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!)