"Pump It Up!"

I am so "pumped" about our next FCA speaker for Wednesday, January 18! You are not going to want to miss Eric Helms, former professional bodybuilder and sellout for Jesus! Below is a portion of his biography taken from his website. So, start pumping the iron over the next couple of weeks : ) and get ready for another amazing winter FCA AND don't forget about our gently-used coat drive going on right now. 

Eric Helms had everything that most young men dream of… a girlfriend, a fast car, a good job, a huge bodybuilding career and money in his pocket. What no one knew is that to achieve the growth needed to maintain his bodybuilding he was full of illegal steroids and to afford the steroids and the lifestyle that went with his image he was selling drugs; a self professed thug, Eric didn’t care who we ran over to achieve his goals.

He was empty and searching for something to fill the void in his life. He found that in Jesus more than 20 years ago and now he spends his life in fulltime ministry telling others how Jesus wants to radically change their life.

Eric Helms

The Helms Family

"Uncomfortable for Christ"

Scott Elder, a senior bio-chemical engineering major at Georgia Tech and former member of the Yellow Jackets football team, was our guest at this morning's FCA and he challenged us to be "uncomfortable for Christ".

Scott was a "walk-on" at Tech and was asked to play cornerback which he shared is a very uncomfortable position: "You're always running backwards when everyone else is running forwards. You're always looking away when everyone else is looking towards the ball." His coach once said, "Success only comes to people when they get uncomfortable." You can't be a successful cornerback, or any other athlete for that matter, by sitting on the couch remaining comfortable. You have to run, drill, practice and be uncomfortable if you're ever going to be any good.

Then, Scott shared with us how we have to be uncomfortable in our spiritual lives as well to be successful for Christ; the apostle Paul was his perfect example. Saul (before he became Paul) was very comfortable. He was well-educated, held a high position within the Jewish community and was very popular while he was busy persecuting those crazy Christians. After his salvation, though, Paul led a very uncomfortable life turning his back on all of his comforts so as to further the Kingdom. 

Christ did not die on the cross for us to be comfortable. Persecuted Christians throughout the world can attest to that. Are you willing to take a stand and be "uncomfortable for Christ"?

What would FCA be without one of our ridiculous games? Thanks so much to Miss Boyd for teaching us an awesome new one called "Scoot and Boot". The object of the game is for the folks in the circle to continue "scooting" around the chairs in an attempt to keep the person in the middle "booted" out of the circle. The person in the middle is obviously trying to find a seat. Enjoy this glimpse into our silliness : )!

"5 Yard Penalty, Third Down"

"Booooooo" could be heard throughout the crowd at FCA on Wednesday as the referee made his entrance. Isn't that always what happens when a referee walks by? Normally we expect better of our Heiskell students, but this morning was an exception. SEC referee and sideline judge Chris Conley asked the students to "boo" him.

He shared with us the meaning of every detail on his uniform and how the ways in which it serves a purpose in his role as a referee. He pointed out that we all immediately recognized who he was as soon as he walked into the room.

Then, he challenged us. Do others know exactly who we are when we walk into a room? Do they know we belong to Christ? Every part of our uniform (body) serves a purpose for Christ. Do we recognize that and honor Him in that way? What a great reminder of how the Lord designed us and that we need to consciously put on the full armor of God every day.

Aw, Come On Ref...

If you've ever wondered what the terms "personal foul", "offsides", or "illegal block" mean, then come to our next FCA meeting on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30 a.m. We will be welcoming SEC official Chris Conley as our speaker. It's going to be great, so we can't wait to see you there (even if you don't want to know what those terms mean : ).

Wide Receiver for Jesus

Walter Payton, Steve Bartkowski, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Roger Staubach, Ahmad Rashad...If you know anything about pro football in the late 70s and early 80s, these names mean something to you. They represent the very best the NFL had to offer and still hold legendary status to this day. Wallace Francis rattled off these names and many more this morning because he had the privilege of playing with or against them during his tenure in the sport.

However impressive it might be that Mr. Francis knows these sports legends, it should mean far more to us that he knows the real superstar, Jesus Christ. Mr. Francis shared his testimony this morning about how he came to know the Lord while playing for the Atlanta Falcons because of the witness of two of his teammates. He reminded us that being on Christ's team is a privilege far beyond being a member of any other team no matter how great. He also charged us with remembering that religion, in any form, does not "get us to God"; it's only through salvation of Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Mr. Francis, for spending your morning with us.

"Falcons Rise Up!"

"Falcons rise up" may not have been heard much in 1973 when they still played at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, but the name Wallace Francis was definitely heard.

Mr. Francis attended the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff and was drafted as a wide receiver by the Buffalo Bills in 1973. In 1975, he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons where he continued in the receiver position. Named Falcons Player of the Year in 1979, Mr. Francis continued to have success with the Falcons, but was called by God in to full time ministry. The 1981 season would be his last in the NFL.

By 1990, he had finished bible college and is now the national director of Ambassadors for Christ International, an organization that works with local churches to equip believers for evangelism. 

Don't miss this opportunity Wednesday morning, November 2 at 7:30 a.m. to meet an Atlanta sports legend and hear his testimony about Jesus!

Fields of Faith

Just a reminder to everyone that the Northwest Metro Atlanta FCA is hosting "Fields of Faith" on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Lovett's gymnasium.