San Francisco Triathlon

July 10-13, 2009, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” (Matt 10:32)

For the past several years Terry and Betsey Davis of TriCalifornia (Wildflower, Escape from Alcatraz, etc.) have sought to acknowledge Jesus before their race participants by saying a pre-race prayer and by encouraging FCA Endurance presence at all of their races. They invite FCA-E to their expos free of charge and have sought teammates to host events like Iron Prayer. This has been a huge opportunity for FCA Endurance since TriCalifornia races draw sizeable crowds – up to 20,000 people attend the three-day long Wildflower Triathlon Festival.

This past July, teammate, Dan Perkins coordinated a booth at TriCalifornia’s San Francisco Tri on Treasure Island. David Blackman, Troy and Robin Soares joined him at the booth where they witnessed the Holy Spirit’s work in the hearts of several athletes and their families.

For example, Troy’s friend Dennis listened to Troy’s “triathlon testimony and how it ties into the FCA Endurance theme…‘Why do you race?’ For the first time [Dennis]…said, ‘As I get older, I'm getting more open to this.’” Troy also had a “great talk with Patty, the wetsuit rental owner, who has quite a testimony…which kind of started when she met Dan Perkins at Pacific Grove Triathlon, '08.” God is obviously using the patient, persistent testimonies and service of FCA-E teammates – especially Troy, who has been sidelined much of the season due to complications from donating a kidney to help a friend. (He is a great example of sacrificial love and of the body of Christ working together: read more at http://fcaepeople.blogspot.com/2009/08/two-people-two-kidneys-one-body.html .)

Several people who stopped by the San Fran expo booth to find out more about FCA Endurance expressed interest in having a local huddle. Others like Kathy, whose teenage son Jacob won his age group, were simply encouraged to talk with FCA Endurance teammates and excited to discover that such a ministry exists. Teenagers Todd and Neeva enjoy FCA in their school but were thrilled to find out about FCA Endurance. Another athlete, Helen, who is a member of the sizeable Silicon Valley Tri Club and recently completed the Boston Marathon, expressed interest in starting an FCA Huddle in her school.

In His characteristic extravagance, God also enabled FCA-E teammates to represent Him in a manner that the triathlon world respects: David placed seventh, Dan second and Robin first in their respective age groups. What a great God we have, who delights to bless us when we glorify Him doing what He created to do!

(Thank you to Dan for organizing this and to Troy for a SUPERB race report that provided the above information – thank you for helping us to praise God for all His work and for enabling us to acknowledge Him before men!)

Phoenix Hosts Second Endurance Ministry Institute

Phoenix, AZ, 9-10 October 2009

“It was so…freeing!” said one participant after the two-day Evangelism Ministry Institute (EMI) in Chandler, AZ last weekend. She was referring to the freedom to share the Gospel in the context of her own personality – and the discovery that evangelism might involve just establishing a relationship with people and loving on them, rather than climbing up on the awards platform and shouting, “Repent or you’ll go to Hell!”

She had learned that her “witnessing style” was “relational” because God designed her as a warm, friendship-oriented person. She is similar to Matthew the tax collector in her ability and desire to introduce people to Jesus through social events and ongoing friendship. Other Christ-followers have different witnessing styles and they will share in ways she may not be comfortable with. But working together as the body of Christ, we can reach all those God desires us to reach. As the saying goes, “it takes all kinds to reach all kinds.”

Their own personal witnessing style is just one of the many helpful, biblical things attendees learned at the EMI last weekend. Some also gave rave reviews of the opportunity to compile and focus their testimonies into useful formats and practice verbalizing them in a friendly environment. Said one, “Exactly what I needed… Fantastic. Delivery and content were terrific.” Others appreciated the detailed information on who endurance athletes are and how awareness of “who they are” impacts our ministry to them.

So if the idea of sharing your testimony or the Gospel message scares you more than toeing the starting line of your first race, seize your next opportunity to attend an EMI – and get some of that “training for godliness” that “has value for all things”!

Keep an eye on FCA-E’s website, on the FCA-E National Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FCAEndurance/) or on www.donnadouglass.com/EMI.htm to hear about the next EMI. If you’re interested in bringing EMI to your huddle or region, see www.donnadouglass.com/EMI_files/host.htm or email Kevin Olsen.

IM Wisconsin Iron Prayer

Sept. 13^th, 2009 Madison, WI

Once again, out of the mayhem of insufficient resources and lack of time, God’s sovereignty and power shone forth. This time it was at the IronMan Wisconsin’s IronPrayer event on September 13^th. When Athletes in Action was unable to host the event Racine Huddle Leader Toby Mueller stepped up. Though the planning had its suspenseful moments (what event planning doesn’t!), Toby said that in hindsight, “God’s timing is always right on time,” or as Solomon wrote, He has made all things beautiful in His time… (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

With a room in the host hotel unfeasible, the IronPrayer gathering took place under an FCA-E tent. It stood in a beautiful lakeside location where God’s creation could accompany teammate Chuck Perry’s worship music. A coordinated effort between teammate Carl Ross, Justin Pernitz of the Madison Endurance House and others resulted in a well-publicized event.

The perfectly sized crowd enabled them to share with each other “fears and praises from all who were there.”

Overall the “lesson learned” was that no matter how things look, God will come through in His perfect timing when we’re being submissive to His direction: the verse that summarized the event for Toby is “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.” (Philippians 4:6 MSG)

(Thank you to Toby for providing the Event Report from which this was written. You can download a quick, easy Event Report format from HERE.)

IronPrayer Goes International

For the first time ever IronPrayer reached beyond the boundaries of the United States. A huge thank you to Pat Cooke-Rogers and Revd Stephen Fletcher for leading the charge to host an IronPrayer Service at IronMan United Kingdom on August 1. Much appreciation also goes to those who volunteered their time helping with the service and the aid station; to IM UK organizers who were very helpful and supportive throughout, especially with publicity; and to the IronPrayer crew back in the US who supplied logistical help and the all-important foundation of prayer support.

While Pat coordinated with race organizers and led prayer at the event, Revd Fletcher volunteered his church for the service, gave a great message and organized the worship and refreshments. As part of the program, Pat gave her testimony. That opened the flood gate and two other athletes in attendance spontaneously joined in and gave theirs as well. Several more athletes stayed for prayer after the service.

Wrote Pat, “One athlete at the service was a lapsed Christian who said he was greatly moved and encouraged by being there; another was a non-Christian who chose to stay for prayer ministry after the service.” Praise God for the opportunities to minister, encourage and reach out to those as yet outside the Kingdom!

One athlete took the time to contact Pat after the race to thank her and to say that, “After all the fuss surrounding the event has died down my enduring memory is of the hour or so I spent in the company of the people at the IronPrayer service…the warmth and love from the people really shone through. Pat also spoke to me at one of the run aid stations on Sunday, it may just be coincidence but the pain seemed to drift away after we spoke and my running seemed to get easier...”

1 Corinthians 13 v 7

“(Love) bears all things, believes all things, hope all things, endures all things”

(Thank you to Pat for taking the time to pass along much of this information, and for letting God use you this way!)

IronPrayer IM Lake Placid, Jul 26, '09

The plethora of ministry surrounding IronMan Lake Placid proved the value of teamwork – between racers, ministries and churches! It was truly an answer to Jesus’ prayer, “that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved me.” (John 17:23). Nine churches from four states joined under the umbrella of North Country Ministries, which was one of four ministries represented. FCA, FCA Endurance and IronPrayer were the others. In their unity, Jesus Christ shown forth.

At the IronPrayer Service the day before the race, three athletes shared how much of a difference Christ makes in their lives. A crowd of up to 250 people gathered to worship, pray and listen to the testimonies of Brad Seng, Carrie Chavez and Jay Fetterman. If you'd like to hear the podcast of the service, click here: http://www.lpbaptist.org/IronPrayerLakePlacid2009.mp3.

The service highlighted a passage that powerfully encourages many an endurance athlete:

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Wrote Pastor Derek Spain of the event, “We had a tremendous week and weekend of ministry during Ironman USA Lake Placid. The race was wonderful, the people we met were great, and God moved in powerful ways.”

Among other things, volunteers served at registration, helped with the IM banquets, served as road marshals, hosted two aid stations (one on the bike and one on the run) and fed 1300 people pancakes the day before the race. That’s a lot of pancakes! They also hosted a rather unique expo booth with snow cones, a prayer station, face painting and balloon animals.

That the Spirit was working through their service became evident as they witnessed sixteen professions of faith in Jesus Christ at the IronPrayer Service and had the wonderful blessing of baptizing three additional individuals in Lake Placid before the race. Praise God! And thank you to those who made yourselves available to Him by volunteering!

They closed the very long race day thanking God for the great race and for the amazing opportunity to work alongside Him. God certainly is good. All the time!

For further information, enjoy the following links:
Pastor Spain’s blog, including pictures of the race and baptisms: http://www.doeverythingforgodsglory.blogspot.com/
Photos taken by Jordan Craig during the whole week of ministry: http://gallery.me.com/jordancraigmedia#100090
Brad Seng’s God-honoring website: http://www.bradseng.com/
For more on how Jay Fetterman is using his racing for Christ: http://www.jaydoesironman.com/

IronPrayer at Buffalo Springs, TX Jun 27, '09

(Based on information from FCA-E teammate "Dusty" Rhodes. Thanks, Dusty!)

IronPrayer at Buffalo Springs near Lubbock, TX, on June 27 boasted about 35 people, many of whom are familiar faces in the Texas tri scene and at IronPrayer services.

Said Dusty, “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Brad Seng and to hear his message (www.bradseng.com). It is always so cool to meet and hear from someone who is at the top of our sport but who has Christ as a priority. It helps those of us aspiring to greater athletic achievement to put things in perspective. If a professional who is that fast will put Christ ahead of results even though it is his living than how can I place triathlon higher than Christ in my life? And did I mention he is fast? Way cool to know a guy like that.”

The encouraging message Dusty gave at the IronPrayer spoke about the joy of triathlon and of Christ. Focusing on joy tends to obliterate pre-race jitters, fear, and anxiety completely. As Christians we are left with No Fear! After all, doesn’t it say somewhere that “perfect love casts out fear?” (1 John 4:18)

One athlete at IronPrayer said he had been looking for a way to use triathlon in his walk with God and asked about starting a huddle. Praise God for the way He’s using this ministry to further His Kingdom one life at a time.

After the race, another athlete powerfully affirmed Dusty by telling him the following story: “He was on the run and had come off the last hill back into the lake. From there it is three miles to the finish. He was feeling poor and had slowed down when he looked up and noticed a small, empty cave on the canyon wall. He said that he thought about the message from IronPrayer and the cave reminded him of the empty tomb. He thought about the day racing with Christ and suddenly he was refreshed and picked up his pace! I had goose bumps as he told me his story.

"By the way,” Dusty continued, almost as an afterthought, “I had a good race. Not my best time but a very good race day. God gave us cool weather and rain. It was a very, very good weekend!”

To find out more about IronPrayer: www.fcaendurance.com/IronPrayer.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! (Psalm 105:1)