IOWA FCA BLOG

Seeing the Gospel Lived Out in South Africa

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:15:46 GMT

Three of Central Iowa FCA’s own — Dave Turnball, Dave Applegate, and Nan Veach — recently returned from a Vision Trip to South Africa in partnership with Blessman International. They traveled alongside several Iowa companies, joining spiritual and humanitarian efforts to serve communities in powerful ways.

What they witnessed was the Gospel — lived out.

Meeting Needs. Sharing Jesus.

One of the most powerful moments of the trip came after a Sunday service at Hope Christian Church, where the team had the opportunity to pray for a long line of students.

In addition, throughout the week, the team saw firsthand how meeting physical needs opens doors for eternal conversations. Clean water. Medical care. Hygiene supplies. Food. Eyeglasses. Socks and shoes. Sports programs.

These acts of service also acted as opportunities to build relationships and share the love of Jesus.

From food distributions to coaching fields with limited resources, the Gospel is moving forward. Coaches in South Africa are serving with a fraction of what we have in the U.S., yet with all of their hearts. They are using sport as a platform to point young people toward Christ.

Iowa’s Impact Across the World

The FCA team joined HyVee , KCCI , Meals From the Heartland , and the St. Francis team to serve youth and adults across multiple outreach sites through Blessman International .

At one distribution site, people traveled long distances to receive eyeglasses. One woman put hers on and, through tears, said, “Now I can read my Bible.”

Meals packed by Iowans through Meals from the Heartland were being served — in many cases, the only meal children would receive that day. What began in Iowa was keeping children from starvation thousands of miles away.

Clean water initiatives revealed a reality many of us cannot fully grasp. The lack of water is something you must see to understand. The financial cost. The labor. The daily burden. And yet, wells are being dug. Hope is rising.

It was clear: spiritual and secular efforts can come together to create powerful, lasting impact.

Sharing Good Works to Share Good News

The prayer for viewers of the KCCI special is simple:

That they would see the Gospel lived out.

Share good works…
To build good will…
So we can share the Good News.

From Iowa-based efforts like Meals from the Heartland, church partnerships, business leaders, and FCA — each serving in their unique lane — God is using collaborative efforts for the Kingdom

An Invitation

If you’re wondering whether you can make a difference, the answer is yes.

Pray.
Give.
Go.

Organize a trip with your church or group. Serve. Support food packing efforts. Invest in FCA . A willing heart is all God needs.

Looking ahead, there is a growing vision to send college athletes on future trips — raising up a new generation of leaders with hearts ready to go to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19).

This trip was transformative, and it’s only the beginning.

Where do you find your identity?

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:58:25 GMT

Where do you find your identity?

Ephesians 2:10

In today's society, we have many confused people about who they are. It’s very easy for some of these voices to influence us, our friends, teachers, and even family members. In Mexico, we all have nicknames for characteristics that we can identify with. Even our actual names have meanings and it’s amazing how we tend to gravitate to the meaning in our names. We have many ways we see ourselves.

I get to work with the local semi-pro fútbol (soccer) team the menace. Most of these young men have a dream to reach the professional level. They certainly live every day with that in mind. Like many athletes at that level where they have been elite college athletes they do the extra work, they watch film, they eat right, and certainly excel in their teams. We also have some that are getting ready to give up on that dream after trying for a few years. This event is a really difficult event for those High school athletes like football players that every summer do 2 a day workouts and year-round weight training w teammates.

What happens when that ends? How do you identify yourself when after there is a major change in your lifestyle?

Do you know how God describes you?

The word describes God as the creator of the universe. Creator of the magnificent mountains, oceans, and stars. In Ephesians 2:10 it says we are God's workmanship. His best work. He spent one day creating all the animals of the world. Imagine all of them through history from dinosaurs to a fly. Then He spent one day with us.

Psalm 139:14 says that we were wonderfully made.

If we have our identity in God we don’t need to worry about the stage in our lives of athletes, or students, boyfriends, or girlfriends. We have a much more solid identity that no matter what shortcomings you have in life it won’t impact you as much. No matter what people

Say about you, no matter how good or bad your coach thinks you are. You can have the confidence of knowing you are God's creation made for excellent good works.

So if you are facing a transition in life where you no longer put all your energy and thoughts into a sport. I invite you to look to God for your identity. You are so much more than what you do, than what you think, much more than what your coach may think of your performance, much more than what kids in school have said. You are who God says you are, His greatest creation, created in His image.

You Are Rooted

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 16:14:04 GMT

Every Way Like Christ

We’ve found new life in Christ and now live in His freedom. We play with ease, share with our teammates about how God has saved and redeemed us and we seek to serve those around us.

As followers of Jesus, we are to be rooted and grow deep in the life of Christ and learn how to live Every Way Like Christ.

Our faith should impact every part of our lives and deepen our relationship with Jesus and others. From embracing Everything in Christ , reaching Everyone Through Christ , and acting Every Way Like Christ , we shift our focus from the things of this world to the blessings in Christ.

"But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ."

Ephesians 4:15

We continue living Every Way Like Christ by showing others the richness of life He invites us

to be a part of.

When we know the playbook forwards and backwards, we’re confident in whatever play our coach calls. When it’s called in the huddle, we don’t even have to think; our mind goes to the route and our body automatically makes the movements. We’re certain of what we’re running as a team, and we’re certain of our own part to play.

With our newfound freedom and salvation through Jesus, we can stand confident about our role in God’s family.

But we need to strengthen our faith and understand the life God is calling us to. He wants us to know Him better, love Him with all our hearts and to love our neighbors, teammates, family and community (Matthew 22:37-40).

How do we stay rooted in the new life we have through Christ?

If we are fully invested into having a Christ-like attitude, we must surround ourselves with people and tools imperative to our spiritual well-being.

"So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude."

Colossians 2:6-7

Study God’s Word

The Bible is God’s Word. It is alive and active, and it is where we can hear His voice and heart. He has the ultimate wisdom, and when we ask for understanding or to know what He wants to say, we expect to hear from Him. The more we memorize Scripture, the more we can stand against the enemy’s attacks. And the more we can fight back, the more we stand victorious through the promises of God and the work Jesus has already done.

“For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Hebrews 4:12

Be in Prayer

Prayer is sometimes seen as a last resort when it should actually be our first action. Prayer is powerful—we get to come before the God of the universe as His son or daughter, free to tell Him anything, and He will hear us because of the righteousness of His Son. Prayer changes things, and it draws us into closer conversation with our Creator. We get to know His heart and His will, and it refines us as well. There is nothing better than getting to know God better and seeing Him answer prayer.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”

James 5:16

Meet with People

This is a harsh world full of tragedy, temptation, disappointments and heartache. But it’s better when we’re together. God created us for community, and He knows how we can encourage one another, disciple and grow together. When we are united in Christ, we are His hands and feet, charged with lending a helping hand to someone in need, offering a place of refuge and sharing the love of Christ with a world in need of His light. The more we grow together, the greater the Kingdom impact.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Let’s build our lives on Him who is our cornerstone. Let His strong roots entwine with yours for Kingdom service. Pour out your heart for Him, so when challenges come, you won’t only be ready, but you will have a solid foundation from which to face them.

Question : Is there anywhere in your faith where you’d like to be more firmly rooted? How can you take steps to strengthen this area?

Challenge : Invite your team to go through The CORE together for further spiritual strengthening

Live in Freedom

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 15:15:00 GMT

There is hope to find a way forward.

If you are an athlete or a coach, freedom may not appear to fit in your world. As an athlete, you are under the authority of coaches and expectations. As a coach, you may be also under expectations and under the authority of those who put you there. But there is hope to find a way forward: Freedom is available.

Through God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, you will experience freedom that you never expected. When you put your whole trust into Christ, it can change everything about you. You will no longer be a slave to what the world says. You can have confidence that God has already overcome the world and you can live out of that as your status as His child.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

What does this freedom have to do with being a coach or athlete? When Jesus changes you, He wants to be a part of your whole being. That means He wants to help you see your sport differently too. There are many ways this can happen, but here are three thoughts to help you live in freedom.

You will be free to compete.

When you realize that your talent and passion for the sport was given to you by Him, you will want to please and honor Him by giving your all. That includes training, film time, time on weekends and how you interact with your teammates and family. FCA’s Competitor’s Creed says, “I compete for the pleasure of my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ and the reputation of the Holy Spirit.” When He has given you something and you use it for Him as best you can, He is glorified by it.

You will be free to fail.

When you are in Christ, you will see that your value is not, nor should be, found in your sport. It is in Christ! God made you, Jesus redeemed you and the Spirit abides within you. You are His, so when you compete for Him, you can go as hard as you are able.

If you do make a mistake or fail in some way, you know that you are still loved and highly valued.

You will be free to love others.

Remember, your intentions, motivations, thoughts and actions will change. As a coach, you will not only see coaching as drilling the skill into people, but you can enter their world and learn how to care for them beyond the game. As an athlete, you can put your arm around a teammate and help them, give them someone to lean on when life is hard.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

When you are free in Jesus, you are free to live a life pleasing to Him, not chained to the darkness of this world. That freedom can bring a whole new perspective of all He has given you, including your sport. Live in that freedom, serve Him in that freedom and love others in that freedom. You are free to shine His light.

Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath

Tue, 10 May 2022 18:53:56 GMT

Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”-Luke 6:5

There was nothing wrong with what the disciples did. The Old Testament law permitted “gleaning.”

“When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 23:22)

What the Pharisees were upset about was that the disciples were gleaning on the Sabbath, which they had determined was not lawful to do. But Jesus refers them to an instance in David’s life when he and his men ate the consecrated bread in the temple, which only the priest could do. Then, recorded by Matthew, He pointed them to the fact that the priests broke the Law all the time by doing their priestly duties on the Sabbath. They completely missed the point. Jesus, the Messiah, was here, and He was greater than the temple, and He was greater than the Sabbath as well. He was the Lord of Sabbath.

Jesus teaches two powerful lessons for us in His words to the Pharisees. First, He is telling us that human need is more important than religious rituals. He desires “compassion, and not sacrifice.” The Pharisees were so focused on obedience to the Law that they did not love people. But the whole Law, Jesus said, was about loving others. Their traditions actually hindered them from carrying out the true meaning of the Law. We must be careful that our traditions do not cause us to miss opportunities to be obedient to God by showing love to others. Jesus is also teaching us that He is Lord, even of the Sabbath. He is God, and He is the ultimate authority. Our greatest act of worship is obedience to Him. Live by faith. Don’t get trapped by religion. Jesus is Lord. Don’t let religion cause you to be disobedient to Jesus. Jesus is Lord, even of the Sabbath!!

Chasing a Mirage

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:13:24 GMT

It wasn’t until I met Jesus that I understood it all!

“See what great love[ a ] the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!”

-1 John 3:1

I don’t have the best pictures but I think about this often. My junior year of high school I tore my hip flexor running down the home stretch of the state cross country meet. I held on for dear life grabbing my hip as I ran the last quarter of a mile holding off opponents as I hobbled into the medal contention.

The winner that year was one Drew Sikkema (Prince of Peace). I ran into him a couple weeks later at Nike Nationals and asked him what it was like winning state and being a champion and he said “The feeling wears off within a day or two.” and I remember thinking there’s no flipping way you literally are history! I made up my mind it was the only adventure worthy of my time and energy and I was on a quest for immortality after that climbing my own Everest. God allowed me the next year to rise to the top of Everest. I found a familiar feeling - one that wanes in a day or two just as Drew had told me.

I thought this couldn’t be right, so as I scanned the horizon that spring I decided the feeling would be different if I climbed it again and again there was nothing at the top. I told myself it was because it was only high school and immortality really rests on success in college but that too was a lie I told myself as college lay just as empty. Whatever high I felt in the accomplishments was always met immediately with we have to do better/more or it was all for nothing and it robbed me of most joy in those years.

It wasn’t until I met Jesus that I understood it all - truthfully the biggest blessing for me always lies in knowing the mirage in the desert won’t fulfill me. If you want to chase greatness by all means but know all feelings fade in time and it will never fulfill you. We invest much of our life in seeking purpose and fulfillment but we will always be worth more than the money we make, the grades we get, the relationships we have, the points we score, the times we run and the possessions we accumulate.

We are worthwhile because we are Children of God. Period. In that sentence lies all the richness the world has to offer - it is a feeling that doesn’t wane in time, it is a love that leads you through every mountain and valley and it is a good love. I t is a love that frees us from the pursuit of more and says “I am enough” and allows us to live in abundance and enjoy life knowing whether we win or lose we are the same and we are loved.

Ecclesiastes 1:8

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Ecclesiastes 3:13