Igniting Faith on the Field: How God Transformed Warren High Through FCA
Gospel Imperative
Trust God's timing, be faithfully present, and watch Him open doors that no human effort could unlock. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)
When I first joined FCA staff in San Antonio back in 2022, I had no idea how God would use me. All I knew was that I needed to lean into Him completely. Every morning, I'd sit in the quiet, Bible open, heart listening. I can still feel those early mornings - the steam rising from my coffee cup, the weight of my Bible in my hands, and the whisper of God in my heart.
"Be still. Watch. Listen."
That's what He kept telling me. Not rush in with my plans. Not immediately start programs. Just be present and wait on His timing. Man, was that hard! I'm a doer by nature, but God was teaching me the power of patience.
Warren High School hadn't seen an FCA presence in years. The campus halls were familiar with so many things, but organized faith gatherings weren't one of them. I remember walking onto the field during spring football training two and half years ago. As the hot sun beating down, cleats digging into the turf as players ran their drills. I had no agenda that day - just showed up, watched practice, and made myself available to be used by God.
Summer came, and I was there for workouts. The Texas heat beating down, water bottles being passed around, and me - just present. Talking with whoever wanted to talk, listening to whoever needed to be listened to. The Ministry of Presence, that's what it was. No fancy programs. No elaborate plans. Just being available, loving people where they were, and following the Spirit's nudge in every conversation.
I'll never forget when Warren's head football coach pulled me aside one day, sweat still glistening on his forehead after practice. "When you’re around, I feel the presence of God," he told me. Those words humbled me to my core. It wasn't me he was feeling - it was my Abba Father making Himself known through this broken vessel.
God started to move and open doors that no man could open on their own. I am just a vessel, and it has been truly amazing to see God at work. Suddenly, I was being asked to lead team prayers after several practices. Then came the invitation to do game day prayers and devotionals. I remember our first optional devotional - expecting maybe a handful of curious kids, but 40 showed up! Forty young men hungry for something deeper than just football.
Now during pre-game warmups, I'll feel a tap on my shoulder - another player asking for individual prayer before taking the field. The sight of these strong young athletes, heads bowed in the midst of all the pre-game chaos, seeking God's presence - it still brings tears to my eyes.
The ripple effect has been incredible. The baseball coach approached me, eyes lit with possibility: "Could you do this with our team too?" (More coaches are stepping up, wanting to invest time, and pouring into their athletes’ hearts the word of God through FCA). I even had the chance to speak to all the Warren Feeder Middle School's athletic staff and Warren High School's athletic staff about FCA - planting seeds that could grow for years to come.
I call this the "ministry of multiplication directed by the Holy Spirit." It's not my work - it's His. To be in God's presence and see my Abba Father orchestrate the entire process has been a blessing to me - I give God all the Glory.
Sometimes, in the quiet moments, standing alone on the sidelines watching practice, I'm overwhelmed by how God works. He doesn't need our elaborate plans or perfectly crafted programs. He just needs our obedience and our presence. When we show up consistently, love authentically, and follow the Spirit's leading, He does what only He can do - change hearts and transform campuses.
This journey is just beginning at Warren. I can feel it in my spirit. The same God who taught me patience in the waiting season is now showing me abundance in the harvest season. And all of it - every open door, every changed life, every new opportunity - is for His glory alone.
Heart Check
Where in your life might God be asking you to simply be present and patient rather than rushing to implement your own plans?
Have you experienced the power of consistent presence in a particular environment or with specific people? What doors has that opened?
How might God be calling you to be a vessel for "ministry multiplication" in your own sphere of influence?
Join the Movement
Be part of what God is doing through FCA at Warren High and beyond! Your prayers and financial support enable me to continue building relationships that transform young athletes' lives. Partner with us today to help spread the Gospel across more campuses and impact the next generation of leaders.
Support my FCA Ministry and help us open more doors that only God can unlock!