Omaha FCA News

Why FCA: Steve Sivadge

mhermanns@fca.org (Mikal Hermanns) — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:00:06 GMT

This year, we're exploring why our staff and board members have chosen to give their time to FCA. Our Colleges Area Rep, Steve Sivadge, is answering the question, "Why FCA?" this month.

The year was 1996...when my wife (Jean) and I joined staff with Campus Crusade's Athletes In Action. We ministered first on Colorado State's campus and then moved back to the "motherland"--Nebraska. We brought Athletes In Action to University of Nebraska and was fortunate to work alongside another great individual and ministry--Chris Bubak and FCA.

Fast Forward...

4 years ago Chris and Brian Conklin asked me to consider joining executive team of the Omaha-Metro FCA board. I joined for a year and then through a couple videos we watched of the ministry being done in Nebraska with college campuses...I got pretty excited about actually coming on staff.

After much prayer and discussion, Jean and I knew our next stage of our lives was to be ministering to college coaches and athletes in Omaha.

I had been doing 'leadership development' in the for-profit corporate world leading up to FCA staff. I have always enjoyed engaging, equipping and empowering leaders within business. But I also loved athletics and all the character-formation that comes with athletic competition. So I was very grateful and excited that the Lord was leading Jean and I in this direction. The weekly reality of meeting with coaches who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing His good news with them alongside meeting with Christ-centered coaches weekly to help them make an eternal difference with their athletes...that is awesome!

Why FCA: Ryan Sears

mhermanns@fca.org (Mikal Hermanns) — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 06:00:01 GMT

This year, we're exploring why our staff and board members have chosen to give their time to FCA. Our Metro Director, Ryan Sears, is starting us off, answering the question, "Why FCA?"

God was irrelevant and sports were the priority for me growing up. Then someone asked me a question that ended up rocking me.

“If you were to die right now, why would God let you into heaven?” I was asked.

I responded that I went to church a lot, I was a good person, and that I hadn’t done anything TOO “bad” like murder or something like that. When he said that my answer was “great, but that is not going to cut it”, I was rocked and wanted to know what this religious thing and Jesus was all about.

I heard how every person is sinful before a Holy God, and that in love God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross and pay the penalty for the sin of all who would choose Him. I heard how he was raised to life and is alive and we could know God personally and intimately through faith in Jesus Christ because of His death and resurrection.

At that moment, I wanted forgiveness of my sin and a personal relationship with the God of the universe through faith in Jesus. I put my faith in Christ and have been on a different trajectory ever since, not perfection but a different direction.

I knew I still enjoyed sports and I knew that Jesus Christ was FOR REAL!! FCA was a place in high school and college where those two desires came together.

A desire began growing to use sports as a tool to tell others about the treasure I had found in knowing Christ. Several years ago, an opportunity arose to join the FCA team in Omaha. My wife, Angie, and I, felt like God was leading us to this chapter to continue to use sports ultimately to help others hear and consider for themselves the Gospel, that “God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I still enjoy sports, and I still know Jesus is FOR REAL!!

I’m on the FCA team to help more and more people know this reality and because of the clear strategic vision to get this done in our area through the powerful influence of coaches! Let’s Go!!

Back to Basics: Relationship

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:54:17 GMT

“One coach will influence more people in a year than most do in a lifetime.”

As we think about discipleship, you cannot overestimate the power of relationships over time. Coaches, because of the amount of time together, have a unique opportunity to develop significant relationships with their athletes that often remain even when their eligibility has ended.

Because of the general breakdown of the family and God being disinvited from the conversation in our culture, youth today are faced with increasingly difficult challenges. Standing on the front lines to impact many of these youth, are coaches, who have the opportunity that few others have to develop relationships and to speak truth into their lives.

We are so grateful for the many coaches who are wanting to make an impact on as many youth as they can and for the FCA volunteers who want to come alongside and help them do it!

Would you continue to pray and partner with us to help coaches lead their athletes to Christ?

Ryan Sears Is the New FCA Omaha Metro Director

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 18:28:38 GMT

Thankful to be a part of the team

- Ryan Sears

2020 has disrupted plans and brought unexpected changes. In the midst of the 2020 chaos, I have moved into the Omaha Metro Director role for Omaha FCA, replacing Brian Conklin.

The plan was for Brian and I to work together for a few more decades, trying to build a team to better serve coaches and help them lead their athletes to Christ. The Lord had a different plan. The Omaha FCA team and I are trusting Him as I move into this new role in the midst of the unprecedented challenges of these days.

We often, if not always, stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, whether it be our families, our teams, our mentors, or within organizations like FCA. I will be standing on the shoulders of men and women who have labored in this city and state for over 40 years. What an honor to take the baton from these faithful people and carry on the best we can and by the grace of God.

And what an honor to serve, not only benefitting from the FCA team of the past, but also serving alongside the FCA team of the present. There are already so many people in place in our city, who have been serving with Omaha FCA, and many longer than I have. Staff, huddle leaders, board members, donors, coaches, athletes. A GREAT team has already been mobilized and I’m honored to continue to be a part of it in the new role of Omaha Metro Director.

Please pray for Omaha FCA and consider how the Lord would lead you to continue or begin to partner with us to help coaches lead their athletes to Christ in 2021 and beyond!! LET’s GO!!!!