Talent Advancement Tools

SEPTEMBER 2025

As we kick off this exciting new season, I pause in prayer to thank God for each of you — faithful laborers in His harvest field. We do not serve by accident. Each of us has been entrusted with a sacred stewardship, called to lead with integrity, serve with humility, and labor with purpose in this state through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

We are stewards — not just of local ministry, but of a movement. A Gospel-centered mission to reach every coach and every athlete. With that in mind, we step into this new chapter with both excitement and responsibility.

On August 4, 2025, we entered a new era of service with the launch of the Volunteer Impact Portal (VIP) — FCA’s upgraded system for volunteer onboarding, screening, and training. This tool is more than an administrative update; it’s a means to strengthen safety, build clarity, and mobilize volunteers with excellence and alignment to our vision.

Let’s continue to thank God for the volunteers He brings our way — and commit to equipping them well. Together, we are better prepared than ever to train, mobilize, and support those called to serve with us. Please pause to break this equipping down into some salient points.

Key Changes All Illinois Staff Need to Know

•     Enhanced Safety

o  Background checks every 2 years

o  Four references required

o  Staff interaction prior to serving

•     Structured Onboarding

o  Volunteers create an FCA Account with Global ID

o  Complete personal info, spiritual questions, waivers, references, and training

•     Smarter Tracking & Oversight

o  Staff can filter and view volunteers by region, role, status, and program

o  Training including the biblical principles of discipleship multiplication from our E3 game plan can be codified

•     Defined Volunteer Roles

o  Roles (Coach, Huddle Leader, etc.) assigned per ministry program

o  Staff invite volunteers to apply for specific roles via a new application

•     All Ministry Programs Registered

o  Huddles, Leagues, Camps, Events, and FCA Sports Teams logged in VIP

If you feel you need greater clarity or want to ensure your readiness, I implore you to deliberately watch each of the four VIP Accelerator videos. I found the 4th and final VIP Accelerator session, "Your Part in the Volunteer's Journey" to be particularly helpful. In addition, the Volunteer Impact Portal Quick Start Guide (KB0011254) is a valuable resource

and can be found on TeamNet.

Our knowledge as staff allows us to serve volunteers in receiving clearer expectations, enhance structured training, and facilitate long-term ministry engagement with excellence.

The VIP isn’t just a tool—it’s a mission accelerator. As we align with the “FCA for Life” vision, let’s continue to lead with integrity, mobilize with purpose, and trust God for the harvest ahead.

  Philippians 2:3-5

April 2025

Strike a Balance: Going all-in for the Kingdom

In our exciting mission of Human Resources, the concept of serving others often intersects with sacrifice. As staff of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we are called to serve diligently, care deeply, and sacrifice often, as prompted by the Holy Spirit in following the example set forth in Scripture. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) beautifully illustrates these principles, while also highlighting an essential, yet often overlooked, aspect of effective service: rest.

In the parable, a man is attacked by robbers and left for dead. A priest and a Levite pass by without offering any assistance, but a Samaritan, despised by the Jews of that time, stops and cares for the man. The Samaritan sacrifices his time, resources, and even his own safety to ensure the well-being of someone in need. Jesus uses this story to define who is a true neighbor—one who serves with compassion and sacrifices personal convenience for the good of others (Luke 10:36-37).

This type of selfless service is a cornerstone of our calling. As FCA staff, we are often placed in positions where our roles require not only the technical aspects of management but also a heart of service. It may seem easy to pour ourselves out for the needs of others, but we must remember that service without balance can lead to burnout, ineffective sacrifice, and the potential for a loss of purpose.

Here, the principle of Sabbath rest becomes crucial. In the beginning, God set a rhythm for His creation, working for six days and resting on the seventh, after the work was done (Genesis 2:2-3). Additionally, Jesus speaks of rest when He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In these words, Jesus invites us to acknowledge our limitations and find restoration in Him. The act of resting is not a rejection of service, but rather, it enables us to serve more effectively, with greater clarity, joy, and strength.

Given the mission-critical importance of our roles, it is easy to feel compelled to constantly sacrifice for the well-being of others, but without time for renewal, our capacity for genuine, loved-filled service diminishes. Jesus took time to withdraw and rest, even during His ministry, so that He could return to His work with renewed focus and strength (Mark 6:31).

In our ministry, we must remember that the balance of service, sacrifice, and rest is integral. Service and sacrifice are the outward expressions of our faith, but rest provides the internal renewal necessary for sustainable, meaningful work. Just as the Good Samaritan's actions were empowered by compassion, our ability to serve others well is grounded in a healthy rhythm of rest and rejuvenation.

As we continue our good work, especially during this season approaching Easter, let us seek to thrive through this balance. Let us serve with the heart of the Good Samaritan, sacrificing when necessary, but keenly remember the importance of taking time for rest and reflection on God so that we can praise (1 Peter 1:1-2) during our service with the strength and wisdom that God provides.

November 2024

Building A Candidate List

This month's Talent Advancement focus is actually a part of the Midwest Region Recruiting Playbook and is a simple yet powerful exercise in building a robust list of potential candidates for any open FCA position.  Then exercise begins with your current staff, board members or a recruiting team you may have built for a specific position. 

Creating a Potential Candidate List:

• Ask each staff and Board member to individually create a list of the ten most talented and well-connected Christ-followers they know. Make a master list of all the names (use the Recruit Tracker Tool).

• Go through each name on the master list and get a commitment from someone to speak to this person personally, or introduce them to the FCA staff supervising this open position (Hiring Manager), so they can have a conversation with that person in next three to five weeks (adjust this to fit your timeframe, but give at least two weeks for the activity to produce fruit – don’t rush the process) and ask the person this question:

• “Who are the most talented people you know that have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and have a bent towards sport ministry?”
• Write down the individuals’ names they identify and ask them if they would be willing to introduce you to this person or give you their contact information so you can connect with them.
• Build your Potential Candidates List from these conversations.
• Add potential candidate names to the Recruit Tracker Tool.

Do the same exercise with the following population/groups of people and add potential candidate names to the Recruit Tracker Tool:

• Your pastor.
• Your small group.
• Church members.
• People engaged in sport industries that might have a bent towards sport ministry.
• Current coaches.
• People in your work location.
• Families that live in your neighborhood.
• People you sit in the stands with at athletic events.
• Other groups/individuals identified.

The idea is to build a robust list of potential candidates to begin having discussions with, utilizing the relational networks of our staff and boards.  There's no such thing as 'too many names'!  This exercise helps us leave no stone unturned and it also engages your staff, board and search team in a very practical and powerful way!