In August 2009, Donnie Dee began his new role as Executive Director/COO to help direct the ministry from the National Support Center. Donnie has been with FCA for 19 years and recently has served with distinction as our Southern California Regional Director.

Donnie has brought his family (wife Jackie and children Johnny, 16 and Jennifer, 13) back to Kansas City, his own birthplace, to assume this vitally important role.

Donnie graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Business Management degree and played several years in the NFL before leading FCA in Colorado to a thriving ministry. Twelve years ago he answered God’s call to move to Southern California where the ministry has grown from one volunteer
to 30 staffers now. Donnie assumed his new role in August in order to provide outstanding leadership as we seek an even greater impact for Christ on athletes and coaches through FCA.

 

As of October 1, the FCA Home Office has a new name – the National Support Center. This change reflects FCA’s intention to clarify the purpose, role and operating principles of this office. The purpose of the National Support Center is to help fulfill the mission and vision of FCA by:

• providing spiritual leadership.
• setting strategic direction with clear alignment and accountability.
• developing training and resources.
• supporting our field staff.
• serving our volunteers.

The goal is to provide the staff serving in the field with excellent support from every department. FCA celebrated this change with all 16 of our regional directors from across America with a small ceremony during the September Regional Directors meetings in Kansas City.

Training Excellence

For the past 18 months training for Area Directors and their Board Members has taken place in 14 of the 16 regions. Area Directors School is designed to help our staff grow their area and train in role clarity, board training, staff planning and effective hiring.

Spiritual growth is also vital in the on-going training and development of our staff. For example, in order to gain knowledge of Christian history and theology, ten FCA staff and volunteers just traveled to the Middle East and experienced a 12-day life changing tour of Israel.

Field Staff Feature

The New York region recently hired two full-time staff: FCA director Cal Kern, Central and Western N.Y. and FCA director Cubby Chalmers, Rochester N.Y. FCA Camps continue to grow in the New York region with the establishment of lacrosse, soccer and football camps. Through these camps the name of FCA is reaching student athletes and generating excitement to begin establishing Huddles in the fall.

FCA’s Collegiate Baseball Ministry is also thriving with the establishment of a team in Niagara, New York. The Niagara Power is now in its 2nd year and ministers to college players on the team while providing avenues for community ministry.

“God is working in upstate New York. People are hungry for God and I see it through FCA and the impact it is making up here. God is alive and well and I firmly believe what God will do in New York through FCA will speak volumes to the rest of the country.”
– Cubby Chalmers, FCA Director Rochester, N.Y.

Additional Staff Added

Because of your commitment to the Heart and Soul Campaign, funding has been approved for new FCA Staff in these previously understaffed areas.

To check out where these new staff are headed.

Sport-Specific Growth

With the financial gifts that have already been received, Sport-Specific Ministries has been approved to introduce 2 new sports: Skateboarding and Soccer. These ministries impact a community for Christ by uniting around one particular sport.

Sport-Specific Ministries are continuing to grow thanks to your gifts and others like it.

16 Regional Directors

Your investment allowed us to improve the productivity and impact of our 16 Regional Directors by funding them. They can now focus on staff training, ministry growth and the financial stability of their regions. With additional funding, we will move to fill positions in unstaffed and understaffed areas of the country. We recently received a grant and are seeking matching funds that would help support a staff position in western Kansas.

FCA Leadership Institute

To develop future leaders for FCA, we are excited to move forward with the FCA Leadership Institute partnering with the Sandberg Leadership Center of the Ashland Theolgical Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. We are planning to begin in early 2008 with the first two-year class of 15-20 staff members. The curriculum will focus on developing the character, qualities and skills necessary to carry out their leadership role with FCA.