to administrate showing up to someone else’s activity than recreating your own. This can save tremendous time and effort, as well as increase the group size and impact of the activity.

    Example: You are considering hosting a Thursday night Huddle ride. As you explore this, you realize that a great ride is already taking place through AAA triathlon club on Thursday night. Rather than competing with a successful ride or trying to re-organize your own, consider attending theirs. This allows you to participate in a fun, successful ride from the get-go with minimal administrative stress. This also creates an opportunity for Huddle members to make and grow relationships with other riders, creating ministry opportunity. This won’t always work and there are definitely times where hosting an “owned” event is warranted in order to control the atmosphere. However, don’t feel like you always need to reinvent the wheel.
Intentionality of Events:

With the above as a backdrop, it is strongly encouraged that each Huddle activity be strategic towards achieving FCA Endurance’s Mission. The truth is that there are countless activities out there for Huddles to get engaged in, but we pray that each one you participate in has a purpose. Most of us are under a time crunch, and we would hate for you to spin your wheels with no fruit at the end. This is not to say that everything has to be a process or “work”, but that you have considered the desired result of your time and efforts.

For example, there is nothing wrong with studying Matthew in the Bible as a Huddle, but as you do, we pray there will be some application beyond head knowledge. There is also nothing wrong with a group ride just to get some miles in, but we pray that there will be intentionally created opportunities during the ride to build relationship, explore spiritual topics, share a prayer, or perhaps even the Gospel. Again, serving runners a cup of water during a marathon is a great and necessary service for an event and the race organizers, but we pray that you are seeking ways to serve that will allow you an opportunity to love people in such a way that they could see Jesus through the service.

As we consider Huddle programming, we feel that there are three major classifications of activities. We strongly suggest that you consider how your envisioned event fits into these categories as a way of determining how it helps you achieve FCA’s mission locally.

  1. Uniting Activities:
    As the name implies, these are activities designed to build and unite the Team. Many of these activities will be social in nature and tend to target and draw in those who already know Christ or are minimally seeking. Their purpose is to grow the Team/Huddle in number of participants and to build relationships within the Huddle and body of believers. It is worth noting that Uniting Activities are generally the  easiest to hold, require the least amount of work, are generally the most comfortable, and will often times happen automatically when brothers and sisters are brought together with a common passion.

    Examples:
    Socials- BBQ, dinners, Ironman (pick a sport) watching parties, etc.
    Huddle Training Events- at least those focused within the Team
    Race Expos- often attract and encourage current believers and Teammates
  2. Equipping Activities:
    These activities are designed to help equip our Team to grow spiritually and/or to more effectively share their faith. In “Christianese”: discipleship and evangelism training. During these events, the hope is that each person will have grown a little closer to Christ through some form of learning and experience that draws him or her closer to the Father. This translates into an action that can impact the endurance community for Christ. Another hope would be that through learning and practicing, we could become more proficient at sharing our faith.

    These activities obviously require more planning and are often geared intentionally towards the Huddle members or current Christians. These activities are also not the sole responsibility of the Huddle, and we highly encourage you to tap into other Christian resources around you (local church, conferences, etc.). FCA Endurance is also in the ongoing process of seeking out and developing resources and training conferences to help Huddles and Teammates more actively become equipped for endurance ministry (Endurance Ministry Institute/EMI).

    Because Equipping Activities are harder to plan, they will typically not happen unintentionally. It is also usually the case that Equipping Activities will automatically serve as Uniting Activities for those who attend, as relationships are built through the process of growth.

    Examples:
    Bible Studies- intentionally find practical application
    Discipleship Training- Spiritual Disciplines
    Evangelistic Training- How to effectively and comfortably share your faith
  3. Presenting Activities:
    Presenting Activities are intentionally designed to create opportunities for Huddle Members to share their faith with non-believers. These activities are geared specifically toward getting the Huddle actively engaged with other non-Christians within endurance sports for the sole reason of building relationships. Through engaging with others, we pray that Christ’s light will be shown on those we interact with. We further pray that the Holy Spirit will work through us in ways that will allow us to boldly, yet lovingly share our faith and invite them to respond.

    In considering Presenting Activities, it is extremely important to consider the setting. You want to create opportunities where there will be un-rushed time to talk, where individuals will be less distracted, and where relationships can truly be built. Also, while Presenting Activities may seem simple from the interacting with non-believers side of things, we need to be intentional about purpose. We do want to form relationships and friendships, but that is not the end goal and hanging out is not the point. Our desire is to love others as Christ would and share as the Spirit leads.

    From a practical administrative standpoint, these activities can go from “easy” to “hard.” On the easy end, it might mean just showing up to another’s event. On the other end, you may create and host activities designed to pull in and welcome non-believers. It is also worth noting that it is strategic to do some Equipping Activities before the Presenting Activities. Just like you would train for a marathon by doing some running during the months before hand, we want to be prepared to share before we actually have to do it. The Holy Spirit will do the heart change, but we need to be ready to be used.

    Lastly, as with Equipping Activities, Presenting Activities will also usually serve as Uniting Activities for those who participate. You will also prayerfully be welcoming new Christian brothers and sisters into you midst as you share.

    Examples:
    Group Training- attending other club/team workouts
    Event Service- when serving in ways that creates interaction (Novice Table, T-helper…)
    One-on-One Training- inviting others to train one-on-one or in small groups

As was noted, these three classifications of activities are not exclusive. All three will generally serve to Unite, but not all Uniting will Equip or Present. It was also suggested that Uniting Activities will usually happen automatically as we naturally pursue Christian community due to its nature, fun, and comfort. Because of that, we must be intentional about creating both Equipping and Presenting Activities, each done strategically and regularly. It might be a goal worth aiming towards to have your Huddle activities split up evenly in purpose between the three categories. Remember, we are a ministry, not a Christian running/cycling/triathlon club.

Periodization (an option):

As with a good physical training plan, there are different times of the year (season) where different training may be preferable to achieve maximal results. While this is not always the case with Huddles, it can be beneficial for growth, variety, and effectiveness. The following outlines a possible basic strategy.

  • Base: Possible time frame Sept-Dec. This time of year is a great time to build on basic Christian growth and building relationships within the Team… a bunch of Uniting with some general Equipping. This can be done through various fellowship activities, focused Bible study, or sports-related devotionals. The goal is to grow closer to Christ and to each other. Part of this could include accountability and general discipleship.
  • Build: Possible time frame Jan-April. This is the time of year to get ready for the season. Here you are practically Equipping yourself to reach out to others through strategic planning (season events, service, etc.), evangelism training, and continued growth through Christian disciplines.
  • Peak: Possible time frame May-Aug. This will likely correlate with your racing season. Here most Huddle activities will be spent “working the fields”. You are Equipped and ready, so instead of meeting together as an isolated group, you are meeting at events to serve and race, as well as holding and going to training events where you can impact nonbelievers for Christ. You will continue to build relationships within the Huddle as you train, race, and serve together.
Come and Go Strategies: Creating Presenting Opportunities

Come and Go Strategies are a simple way of thinking about how and where you will create presenting opportunities with those in your community. As you think about this, I encourage you to answer the following, “How do we show God’s love to the endurance world in a real, tangible way so that the people God puts in our lives may actually feel and experience Christ’s love through us?”

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." Luke 10:25-28 (NIV).

There are endless numbers of ways that we can love people, but we have gathered some ideas that fall into FCA Endurance’s “GO” and “COME” Strategies. The overlying theme here is genuine kindness, serving, and loving. How you practice these activities will depend on your personality, spiritual gifts, and comfort level; but we can and should all do something. Whether it's simply wearing positive, thought provoking gear as you reflect Christ to others, or actively engaging and leading people in spiritual discussions, we can all do something as we're led by the Spirit. Also, it should be a goal for each of us to step out of our comfort zone from time-to-time in order to make others feel valued and loved.

"GO" Strategies:

The point of "Go" Strategies is to go where others already are so you may serve them and build genuine relationships. Building these relationships will enable you to love people on a deeper level and engage them in "Come" Strategies (see below). General, non-triathlon-specific Christian love and service certainly apply in our “endurance world,” but let’s brainstorm and list some endurance-specific ways to love and serve.

  • Pray for others, for opportunities, and for strength and boldness
  • Live, train, and race according to the Competitor’s Creed
  • Look for opportunities to train with others (individuals and groups or clubs)
  • While with others, be "salt and light", showing genuine Christ-like love and kindness to ALL
  • Serve the individual and/or group you’re training with:
    • “take the nasty headwind” if you’re able (for the group or individual)
    • Fall back and give someone your wheel if they’re struggling to stay on
    • Be full of encouragement and don’t participate in gossip, aggression, or negativity
    • Participate with the slowest person in the group, offering fellowship and encouragement if they are struggling or just plain “slow”
    • Offer any constructive advice if you’ve got some expertise or experience that they would welcome
    • Bring extra food or fluid in case someone runs short
    • If someone needs to stop (bathroom, breakdown, hurt, needs to rest, etc.), stay with them and either help them get back with the group or finish the training with them
    • Help someone change a flat tire
    • Bring a spare tube to give out if needed
  • Borrow or give newbies extra gear you have
  • Pass on encouraging literature (Aid Station, certain books, tracts)
  • Give people rides to/from training sessions
  • Offer to buy someone lunch after the training
  • Share and answer questions in non-threatening ways when given the opportunity
  • Wear FCA-E Gear and use decals and/or tattoos
    • Have body marker put a “Jesus Fish” on your other calf
  • Humbly serve others through clubs, possibly taking on club leadership, or volunteering for jobs, tasks, and/or needs that are unmet
  • Help with events: set-up/tear-down a course, work/run an aid station, stuff packets, etc.
    • Bring extra TP – they always seem to run out
  • Be a volunteer mechanic
    • Bring a tire pump (with decal on it) and pump up athlete’s tires
  • Offer race-related services:
    • onsite pre- or post- race prayer service
    • onsite or church praise and prayer service
    • if allowed, put up scripture signs along course
    • sign- “need prayer” – then pray with them before/during race
    • offer rides to and from race hotel
    • booth or table at the expo and/or event to network, fellowship, and minister as able.
"COME" Strategies:

Once relationships are established or built, you can invite individuals to “COME” and be a part of your life, personally and/or collectively as a member of another Christian group (church, Huddle, etc.). This creates more opportunity for close, genuine friendships to develop. It also presents opportunity for them to experience Christian love and community in a group setting.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV)
  • Pray about how to be used, for opportunities, for people to reach
  • Invite people:
    • To train with you individually
    • To train with your Huddle
    • Offer a non-training social time (BBQ, watch an event together, picnic, etc.) for fellowship
    • Offer a Bible study
    • To come to church with you
    • To serve with you
      • At races
      • At Huddle activities
    • To participate in event ministry
      • Iron Prayer, Endurance Prayer, etc.
      • Pre-race prayers
  • Use service ideas listed above one-on-one or in a Christian group
Programming Ideas:

 Uniting Equipping*  Presenting** 
Nearly every Equipping and Presenting Event

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMI Training Conference or
Retreat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Host a local clinic – consider a
group presentation opportunity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Any social activity: BBQ,
holiday party, watch an event,
etc.
 Take an evangelism or
discipleship class together
through a local church 		 Train with a secular club/team
together 
Train together (regular training
ride, run, etc.)		 Go through/study an equipping book or program together Teach a class – adult or through
a school
Bible study or go through Christian living/discipleship material together   Serve together in an environment that allows for relationship formation/growth
Serve together   Host a training event that draws
non-believers
    Tract distribution through events
  * Intentionally equipping members to more effectively share the Gospel ** Intentionally build relationships that could provide opportunities to share the Gospel

“Active” Huddles:

It is our desire that each certified Huddle be actively engaged in ministry in their community! Because each Huddle is wonderfully unique and the opportunities vary greatly, we don’t define “success” by any measure other than whether the Holy Spirit is moving among and through them. That said, we (Huddle and national leadership) have come up with some rough guidelines to loosely define an “active” Huddle.

It is our desire that each Huddle prayerfully strive to meet and exceed these, and we’re happy to help in that. "Active" Huddles meet or exceed the following guidelines:

  1. Have at least one scheduled face-to-face meeting/event in each of 9 months
  2. Some form of monthly communication is present between the Huddle Leader and each Huddle member
    1. Monthly Huddle Report (see page 28)
  3. Participate in or schedule at least 3 ministry events per year
  4. Huddle Leader is meeting all HL expectations
Frequency of Meetings:

This, like programming and activities scheduled, will depend immensely on the time availability of both the Huddle Leader(s) and Huddle members. It will also likely vary during different times of year as there are varying degrees of opportunity. As such, we don’t have a set schedule to dictate. That said, a Huddle’s success and impact will largely be dependent on relationships, which are generally timesensitive. Simply, Huddle members will know each other better, be able to work together better, and have a deeper bond as they spend more time together. In an ideal setting, this might mean meeting at least weekly in some form or another. This may or may not be realistic, but it would be a best practice to get together at least 1-2 times each month. It is simply hard to maintain relationships and ministry momentum if you meet less regularly than this.

Church Partnerships:

Church partnerships can be a great resource for a Huddle. Church’s often have access to a body of believers, meeting space, professional pastoral staff, and perhaps other administrative or capital resources that the Huddle can tap into. A Huddle partnership can also be a win for a church as a way to reach out to a population group that might not otherwise be ministered to within their community. It may also provide the endurance enthusiasts within their congregation with a “small group” that caters to their passions and desires to minister through personal hobbies.

That said, it is important to remember that FCA and all FCA ministries are intentionally nondenominational. As such, we welcome partnerships with churches that support the FCA Statement of Faith, but we must remain an independent group/ministry rather than a program of a specific church. If you’ve got questions about if or how to partner with a local church, please don’t hesitate to contact the National Office.

Other Partnerships:

As with churches, it often makes sense to partner with other ministries who have a similar mission. By partnering with other ministries, we tap into a larger pool of resources, and can often times accomplish more and have a larger impact than we could alone. Examples of other ministries we’ve partnered with include: Athletes In Action Triathlon (AIAT), Believers on Mountain Bikes (BOMB), the International Christian Cycling Club (IC3), the International Christian Triathlon Network (ICTN), Step Up to Life Ministries (SUTL), 3:16 Athletic Wear, and others.

As we partner, seeking unity to accomplish a given task, it is important to remember and respect that each ministry has a God-led vision and mission to accomplish. As such, we must be faithful to not stray from what God has called FCA Endurance to do or pull the other ministry off its given course. If you’ve got questions about if or how to partner with another local ministry, please don’t hesitate to contact the National Office.

Funding – FCA Endurance:

While discussing funding, there are two overshadowing thoughts that must be remembered. First, everything belongs to God. We, personally and as a ministry, are simply entrusted with what’s already His, to steward as He guides. Secondly, as stressed earlier, it is important to remember that a Huddle is a part of one united ministry rather than a separate entity. As such, we would like to view funding very Kingdom-mindedly. It is our prayer that a well-funded ministry will benefit all parts of the ministry, from the national budget to the individual Teammate.

Nationally: FCA Endurance’s national budget is established yearly, with much prayer and reflection, by the National Director and National Leadership Board. It is then approved by the supervising VP of Field Ministry. This budget reflects the strategies placed on the leader’s hearts and is an attempt to fund both ministry infrastructure and programs. It is generally a responsible stepping out in faith of what God will bring in as directed by history, opportunity, and calling. All funding to meet this national budget comes from God through gifts given to FCA Endurance by individuals, foundations, companies, and churches. For perspective, it would be correct to view each ministry and staff person of FCA as a domestic missionary, supported by God through gifts.

The national budget is designed to meet ministry requirements needed to fund national operating expenses that allow the ministry to stay connected, be coordinated, and expand in a God-directed and organized fashion. It also includes larger programs that take place in local areas. This infrastructure and these major programs directly impact each Teammate and Huddle in one way or another. As such, we ask for each Teammate and Huddle to prayerfully consider supporting the national budget through both personal giving and fund-raising (inviting others to share in the blessed ministry of giving).

Locally: As a FCA Adult Huddle, you have the ability to raise and spend funds for Huddle activities. Guidelines outlining how to do this in accordance with FCA policies and IRS laws are available in “The Manual.” As you consider Huddle funding needs and potential funds available, we ask each Huddle to pray about how to best steward God’s gifts in the context of the Team as whole. For example, if you as a Huddle were gifted with funds beyond your local funding needs, it is encouraged that you prayerfully consider sharing these funds with the National Office where they can be used to meet other ministry needs, nationally or in another locality. This is done in the same spirit as funds being directed towards your Huddle via other giving. Please contact the National Office with any questions about this.

Corporate Ministry Partners: In addition to gifts given by individuals, churches, or foundations, and funds raised through events, we have the opportunity to invite corporations to share their financial blessings with our ministry. This is a large topic, and one addressed by our Corporate Ministry Partnership Proposal. This document is available online or through our National Office. In addition to the proposal, our National Director would welcome discussing this with you. As you read the proposal in its entirety, we will highlight a few points as you consider moving forward with a potential company.

  • We are a ministry
    Although we often function like a club or team, we have been called by God for a purpose and are His ambassadors. Therefore we must be careful in considering who we yoke ourselves with and be intentional that any partnership helps us accomplish our mission versus just provide a benefit for individual Teammates or marketing for a company.
  • We have obligations to National Corporate Partners
    Certain companies have responded to a calling to partner with FCA Endurance in a significant way. As such, we have an obligation to honor their commitment to our ministry through returned loyalties as applicable. This needs to be considered as we explore what other companies God may be calling to join us and how we interact with all companies.
  • We are One Team
    This is important to remember as we consider our unified presence across the country, especially in regard to branding and marketing, often represented on clothing. To increase our impact, we want to present one unified look, and therefore have restrictions on Team racing apparel. These restrictions also help strengthen our Team purchasing power, thereby benefitting all.
Funding – Part of the Bigger FCA Family

This section has been created at the request of FCA Endurance Huddle Leaders, seeking clarity regarding how the various ministries of FCA are funded, as well as how funds are raised and used.

Big Picture: FCA Ministry Distinctive #9 – FCA is:

Faith-Financed… funded through those who are moved by God to give.
FCA is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, similar to many/most other ministries. As stated above, it is funded by the Lord, primarily though gifts made to the ministry. The bulk of these gifts are made by individuals called to partner in its work, but funds are also given by companies, churches, and foundations.

United but Individually Funded:

While the ministries of FCA are absolutely united in Vision and Mission as directed by the Lord through those called to serve through leadership, they are funded nearly independent of each other.

  • Local Field Staff/Offices: These staff members are in reality domestic Christian missionaries, working full or part-time for the Lord through FCA. As such, they are completely dependent on Him to support their and their family’s needs through giving to their ministry. Generally, each staff member is responsible for asking the Lord to fund their work through gifts given specifically for this person’s/office’s ministry. As such, part of their ministry is inviting others to partner with them in funding their work. Typically they receive little to no direct funding from FCA nationally. In addition to gifts, they may also use events (banquets, golf tournaments, auctions, etc.) to raise funds to support their ministries, which include staff support and program expenses.
  • FCA National Support Center (NSC): The NSC, located in Kansas City, MO, houses the FCA Executive Leadership and other staff who support local field staff. They are responsible for ministry leadership and supporting field staff with systems that help make what they do possible or at least more efficient. This includes resource creation and distribution, receipting, accounting, legal, marketing, IT, online ministries, and others. The NSC is funded by an admin charge of 10% of all gifts made locally, gifts that come in directly for the NSC, and other forms of revenue (resource sales, etc.)
  • FCA Endurance and other National Sport-Specific Ministries (SSM): FCA Endurance staff members and the FCA Endurance National ministry budget operate the same way a local field staff/office operates (see above). Within FCA, we are in fact field staff. However, instead of our role being geography based (i.e. the south Chicago campus rep), we are sport based (all endurance sports). As field staff, part of our ministry is inviting others to support our calling through financial giving that directly supports our ministry human resource requirements, as well as our ministry resource and program expenses. We receive little to no direct financial support from FCA Nationally or other Local Field Staff.
  • FCA Endurance Huddles: FCA Endurance Huddle needs and expenses come primarily from two sources. The first is through the FCA Endurance National budget (see above). It is the desire of the FCA Endurance staff to support Huddles and Huddle Leaders as much as possible. As such, when applicable as part of the ministry strategic plan and when funding or resources are available, local Huddle needs are covered through the national ministry budget. The second source is gifts given directly to Huddle Leaders, explicitly for Huddle programs. Because Huddles don’t have any staff, their needs are generally smaller and easier to meet through specific local giving.
Options:

As you consider the above, you can see that there are at least four different ways to financially support the ministries of FCA. Like the Church, each part of this FCA body does something different, their specific calling, while achieving their part of the bigger, collective FCA vision. Regarding funding the parts, while there are certainly instances where one part shares financial resources with another, generally, each part must seek its own funding from the Lord. Knowing this, an individual could be given the opportunity to support 4 different opportunities within FCA at the same time. As an example:

  • Local staff member raising funds for a local football sports camp
  • NSC raising general support to upgrade the FCA IT department
  • FCA Endurance raising funds to support the national ministry team infrastructure
  • Local FCA Endurance Huddle raising funds to participate in a local marathon expo

What do you do with all of these options? Prayerfully discern where the Lord would have you give with joy. Where is your passion? What is the greatest opportunity? Where is the greatest need? From there, respond immediately, faithfully, and generously!

3T’s:

While this document has focused on ministry financial support, it is critical to remember that we each have resources beyond funds (Treasure - in the form of cash or assets). We also have Time and Talent, each of which can be just as valuable a resource to give.

FCA Ministry Distinctive # 7 – FCA is:
Volunteer-Intensive…mobilizing adults to accomplish the mission
This means we need you to accomplish what the Lord has put before us. FCA’s mission is far too great for staff to cover alone! We need and are counting on passionate volunteers around the country to give of themselves to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes!

Whether it’s leading a Huddle, giving a few hours at an event’s packet pick-up, or donating graphic art skills; this ministry depends on people stewarding what the Lord has placed in their hands for His glory!

Local FCA Staff:

As a Huddle of FCA Endurance, you should know and remember that you are just a small part of the larger FCA Team. While FCA Endurance has only been around since 2005, FCA has been impacting lives for Jesus Christ through sports since 1954. As such, you are part of a much larger legacy and huge ministry team of staff and volunteers around the world. With that in mind, it is highly recommended that you read the first chapter of “The Manual,” which highlights basic information regarding the larger Team you are a part of.

A significant part of the FCA Team is FCA field staff. These are men and women called to minister through FCA in a local community. They generally do this by focusing on one or more of the “4 C’s”: Coaches, Campus, Camps, and Community. As a staff person, they have been called by God to impact an area and are the local FCA experts. As such, they can be a hugely valuable resource to you in terms of contacts,  administration, resourcing, local FCA history, opportunity, etc. You and the Huddle can also be a significant blessing to them by providing a local ministry for endurance athletes and a potential volunteer force for local FCA events.

With this in mind, it is highly recommended that you make contact and establish a relationship with your local FCA field staff. As covered briefly above, this should bless you, the staff person, and both of your ministries. It is also a significant blessing to be tied in with another teammate, and some of our most “successful” Huddles have been those who have a close relationship with their local staff. To find your local staff person, please visit: http://www.fca.org/hotpicks/FindlocalStaff.lsp This web page will ask for your zip code and pull up your local staff person and his/her contact information.

As you contact your local field staff, we bring two things to your attention for consideration. The first is that FCA field staff generally have huge demands placed upon them. Most of them have large ministries often over large geographic areas, tons of opportunity, and are usually responsible for raising their own support on top of it all. As such, please exercise extreme grace in communicating with them. If responses are slow or interest seems weak, it is generally a function of being over-stretched rather than being indifferent towards you and/or your ministry.

The second thing I bring to your attention is that FCA Endurance and FCA Sport-Specific Ministries as a whole are relatively newer ministries and strategies within FCA. As such, a local staff person may not be completely familiar with either by the time you contact them. By reading our website and this guide, you may in fact know much more about FCA Endurance than they do. Should this be the case, use the opportunity to explore and grow FCA Endurance together in your community. Rest assured, we are working on improving communication and education regarding FCA Endurance within the field staff. This process takes time though. As this continues, remember that the FCA-E National Office is eager to help work with your Huddle and field staff on endurance ministry in your community.

Huddle Leader - Staff Reporting:

As a volunteer within FCA, Huddle Leaders “report” to FCA staff members. It is a staff member’s desire to empower and equip our volunteers to effectively accomplish FCA Endurance’s mission within their local community as callings, passions, and opportunities lead. To accomplish this, there is a great deal of freedom given to Huddle volunteers, based on trust and understanding, as well as a common goal/mission. At the same time, it is important that communication and accountability take place to guide and protect the Lord’s ministry through FCA.

To provide this empowering, equipping, and accountability; there are two reporting models to explore:

  1. National Reporting:
    In areas where there is not a local FCA field staff presence or the field staff member has a specific calling outside of endurance sports ministry (a ministry calling directed at football coaches for example), the Huddle Leader(s) will report directly to the National Director (ND) of FCA Endurance. In this instance the ND will be the primary point of contact for resourcing and accountability, and the local field staff member (if applicable) will serve as a local resource as needed. The benefits of this include access to a staff member with endurance-specific ministry passions, callings, and experience. The cons in most cases are geographic distance, face-to-face access, and local familiarity/networking. This is the most common form of reporting that takes place within FCA Endurance.

    In this model, the expectation is that the HL will communicate with the National Director and local field staff monthly. This can most efficiently be done through the Monthly Huddle Report (see page 6, point 4 and page 28). It is also encouraged that the HL meet with their local staff person quarterly, either one-on-one or by attending a staff/board meeting. This will allow for relationship growth and increased cooperation within the ministries of FCA.
  2. Local Reporting:
    In areas where there is a local staff person who desires and is called to actively engage in endurance sports ministry, the Huddle Leader may report directly to that local staff member for resourcing and accountability. In this case, the FCA Endurance National Director becomes a secondary resource person as needed. The benefits of this model are the availability of a local FCA expert, actively engaged in your ministry. While this model is not used as often, simply due to availability of called local field staff, it has been a major blessing where such an opportunity exists!

    In this model, the expectation is that the HL will communicate with the National Director and local field staff monthly. This can most efficiently be done through the Monthly Huddle Report (see page 6, point 4 and page 28). It is also encouraged that the HL meet with their local staff person quarterly, either one-on-one or by attending a staff/board meeting. This will allow for relationship growth and increased cooperation within the ministries of FCA.

Resources Available:

As a Huddle Leader, there are a number of resources available to you, and we will be developing more as there is opportunity and interest. A few are listed below:

Web sites:
www.fcaendurance.org

  • Check out all the pages and resources on this site!
    http://fcaendurance.com/emi
    http://fcaendurance.com/resources
  • www.fca.org
  • www.fcassm.org
  • www.fcaresources.com

On-line Communities:

  • FCA Endurance Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/fcaendurance
  • TheBody | FCA Endurance NING group: http://fcaendurance.ning.com
  • FCA Endurance Twitter: twitter.com/fca_endurance

Physical Resources:

  • "The Manual"- http://fcaresources.com/promotional/community-ministry-manual or available for purchase through our office.
  • Endurance Huddle Guide (this document)
  • FCA Endurance Events Guide – available online or through TheBody
  • FCA Endurance Printed Resources: http://fcaendurance.com/resourcesprint
  • FCA Endurance Clothing: http://fcaendurance.com/team-gear
  • General FCA Merchandise: http://www.fcagear.com/
  • R12 Discipleship Study: http://www.r12coach.com/
    We have these available for currently certified Huddles (FREE)
FCA Staff:

FCA Endurance National Director, Chris Anderson

  • 605-335-7555 Office
  • 952-200-0251 Cell
  • canderson@fca.org

FCA Endurance Ministry Coordinator (Communications), Joe Dannelly (803) 960-5400 Cell

  • jdannelly@fca.org

Local Staff – covered above: www.fca.org/hotpicks/FindlocalStaff.lsp

 

Other Huddle Leaders:

Team Database:

  • Available through TheBody Huddle Leader group

Templates (event and other):

    Available through TheBody Huddle Leader group


Close:

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide and for your prayerful consideration regarding how you may be called to serve your local endurance community through an FCA Endurance Huddle. Without a doubt, FCA Endurance leadership believes that Huddles are the way in which God is going to make the biggest impact for His Kingdom through endurance sports. As such, we are so grateful for your willingness to explore servant leadership and would be blessed to have you partner with us.

As I serve God through this Team, please know that I love to serve the servants. As such, please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or to explore how you can be a part of what God is doing through FCA Endurance Huddles.

For His Glory,
Chris Anderson