What does it look like when a Coach embraces his/her role as a difference maker in the lives of others?  What does it look like when Coaches from all different schools and leagues unite as disciples and servants of Jesus?  From July 16-18, Kansas City got to see those questions answered as 22 Coaches from all over the Metro Area gathered at Mid-America Nazarene University for the KC's inaugural FCA Biblical Coaching Academy.  For three afternoons, these Coaches joined hands and hearts in prayer, Scripture study, leadership training and deep discussion.  For three afternoons, bonds were built and strengthened from both God to Coach and Coach to Coach. 

The Academy provided a culmination of FCA-MKC's Coaches Ministry Diretor Ryan Krzykowski's first year of service.  "It was a wonderful blessing to look around the room and see many of the Coaches whom I've gotten a chance to know well over the past 12 months.  It was also a great blessing and encouragement to begin relationships with Coaches that I met at the Academy; to see their passion for Coaching and impacting lives for eternity," Krzykowski said.

Featured at the Academy were lessons from Book One of the Legacy Builders Sports Discipleship series for Coaches.  The group read Biblical passages and discussed topics including how to set priorities, the power of words, and planting seeds of faith in others.  The Academy concluded with each Coach being challenged and encouraged to seek God's direction in devising personal action plans for Biblical Coaching.  These action plans are designed to address both the individual spiritual needs of the Coach, and the impact that each Coach has on athletes, other Coaches, and his/her family.  "It is my prayer that each Coach who attended the Academy this year will be involved in a Legacy Builders study during the 2009-10 school year, and that each Coach someday will have an opportunity to lead other Coaches through these studies," said Krzykowski.

Former president and longtime friend of FCA, John Erickson, himself a former college basketball Head Coach, addressed the Coaches on Friday afternoon.  Mr. Erickson spoke candidly about his journey as a Coach, and encouraged each Coach to pursue God first as their first priority in life.  "Having a man like John Erickson, someone who is so passionate about both Christ and Coaching, offered a perfect image of what Ministry to Coaches is all about," stated Krzykowski. 

While this first attempt at an FCA Biblical Coaching Academy can be considered a great success, there is already talk of making adjustments in the future.  Krzykowski had this to say about where the Academy goes from here:  "Right now we're praying about the 09-10 version of the Academy.  It might make sense to make it a one-day deal so that we can host more of them next year.  It would also be great to create opportunities for Coaches to be featured as Academy presenters; make it more peer to peer training.  However the Lord leads from here, I absolutely can't wait to see what He has planned for KC's Coaches in the coming year and beyond."