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Wild Goose Chase - This month's MUST read
13 years ago
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Growing Closer to HIM
We are back from our First Annual Coaches Enrichment Retreat at The Westin Stonebriar in Frisco. It was an amazing weekend that I don't think anyone who was apart will soon forget.
While there the Coaches and spouses were able to hear some amazing speakers, and can't thank them enough for being apart of this impacting weekend, Rod Olson, Oscar Roan, Carolyn Allen, & Pat Combs. All of the speakers had challenges and had powerful messages. With this being right before training starts for the upcoming school year it seemed to come at the perfect time for many of our attendees to refocus, reconnect, and recharge.
We also had time for the Coaches & Spouse to relax and enjoy their time together without the day to day distractions. Which this turned out to be a huge blessing for most Coaches & Spouses, just to spend the free time with their spouse.
It was humbling to be apart of something like this and to hear/read the testimonies from this weekend, it was definitely a weekend where, as staffer Tommy McMahan says, God showed up and showed off!
Here are a few pictures of the weekend, for more please visit
While there the Coaches and spouses were able to hear some amazing speakers, and can't thank them enough for being apart of this impacting weekend, Rod Olson, Oscar Roan, Carolyn Allen, & Pat Combs. All of the speakers had challenges and had powerful messages. With this being right before training starts for the upcoming school year it seemed to come at the perfect time for many of our attendees to refocus, reconnect, and recharge.
We also had time for the Coaches & Spouse to relax and enjoy their time together without the day to day distractions. Which this turned out to be a huge blessing for most Coaches & Spouses, just to spend the free time with their spouse.
It was humbling to be apart of something like this and to hear/read the testimonies from this weekend, it was definitely a weekend where, as staffer Tommy McMahan says, God showed up and showed off!
Here are a few pictures of the weekend, for more please visit
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
God is doing some amazing things this summer!
Students before they left for Sports Camp at Texas A&M in College Station!
We have sent our last group of students to our last summer camp of 2009, at Texas A&M for the All Sports camp! God has done some amazing things at these camps over the summer and we can't wait to see what else He has in store for those students in their upcoming school year.
Here are a few student testimonials from the Abilene Leadership Camp:
"This was the first time in 5 or 6 years anyone from our high school had been to a camp; so I didn't really know what to expect. I even thought about not coming because I was scared of what "could" happen. Now, after is is all said and done, I would have not missed this camp for the world. There was an immediate comfort level with my huddle leader and huddle that made opening up and truly fixing some problems very easy. It was obvious God was working very strongly in this camp because every message and every huddle time had so much for me to learn from. I didn't realize it at the time, but even in my free time activities I was being taught be the Lord. Definitely one of the best experiences of my life and I will, Lord willing, be returning next year." Junior, Garland High School
"I have a whole new outlook on God and His word now. I loved hearing from Garret [the camp speaker] and hearing the music. All the activities and free time was great I can't wait to go back and change my campus." 7th Grade, Clark Middle School
"Camp allowed me to make new friends that are in the same position as me struggling with the outside world. It surrounded me with people who could help me. The huddle leaders were awesome. I'm coming back next year." Junior, Plano West Senior High School
If you want to check out photos from the camps visit our shutterfly share site, http://dallasfca.shutterfly.com/!
On the office side of things we are celebrating our new Executive Director, Rick Bowles!!!
Stay Cool!
~Candice S.
Follow us on Twitter @dallasfca
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Can you believe it is already the middle of June? The summer is already flying by, and we have already had 2 camps come and go!
Our first camp was our Leadership & Golf Camp at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, from June 8 - June 12. We had 36 students attend the Leadership & Golf Camp! It was a great week for all involved. The leadership camp focused on training in the fundamentals of leading FCA huddles, building confidence in students' leadership skills, and teaching practical skills for personal Christian growth. Below are some pictures of the students before leaving for camp! If you have any personal testimonies from the camp please email us at fcadallas@gmail.com, we would love to hear how the week impacted you!
Our first camp was our Leadership & Golf Camp at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, from June 8 - June 12. We had 36 students attend the Leadership & Golf Camp! It was a great week for all involved. The leadership camp focused on training in the fundamentals of leading FCA huddles, building confidence in students' leadership skills, and teaching practical skills for personal Christian growth. Below are some pictures of the students before leaving for camp! If you have any personal testimonies from the camp please email us at fcadallas@gmail.com, we would love to hear how the week impacted you!
During the same week as the Abilene we had the Dallas ISD/FCA Middle School Football Camp, a great partnership event that has now completed it's 2nd year. This allows middle school students a chance to work with coaches on improving their football skills. It was a great time for all involved, even though it was hot (can't escape that in Texas) it was a good 2 days!!!
Be sure to check out http://dallasfca.shutterfly.com/ for more pictures of these 2 camps, and check out more of our past events!
Be sure to check out http://dallasfca.shutterfly.com/ for more pictures of these 2 camps, and check out more of our past events!
Stay Cool!
~Candice S.
Admin Asst.
~Candice S.
Admin Asst.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Schools Out For Summer!
Schools out for summer and it is still busy around the office. We have alot going on this summer, and we would love to see you at one of these events.
I will update with some photos of the Rockwall Fun Run, Plano 5K, & DISD Partnership Camp soon!
Hope your summer is starting off awesome!!!!
~Candice
Admin Asst.
SUMMER 2009 Events:
FCA Summer Camps:
June 8-12 FCA Leadership & Golf Camp - Abilene, TX
July 1-5 FCA All Sports Camp - College Station, TX
July 1-5 FCA All Sports Camp - College Station, TX
June 15-19 FCA Leadership Camp - Belton, TX
FCA Adult Chapter Golf Tournaments
June 23 Frisco Adult Chapter Golf Tournament
8:00 AM, The Tribute, The Colony, TX
June 24 Lewisville Adult Chapter Golf Tournament
8:00 AM, Bridlewood Golf Course, Flower Mound, TX
8:00 AM, The Tribute, The Colony, TX
June 24 Lewisville Adult Chapter Golf Tournament
8:00 AM, Bridlewood Golf Course, Flower Mound, TX
FCA DALLAS CAMPS
June 9-10 DISD Partnership Camp - Dallas, TX
July 10-12 Coaches Enrichment Retreat
Westin Stonebriar Resort Frisco, TX
July 10-12 Coaches Enrichment Retreat
Westin Stonebriar Resort Frisco, TX
For more information on any of the events above please visit http://www.fcadallas.org/
We Would also like to announce our May Huddle of The Month is....... Royse City!
Congratulations!
I will update with some photos of the Rockwall Fun Run, Plano 5K, & DISD Partnership Camp soon!
Hope your summer is starting off awesome!!!!
~Candice
Admin Asst.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Dallas Staff Service Project
Our staff has been talking alot about volunteering and what that means, so as a staff we went out and gave an afternoon to volunteer at !It was a great afternoon filled with flying shoes (not actual flying shoes, just shoes that had been "lightly tossed") and great staff fellowship! This is a great organization that shows you the journey of a shoe, and the impact ONE pair of shoes can make! Here are the pictures from the afternoon:
Lucy Jacobs, Jeff Jacobs daughter, was the hardest worker of the day!
Chauncey Franks - Working hard to get those shoes!
~Candice S.
Admin. Asst.
Lucy Jacobs, Jeff Jacobs daughter, was the hardest worker of the day!
Chauncey Franks - Working hard to get those shoes!
~Candice S.
Admin. Asst.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Weekend of Champions
Well we are back and fully recovered from our middle school retreat Weekend of Champions in Waxachachie at the Lakeview Conference Center. It was a great weekend, with an amazing impact! Everyone that was there had a chance to experience just how amazing God is. We had 281 first time commitments to Christ, 36 Recommitments to Christ and 454 students signed the One Way 2 Play Pledge.
We had 68 Coaches who had a chance to enjoy a weekend of fellowship and fun, and enjoy a break from their very hectic day to day activities. They did everything from play paintball to "hit" the course on the Wii golf!
With 522 students, it was a very active weekend. The students enjoyed 4 amazing "Quarters" with Destination Known and Oscar Roan, where each student was able to hear the gospel and share with their piers the love of Christ. They also had some great competition times, even in the 40 degree weather!!
Our 125 huddle leaders really did an amazing job sharing with the students and bringing their huddles together for the purpose of Christ and getting to know Him better.
It was truly an unforgettable weekend for those who attended, here is some amazing feedback from the weekend:
"Thank you, everything & everyone was awesome. When I first got on the bus to come here I was regretting (it), like why did I do thus but now I know why I came. I cam to find God, and now I have, thanks to you. "
Love,
Kaitlyn W.
"I loved being close to God. I want to come back as long as I can. This always helps me keep on the right path and not go down where others are just going. All of the stories were encouraging. If I needed help there was people there for me."
Lexy
If you would like to see the pictures from Weekend of Champions you can go to our website
http://www.fcadallas.org/PhotoGallery.lsp and look at ALL of the photos.
We had 68 Coaches who had a chance to enjoy a weekend of fellowship and fun, and enjoy a break from their very hectic day to day activities. They did everything from play paintball to "hit" the course on the Wii golf!
With 522 students, it was a very active weekend. The students enjoyed 4 amazing "Quarters" with Destination Known and Oscar Roan, where each student was able to hear the gospel and share with their piers the love of Christ. They also had some great competition times, even in the 40 degree weather!!
Our 125 huddle leaders really did an amazing job sharing with the students and bringing their huddles together for the purpose of Christ and getting to know Him better.
It was truly an unforgettable weekend for those who attended, here is some amazing feedback from the weekend:
"Thank you, everything & everyone was awesome. When I first got on the bus to come here I was regretting (it), like why did I do thus but now I know why I came. I cam to find God, and now I have, thanks to you. "
Love,
Kaitlyn W.
"I loved being close to God. I want to come back as long as I can. This always helps me keep on the right path and not go down where others are just going. All of the stories were encouraging. If I needed help there was people there for me."
Lexy
If you would like to see the pictures from Weekend of Champions you can go to our website
http://www.fcadallas.org/PhotoGallery.lsp and look at ALL of the photos.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Update.....
It has been awhile since I have let you know what is all going on in the office and around Dallas! I am sorry very busy I am working my schedule to make sure I have time to blog :).
Update:
Weekend of Champions Registration closes today, so if you have any students wanting to go please get it in by the end of the day!
Duncanville Team Partnership Event went excellent this morning, it was an early morning but it was for a good purpose. We had Coach Dicus and student Keana Mosely share what FCA was to them, and they did an excellent job! Mike Flynt spoke as well about being a 59 year old linebacker finishing is elegibilty from when he was in college.
Keana Mosely Speaking:
Coach Dicus Speaking:
We also celebrated a birthday (early) for our Executive Director Fred Hoster, and we had fun with the celebration:
Thats all for now, I am going to go hide under my desk and take a nap ;)
Candice S.
Admin Asst.
Update:
Weekend of Champions Registration closes today, so if you have any students wanting to go please get it in by the end of the day!
Duncanville Team Partnership Event went excellent this morning, it was an early morning but it was for a good purpose. We had Coach Dicus and student Keana Mosely share what FCA was to them, and they did an excellent job! Mike Flynt spoke as well about being a 59 year old linebacker finishing is elegibilty from when he was in college.
Keana Mosely Speaking:
Coach Dicus Speaking:
We also celebrated a birthday (early) for our Executive Director Fred Hoster, and we had fun with the celebration:
Thats all for now, I am going to go hide under my desk and take a nap ;)
Candice S.
Admin Asst.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Take Time For Kindness
I heard this on the way to work this morning and thought that I should share, its a great story, enjoy!
I'd like to give you another story that shows a different side. This story is real. It was written by the talented Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated and it inspires me every time I read it:
High school football is big in America, but I suppose there is no place where it is bigger than in Texas. Friday nights there are legend.
The fans scream; the stands are packed; cheerleaders with pom-poms jump and sway to the beat of the school bandand everybody joins in the chants and stomps their feet on the metal stands until you are sure they will collapse.
This is the frenzy of Texas high school football.
But there is one football team in Texas that is a little different. When they play on Friday night, their stands are empty, no band, no cheerleaders, no mass of parents or townsfolk wearing the school colors and waving banners and flags. They take the field without anyone cheering them on. When they score a touchdown, which rarely happens, there is no wild celebration behind them… All of it seems hollow and muffled in contrast to the tidal wave of roars and drums and chants that come from the opposing side.
They are the Tornadoes of the Gainesville State School, a fenced, maximum-security facility. The young men who go to Gainesville State are there because they have made some major mistakes in their lives. But the players who are on the team are there because they have worked hard and have earned enough good behavior points that gives them the privilege to leave the facility and play football on Friday nights—always an away game for them—always a home game for their opponents—and almost always a loss. They don’t have a weight program or training equipment or high-paid coaches and assistants. They don’t have a large pool of players to draw from. The school has 275 boys, but many are too old or too young or can’t or don’t meet the “criteria” to play. And they don’t have the support of a town and a mass of parents and family and reporters and bands and cheerleaders.
That is, until November 7th. Something changed. They played Grapevine Faith Christian School.
A few days before the game, the Gainesville coach, Mark Williams received a call from Faith Christian coach, Kris Hogan, asking him if it would be okay if Faith formed a “spirit” line for his team when they ran on the field. Mark said, “Sure, that would be a real encouragement to the kids.” He thought that the line would consist of a couple of the JV cheerleaders, but when they took the field, there were a hundred people in it and it stretched to the 40-yard line, filled with Faith Christian parents, fans and varsity cheerleaders, complete with a banner at the end for them to burst through that read “Go Tornadoes!”. And then, those parents and fans sat in the stands behind the Gainesville players and when the Tornadoes broke the huddle and went up to the line they could hear people cheering for them, by name. When they got a first down, “their” fans erupted.
You see, coach Hogan had sent an email out to the Faith Christian parents and students asking them to consider doing something kind for these young men, many who didn’t know what it meant to have a mom and dad who cared, many who felt the world was against them, not for them. Hogan asked that they simply send a message that these boys were “just as valuable as any other person on earth.”
So half of the Faith Christian fans were now sitting on the visitor’s side of the field, cheering for the Gainesville team, and in some cases, against their own sons. –Cheering for a team decked out in mismatched old uniforms and helmets. –Cheering for boys who wouldn’t go home that night and have a smiling dad slap him on the back and feel his mom put her arms around him and say “I’m so proud of you son!” –Cheering for the underdog.
This was a Friday night like no other for the Tornadoes. In the locker room, the players were confused. “Why are they cheerin’ for us, coach?” “Because, men, they want to encourage you. They want you to know that they care about you…that you have value.”
Coach Williams said the boys were stunned. For many of these kids, it may have been the first time that anyone had shown them, so visibly, unconditional love.
They were down 33 to nothing at the half. Williams encouraged his team to set a goal for the second half: to score a touchdown against this vastly superior team. And when the boys from the State School took the field again, with their fans cheering them on, everything started to click. And they did score. Not once but twice.
And the fans went wild.
Coach Williams was asked what the bus ride was like on the way home and he laughed and said that they were all asleep—their bellies were full. That’s becuz after the game, the parents brought a whole bunch of food over to the guys: hamburgers, fries, candy, sodas…and included in the meal sack was a Bible and a personal letter of encouragement from a Faith Christian player. But then, he said, they formed a line for us out to the bus. And the parents patted them on the back and said, “Nice game” and “Look forward to seeing you guys next time.”
As they left the field that night, Coach Williams grabbed Coach Hogan and said to him: “You’ll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You’ll never, ever know.”
Hope you enjoyed it,
Candice S.
Admin Asst.
I'd like to give you another story that shows a different side. This story is real. It was written by the talented Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated and it inspires me every time I read it:
High school football is big in America, but I suppose there is no place where it is bigger than in Texas. Friday nights there are legend.
The fans scream; the stands are packed; cheerleaders with pom-poms jump and sway to the beat of the school bandand everybody joins in the chants and stomps their feet on the metal stands until you are sure they will collapse.
This is the frenzy of Texas high school football.
But there is one football team in Texas that is a little different. When they play on Friday night, their stands are empty, no band, no cheerleaders, no mass of parents or townsfolk wearing the school colors and waving banners and flags. They take the field without anyone cheering them on. When they score a touchdown, which rarely happens, there is no wild celebration behind them… All of it seems hollow and muffled in contrast to the tidal wave of roars and drums and chants that come from the opposing side.
They are the Tornadoes of the Gainesville State School, a fenced, maximum-security facility. The young men who go to Gainesville State are there because they have made some major mistakes in their lives. But the players who are on the team are there because they have worked hard and have earned enough good behavior points that gives them the privilege to leave the facility and play football on Friday nights—always an away game for them—always a home game for their opponents—and almost always a loss. They don’t have a weight program or training equipment or high-paid coaches and assistants. They don’t have a large pool of players to draw from. The school has 275 boys, but many are too old or too young or can’t or don’t meet the “criteria” to play. And they don’t have the support of a town and a mass of parents and family and reporters and bands and cheerleaders.
That is, until November 7th. Something changed. They played Grapevine Faith Christian School.
A few days before the game, the Gainesville coach, Mark Williams received a call from Faith Christian coach, Kris Hogan, asking him if it would be okay if Faith formed a “spirit” line for his team when they ran on the field. Mark said, “Sure, that would be a real encouragement to the kids.” He thought that the line would consist of a couple of the JV cheerleaders, but when they took the field, there were a hundred people in it and it stretched to the 40-yard line, filled with Faith Christian parents, fans and varsity cheerleaders, complete with a banner at the end for them to burst through that read “Go Tornadoes!”. And then, those parents and fans sat in the stands behind the Gainesville players and when the Tornadoes broke the huddle and went up to the line they could hear people cheering for them, by name. When they got a first down, “their” fans erupted.
You see, coach Hogan had sent an email out to the Faith Christian parents and students asking them to consider doing something kind for these young men, many who didn’t know what it meant to have a mom and dad who cared, many who felt the world was against them, not for them. Hogan asked that they simply send a message that these boys were “just as valuable as any other person on earth.”
So half of the Faith Christian fans were now sitting on the visitor’s side of the field, cheering for the Gainesville team, and in some cases, against their own sons. –Cheering for a team decked out in mismatched old uniforms and helmets. –Cheering for boys who wouldn’t go home that night and have a smiling dad slap him on the back and feel his mom put her arms around him and say “I’m so proud of you son!” –Cheering for the underdog.
This was a Friday night like no other for the Tornadoes. In the locker room, the players were confused. “Why are they cheerin’ for us, coach?” “Because, men, they want to encourage you. They want you to know that they care about you…that you have value.”
Coach Williams said the boys were stunned. For many of these kids, it may have been the first time that anyone had shown them, so visibly, unconditional love.
They were down 33 to nothing at the half. Williams encouraged his team to set a goal for the second half: to score a touchdown against this vastly superior team. And when the boys from the State School took the field again, with their fans cheering them on, everything started to click. And they did score. Not once but twice.
And the fans went wild.
Coach Williams was asked what the bus ride was like on the way home and he laughed and said that they were all asleep—their bellies were full. That’s becuz after the game, the parents brought a whole bunch of food over to the guys: hamburgers, fries, candy, sodas…and included in the meal sack was a Bible and a personal letter of encouragement from a Faith Christian player. But then, he said, they formed a line for us out to the bus. And the parents patted them on the back and said, “Nice game” and “Look forward to seeing you guys next time.”
As they left the field that night, Coach Williams grabbed Coach Hogan and said to him: “You’ll never know what your people did for these kids tonight. You’ll never, ever know.”
Hope you enjoyed it,
Candice S.
Admin Asst.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Team Partnership Events
Team Partnership Events
Highland Park
Monday, January 26th
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Highland Park High School
Highlander Stadium - Varsity Meeting Room
Free Dessert Reception
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
Rockwall
Tuesday, January 27th
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Rockwall High School - Cafeteria Annex
901 Yellow Jacket Ln.
Rockwall, TX
Free Dinner provided by Texas Land & Cattle
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
Duncanville
Wednesday, January 28th
7:00AM - 8:30 AM
First Baptist Church of Duncanville
232 W. Wheatland Rd.
Duncanville, TX
Free Breakfast
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
All Team Partnership Events will have guest speaker Mike Flynt who will share how it is never too late to tackle your dreams! hear Mike share about his amazing year as a 59-year old college linebacker.
Highland Park
Monday, January 26th
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Highland Park High School
Highlander Stadium - Varsity Meeting Room
Free Dessert Reception
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
Rockwall
Tuesday, January 27th
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Rockwall High School - Cafeteria Annex
901 Yellow Jacket Ln.
Rockwall, TX
Free Dinner provided by Texas Land & Cattle
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
Duncanville
Wednesday, January 28th
7:00AM - 8:30 AM
First Baptist Church of Duncanville
232 W. Wheatland Rd.
Duncanville, TX
Free Breakfast
RSVP Required email fcadallas@gmail.com
or by calling 214-739-8003 by January 21st.
All Team Partnership Events will have guest speaker Mike Flynt who will share how it is never too late to tackle your dreams! hear Mike share about his amazing year as a 59-year old college linebacker.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Back on the saddle
Well our Holiday vacation is over and its back to daily grind. We all seemed to have a very enjoyable holiday and we hope that you and you family had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Year is starting off great. We are getting ready for Weekend of Champions, it's coming up pretty fast only 50 days away :). We are getting really excited about the event. We hope to see you there!
Because I am absent minded at times here is the link for our pictures from the Christmas Party on our Facebook Group page, if you are not a group member be sure to become one while you are checking the pictures out!
Excited about 2009,
Candice Snyder
Admin Asst.
Greater Dallas FCA Facebook Group Photos
Because I am absent minded at times here is the link for our pictures from the Christmas Party on our Facebook Group page, if you are not a group member be sure to become one while you are checking the pictures out!
Excited about 2009,
Candice Snyder
Admin Asst.
Greater Dallas FCA Facebook Group Photos
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