The Huddle: PURSUE

Over 100 Kids Presented with the Gospel!

W. Matthew Kearce Pigott, Pigott & Kearce, P.A. Matt Kearce grew up in the Panhandle of Florida, but has lived in South Florida since 2002. He has been married to his lovely bride Christy (also an athlete, played tennis at Samford University) for 19 years and they have two children C.J. and Brady, ages 15 and 13. Matt played various sports growing up, focusing on football and baseball through high school. Upon graduation he accepted a baseball scholarship to Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, FL. After Junior College, he transferred to West Georgia (Carrollton, GA) where he played his last two years of college baseball. Matt exceled not only athletically, but in the classroom as well, earning his Finance Degree at Florida State University and his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Currently, Matt, Christy and the boys live in Palm Beach Gardens and attend Family Church at the Gardens Campus. Kent Frazer The Frazer Firm P.A. Kent grew up in Vero Beach, Florida playing football and lacrosse, and has lived and practiced law in Palm Beach County for almost 20 years. Kent is the owner and managing attorney of The Frazer Firm, P.A., a business litigation and business law firm located in Jupiter that focuses solely on protecting the interests of small and medium sized companies and their owners. Kent and his wife, Erika, live in Palm Beach Gardens with their children, Jackson (11) and Quinn (8). He is an alumnus of Leadership Palm Beach County and is active in the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Kent serves and worships with his family at the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Christ Fellowship. Kent’s excited about where FCA PBC is heading, and he is glad he is joining the team to make it happen. “I grew up playing school sports, and I never knew there was an organization like FCA. I know that had I been involved with a ministry like Fellowship of Christian Athletes it would have had a tremendous influence on my faith and spiritual life. Now I am excited about serving on the FCA Palm Beach County board because I want to see our student athletes have this opportunity that I didn’t have. I know the impact of this ministry is so significant, and I truly believe in it’s mission to reach every coach and athlete!”

Serving with FCA is all about building relationships, and no one understands that better than legendary coach Chi Ly. After decades of coaching on the courts and on the fields, FCA Palm Beach County is delighted to now have Coach Ly partnering with us to reach students with the gospel. For Chi, former men’s and women’s tennis coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University, his final score as a coach has not been revealed on the scoreboard, but in life-long relationships. “I tell my players,” Coach Ly explains, “if I get an invite to your wedding, that means I’ve been a good coach.” And if the past is any indication, Coach Chi will be wearing his wedding suit often! “As a coach, I’m very competitive. I’m always pushing my players to achieve their best. I tell them, ‘I don’t have a magic wand.’ I cannot make them better unless they put forth the effort. They have to trust me, so more than just drills and skills, my way of coaching is more about building relationships. As I look back on my more than 31 years of coaching, I’m proud to say I am still in touch with some of my first players.” Athletics has always played a significant role in Chi’s life; he explains how God led him into coaching, “I started playing tennis when I was 12. Since I am the oldest of five, I needed someone to hit with, so I taught my siblings. I realized the more I played, the more I learned, and the more I could pass on. I was so glad to have all four of them play for me at Messiah University when I coached there.” “My undergraduate and graduate degrees are in mathematics, but God continued to call me to coach. I came to the States as a child, and when I was 15, I attended a church camp where I surrendered my life to Jesus. As the oldest, I was the ‘golden child’, but when the pastor explained that I was a sinner, I just began weeping.” Chi’s encounter with Jesus not only affected him but eventually his entire family. “My family saw the joy I had and even how it impacted my athletic career, and one by one, they became believers too.” “FCA has been a major part of my coaching career, and I have had the chance to provide athletes with the opportunity to present programs for the entire university. At PBAU, I served as an ambassador for FCA to help with huddles, mentor athletes, and encourage other coaches. Even when I coached at schools that were not predominantly Christian, the players always knew my faith influenced my philosophy. Proverbs 27:17 talks about us sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron. The word ‘competition’ comes from the root word ‘striving.’ “ “On any particular day, you may be better, or they may be better. What you can determine is how you have prepared and how you conduct yourself on the court. My soccer coach always said, ‘Don’t just play the game, live the game.’ I realized that sports is a platform for you to reveal your character to your opponent and beyond. How you compete, how you play, reveals who you are.” Chi has recently taken a position as a math teacher at The King’s Academy, and he still plans to support area FCA huddles, athletes, and coaches. If you want the chance to see Chi’s faith and competitive spirit in action, head to the nearest Palm Beach County Pickleball court, where he has been known to team up with our Metro-Director Greg Anderson.

Originally from Hagerstown MD, Jason had always dreamed of living in Florida. In December of 2019 that dream came true, as Jason and his wife Tirsa move to Jupiter FL. Jason accepted a ministry position at Generation Church as the Family Life pastor. In the Spring of this year, God moved in Jason heart to take a huge step of faith. A deep devotion to Jesus and a life-long love for sports inspired Jason and his family to join the Palm Beach County Fellowship of Christian Athletes team. “I loved the idea of bringing two of my favorite passions together- sports and ministry” “What I love most about FCA is the focus on relationships. Building relationships with coaches and athletes in Palm Beach County to help bring them into a relationship with Jesus”. Jason is now actively raising his support, and he is looking forward to being fully-funded so that he can focus all of his energy on serving our local schools, coaches and kids. “The thing that excites me most about getting to work with FCA is the opportunity to get the gospel onto the campuses and into the schools. I am also eager to bring new and fresh ideas to the ministry. As we plan events and outreaches, offer clinics and create new community sports leagues, I’m really excited to bring new ideas and initiatives to the table.” Jason is wasting no time in putting his creative abilities to work! He’s already coming up with some concepts that will move FCA into space previously unexplored. “One of the ideas we have discussed is starting a Chapel service on game day in the parking lot at Dolphin Stadium. I’m a huge Miami Dolphins fan and a season ticket holder. We’ve been talking about creating an FCA huddle for Dolphins fans right there outside the stadium on game day. It’s ideas like that that I am eager to explore further.” Jason has already been able to develop some relationships with our Palm Beach County coaches. In keeping with FCA’s “To and through the Coach” approach, Jason has connected with some key coaches who are open to starting huddles in their schools. “I love the FCA approach of discipling coaches. Watching them grow. Not only challenging them on improving their coaching skills, but also improving in their marriage, family, personal and spiritual life.” When Jason and his family are not at a Dolphin’s game, they enjoy spending time together and enjoying South Florida’s beautiful beaches. To support Jason and FCA PBC please make donations using this link: https://my.fca.org/jasonbanzhoff

“I realized that as coaches, we have a unique opportunity to influence young people and to shape their lives.” Coach Tharp has coached throughout the state of Florida since his first job at Twin Lakes High School in 1986. Jobs as head coach, assistant coach, athletic director, and assistant principal have taken him across the Sunshine State. Coach Tim worked with teams in Pensacola, St. Augustine, and at his alma mater, Palm Beach Gardens High School, before he finally accepted the position at Jupiter High School in 2017. Team mascots and uniform colors have changed but one thing has remained the same- Coach Tharp’s vision for developing student athletes. His goals for his players extend far past the scoreboard and the football field. “I’m a huge proponent of developing the whole person- physically, spiritually, mentally, and educationally.” Beyond the W’s and L’s “We spend a lot of time ensuring that our kids understand their success in life is going to be how they interact and become a part of a team. The sacrifices they make, the trust and loyalty they earn and the hard work they invest. Football is not an individual game and that’s what I love about it.” “Ultimately, the wins and losses won’t define me as a head coach, but it is the type of men these kids become. We all want to win. We’re going to do everything within our power to do that. Our kids are extremely focused, extremely hard working, disciplined, and structured. We are also tying in these lessons to how to be a good teammate, make a positive contribution to society, and be a great father and husband. One of the quickest, best ways to build camaraderie is to see there’s a world out there outside yourself so, as a team, we’re involved in outreach and community projects.” It was while coaching at Escambia High School in Pensacola that Coach Tharp was first introduced to the ministry of FCA and attended his first Leadership Camp. “I’ll never forget the experience of taking kids to Black Mountain, NC. Looking out over the facility and seeing a thousand young athletes having their individual morning devotional time just further solidified to me the mission field that coaching represented in my life. It reminded me of my ‘why’ and strengthened my commitment to impact young people’s lives beyond the playing field.” A Lasting Impact For Coach Tharp, the potential to bring out the best in one another includes his coaching staff. “I’m fortunate to have former head coaches on staff and we have young guys as well.” Last year he invited Scott Arnold, senior pastor of Journey Church and founder of Team Sports Ministries, to attend their weekly coaches’ meetings. “We meet every Saturday, Scott brings food which is always appreciated, and we have the chance to have some great exchanges. This has really helped our coaching staff to grow even closer.” In the Spring of this year, Coach Tharp took intentional steps to help his staff understand the importance of developing the entire “3 Dimensions” of his players. Wanting to invest in his team physically, mentally and spiritually, Coach had his staff attend FCA’s Coaches Clinic led by Dr. Jeff Duke. Coach Duke, author of the book 3D Coaching, has devoted his life to equipping coaches to develop all aspects of their athletes, while emphasizing the spiritual foundational principles that are so critical for their success. “I first met Jeff Duke at an FCA breakfast in Orlando a couple years ago. Then Jeff came down to speak in Palm Beach County about the 3-D program, and my staff and I were tremendously impressed.” Coach Tharp explains, “It all comes back to why are you really in coaching? Is your role just to win ball games or to impact these kids today and for their future? The message really resonates with veterans and younger coaches. We had guys at the table at all different levels and from all different kinds of backgrounds. For the veterans, it’s a chance to check themselves. For the new guys, this kind of program has a lot of value.” Sharing What You’ve Learned This summer the coaching staff implemented one of the drills they had participated in at the 3-D clinic. “I’ll announce the name of a player who will be in the “spotlight” that day. Then at the end of workout, in the weight room or on the field, that player stands up before the group. The focus is positive edification. I usually start by telling him what I appreciate about him, his contribution to the program, and what I see are his strengths of character. Then our players do the same. Players are not required to speak, but can if they are comfortable doing so. The only parameters are they must call the spotlight player by his first name and look at him while speaking. The first time we implemented the spotlight drill, I invited a handful of guys to say something but over twenty players ended up speaking. We really didn’t know what to expect, but our kids really bought into this and love it. This simple, single exercise has evolved into a transformational time for everyone.” This success is just an example of the tools the 3D Coaching curriculum provides. Coach Tharp explains, “You’re trying to get to the relational level of working with kids, growing them and helping them, while helping coaches drill down to their purpose of providing the framework for these kids’ lives.” To learn more about 3-D Coaching and how you can get equipped through this resource, reach out to our FCA office at FCAPalmBeachCounty@fca.org

Scott Moore is a driven competitor, and his growing faith in The Lord continues to give him the confidence to compete at the highest levels. When we recently spoke with Scott about his life and career as a professional Pickleball player, he revealed to us the real reason as to why he has found such great success on and off the courts. Scott’s devotion to Jesus motivates him to excellence, and is at the center of all his goals and pursuits. After decades of racquet sports, Scott first discovered the sport of pickleball about nine years ago. Entering into the “empty nest” season of life, Scott began searching for a competitive sport he could enjoy for this next chapter. A friend invited him to play something called “pickleball”, and the rest is history. “Anytime I have racquet or paddle in my hand I am a happy camper!” Scott said, reflecting back on his early days of discovering what America’s fastest growing sport is all about. After his timely introduction, it didn’t take Scott long for him to get serious about training and competing, and even setting some lofty goals for his future. Humble Beginnings Scott Moore’s introduction into the tournament scene seemed more of a matter of being at the right place at the right time, and of course… knowing the right people. In 2013, he was recruited last minute as a “fill-in” and competed in his first National Tournament, where he and his partner eventually won the Silver medal in the 5.0 over 50 division. “We played in the finals and were beat by a couple of hall-of-fame-type legends. They were good. But, I couldn’t sleep that night… I knew we could beat those guys.” Scott had observed the level of competition there at the event and realized he was not unlike the most talented players who were winning medals in the various levels of age and skill. “I truly felt like I could play as well as those I saw competing, so I said to my son, ‘I’m gonna be a national champion.’” “I was all in. I found my answer to what I wanted to invest in. I hired a trainer, and lost twenty pounds in the first 6 months. My son Daniel moved home from Africa where he had been working, and we began to train together. The next year we both won Gold Medals in the Nationals!” Top moments in Scott’s Career We asked Scott to share about his most rewarding accomplishments and some of the brightest moments in his career. As he shares his highlights, it is clear that his family relationships mean more than his accomplishments on the court. “I heard James Dobson once say, ‘Time turns your trophies into trash.’ It’s just so true…It’s not about the medals for sure.” Scott recalls that his best moments have been competing alongside his sons. “In 2018, having won a 19 and over doubles tournament with my son Daniel. We beat some of the top teams in the game. All day long I was getting picked on, but we hung in there and won some really big matches… and won the Gold. That was pretty special!” “The second one I can think of was a tournament in 2016. My stepfather who was 85, myself, and my son Daniel all won Gold medals that day. We had three generations there and each of us were able to win gold in our divisions. That had never been done and will probably never happen again at the Nationals. By the way, My stepdad is 90 now and he plays four days a week!” Scott’s Faith Scott’s relationship with Jesus really began out of tragedy. As young teenager, Scott struggled to find hope as his parent’s marriage ended abruptly. Angered by the circumstances, he found help through the ministry of Young Life and eventually had the opportunity to hear the gospel while attending their meetings and camps. “Romans 8:28 says ‘we know that God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes’ and this became my life verse” Scott shares. As a born-again believer, he was able to find forgiveness and then offer forgiveness, and eventually saw his entire family come to faith in Christ. “Our whole family came to Lord through that tragedy and the turmoil of divorce. It’s really Romans 8:28. God brought good into our lives through that” What’s Next? So other than winning more pickleball tournaments, what’s on the horizon for Scott Moore? Don’t be surprised if it’s even more about ministry! Recently Scott has joined with a few friends on the pro tour to form “The Pickleball Fellowship”. This is an informal gathering of those in the pickleball community, to fellowship together and encourage one another. The meetings are held on or near the tournament site, and offer participants a time to connect with other Christians, study the Bible, and pray for each other. Scott’s leadership in this venture has him ministering to folks from all over country, and building key relationships with other Christ-followers who share his love for the Lord. As Scott and his wife Susan began to travel, they recognized the importance of spending time with other believers. “We were loosing our community,” Scott shares. And so they took action and began to create a sense of community among fellow Christians. “I was feeling like God had called me for such a time as this, and He equipped me to be a light. I knew it wasn’t because I was anything special … I knew it was supposed to be about Him and not about me. And so that kept propelling me and although I struggle sometimes on the court to remember that, I know that it’s not just about winning. God never lets me forget that.” “So all we did was throw it out at certain tournaments, ‘hey we’re going to have a pickleball fellowship’…we were just people sharing their hearts and pouring out prayer requests. It’s an amazing time, and God just shows up.” ”Truly God is showing up, and even showing off, among this small group of Christ-followers.” And thankfully Scott and other Believers on the tour are taking a solid stand for Jesus! "As the sport of pickleball continues to gain attention and popularity across the nation, we can look forward to more great things from Scott Moore and the “Pickleball Fellowship!”

Spend a few minutes with 2021 Palm Beach Atlantic graduate Alex Aken, and it won’t take you long to figure out what drives this young man to do what he does. On the field or off, his character and conduct are simply a reflection of God’s Spirit shining brightly through him. As a pastoral Ministry major at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Alex felt a calling to ministry early on. But not just ministry within the walls of the church building. For Alex, the field became his pulpit. During his undergrad years at PBA, Alex found ample opportunities to minister the love of Jesus through his athletic talents. Having competed as a lacrosse player for the PBA Sailfish, Alex was also able to join with our FCA lacrosse team. A team that in 2018 would ultimately take their talents to the Holy Land, and compete in Israel at the World Lacrosse Games. “Our goal was to serve these other countries that were competing in the World Games. To pray with them,” Alex shared. “After that experience, I got super interested in FCA, and really got involved.” Rich ministry opportunities through FCA have helped to develop this young man into more than just a lacrosse player, but also passionate Coach. Over this past summer Alex had opportunity to intern at his local church, and also join forces with his friends on the field, helping coach the local FCA lacrosse team. For Alex, each tournament game represented a chance to share Christ. “At the end of every game we take a knee with the other team and as coaches, we would usually share a word that just points the way back to Christ …one of the highlights of the summer with FCA was being able to just take a knee with the other team, talk a little bit about scripture in a way that is relevant to them, that ultimately points to who Jesus really is and how much He loves us.” “ I try to tell as many people as I can that I have learned more from God and about who He is through playing sports than just about any other part of my life, so any opportunity and I have to share Jesus Christ through sports in the future will be a gift.”

Our FCA Team reached out to Palm Beach County Board Member, John Melhorn to learn more about who he is and what difference FCA has made in his family. Here’s how our conversation went. Hey John, we appreciate you serving on our FCA board! Give us a brief snapshot of you and your family. Tell us your story. “My wife Julie and I were high school sweethearts, and we will have been married 15 years coming up this June. We have three kids. Jacob is 10, Luke is 6 and Eliza is 5. And they all love sports in their different ways. Julie and I grew up in Wichita, Kansas, originally and later went to school in Florida. I went to University of Miami for my degree in architecture, and my wife Julie went to school at Palm Beach Atlantic in West Palm Beach. We got married in college then moved off to New York, and lived there for a little bit. I practiced architecture with a firm there, and Julie was doing some musical theater. And then we moved back down to Florida about 10 years ago and I started my own firm. I've added some partners since then and we've continued to grow. It's been great.” When did sport become such a big part of your life? “I played football, basketball and ran track in high school. I believe football is very instrumental in character development in terms of working with a team, overcoming adversity, celebrating successes together, dealing with failures together, all those kinds of things. I was also able to be a team captain. There are some leadership opportunities that come with those types of things." Tell us about your faith. “Growing up... we were regularly part of the grace brethren church, but it wasn't actually until I lived in New York, after I'd gotten married, that I actually got baptized. We were at this church with Nelson Searcy, who is actually in Boca now. We were attending church and being part of small groups. I came to realize that there was no perfect John, there was never a point where I could get good enough, and save myself with my own works. I discovered that God's ready to accept you just as you are today. And that was awesome. So I got baptized by a good friend of mine, who was one of the pastors there in New York. What excites you the most when you think about FCA in Palm Beach county? “Any chance that we can empower kids with leadership, conidence, and character, is great. I mean, that's what people need. It's what we really need in life, I think to survive. I believe FCA does these things.” What motivates you to give generously to FCA? “I feel like what better way to use my resources than to empower kids, you know, to have the Gospel in their life and to have these positive role models in this structure and with these leadership opportunities.” Where would you like to see our PBC FCA five years from now? "I would like in five years to see us, at least hitting every opportunity that's available to us, like, the way it looks to me right now is that we just don't have quite the reach; the contacts and the resources to reach every opportunity out there. There are open opportunities that we just can't get to,right? So my hope is that in five years, we're at least taking advantage of every opportunity out there not leaving anything on the field!" What would you say to a person who may be considering giving to FCA? "FCA is making leaders. It's not just an organization that reaches kids by spreading God's Word, but it builds student leaders. FCA is going into the schools and we're creating opportunities for student leadership. And as students lead their huddles, then they're able to reach other kids too. So I think it's double cool how it's reaching people."

Does FCA make a difference in the lives of student athletes? Absolutely! Recently we caught up a outstanding student who has been encouraged and challenged through FCA; Jupiter Christian High School Basketball player, Sean Louisaint. Born and raised in Boynton Beach, Sean has been playing competitive basketball in South Florida for 11 years. His love for the game is not just about the thrill of victory, but also centers around the joy of accomplishment through teamwork. “Coming together as a collective unit to achieve one goal is what I enjoy the most about basketball,” Sean explains. He especially loves being part of the Jupiter Christian school family, and says the staff, teachers and coaches there are what make it a special place to learn and grow. Sean came to faith in Jesus Christ early in his life (age 6), learning that God’s love for him was both real and unconditional. Since then Sean has continued to grow in his walk with Christ, and FCA has been a special part of that growth. Attending the FCA meetings on campus has been an encouragement and support for Sean as he has grown in his faith. These are diffcult times we are living in and it is even more challenging for students who are trying to live for Christ. We asked Sean how he has been affected by the diffculties and challenges of the past year, and it's evident that his desire to lead well and live for Jesus are what makes him willing to go against the flow! "My faith is constantly being challenged. It’s easy to follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing. Instead, I choose to be a leader and follow the principles God has designed for me.” Not only has FCA helped him grow stronger in his faith, but it's also played a signifcant role in Sean being able to defend his faith. Sean enjoys participating in his FCA huddle led by FCA Staff member Jeff Rush. “I love the conversations. I learn something new every time coach Rush gives his devotions.” After graduation from Jupiter Christian, Sean plans on “heading up to Tallahassee” to further his education. His dream is to also pursue law school after his undergrad degree. Our Palm Beach County FCA family believes God has big plans for Sean in the months and years ahead, both on and off the court!