Cultivating a Heart for the Nations in the Next Generation

In Judges 2 there is a chilling verse, it reads... 

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what what he had done for Israel." v 9

We have a responsibility to the next generation, to ensure that they know the Lord and all that He has done for them; how He sent His son, who died and rose again so that they might experience His life and love! In FCA it is our desire to create spaces and places for the next generation to truly experience God, get to know Him and fully understand the extent of His salvation-- Global Impact is one of these spaces! Global Impact is a four-week international sports ministry experience designed to invest in the next generation of sports leaders to see Jesus Christ transform the world of sports.

In June 2022 College athletes from across the globe gave a month of their summer to travel to either Malaysia or the Dominican Republic to experience God at work amongst the nations.

On June 1 the interns traveled to Atlanta where they underwent three days of spiritual preparation, cultural and sports ministry training. They were intense days of prayer, time in the Word, workshop style training and lots of fun team building competitions and games!

On June 3rd it was time for the interns to head out on their month long internship in either the Dominican Republic or Malaysia. During the month there were physical challenges including long days of travel, battles with COVID, new and sometimes not so delicious foods, intense heat, and exhausting days of FCA sports camps. Along with the physical challenges there were mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges as well: sports ministry training, learning different cultural norms, seeing up close the brokenness of our world through local outreach, having to pivot and change plans quickly,  and sharing the Good News of Jesus in a different cultural context.

However, our interns learned that right in the middle of all the challenges International ministry can bring, the presence of God is there! Our interns experienced the hand of the Lord through doing ministry alongside our FCA staff from Malaysia and the DR: learning by watching, modeling and launching. There were nights of prayer and worship, deep conversation with local staff, and most importantly seeing firsthand the power of the Good News of Jesus when shared with young athletes at a Sports camp!

Upon their return home our interns reflected back on their experiences...

“Talking to people from places where the Gospel is life or death, it really showed me, who cares what people think about me, I’m just going to go after Jesus…Some people aren’t going to like me, some are really going to like me, whatever, it’s about me and Jesus.” - FCA Global Impact Intern

"I learned I needed to surrender parts of my life that I hadn't yet, in how I treat others and how to be more like Jesus and actually show that they are worth dying for and that {Jesus} loves them so much that He wants to be their Father."- FCA Global Impact Intern

"One thing that I was learning throughout the trip was just how to love people better. Listening to the testimony {of one of the International staff} really enforced that. It was a wake up call that anything can happen at anytime and you have to love people...unconditionally, without limits."- FCA Global Impact Intern

As the Inters head back into familiar rhythms and places, the Lord is still using their experience on Global Impact to shape their walks with Him. All the interns are continuing to go through a "Post Trip" process that consists of monthly meetings with their fellow interns to reflect on Global Impact. Also they will connect continually with the international staff they served with overseas. Also they are meeting monthly with a mentor who is helping them live out a plan for ministry on their campus that they developed during Global Impact!

It is our hope and prayer as an FCA Global Impact planning team that our Interns know the Lord more deeply through their Global Impact experience and always remember what He did for them and through them during their time in Malaysia and the DR.

Father let these interns lead their generation to know you and all that you have done for them. Amen!