“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Who should I send? Who will go for Us?’ I said: ‘Here I am. Send me.’” -Isaiah 6:8
FCA Hockey National Director Rick Randazzo studied this verse back in January 2010, and it catapulted him and his family to pack up and live on the move for more than four years in service to Christ to the hockey community. Their 50 State/50 City tour took them around the country, spending 30 days in each of the 50 states.
The vision and mission was to establish the four “Cs” of FCA ministry (Coaches, Camps, Campus and Community) in each local city they visited. They poured into members of each hockey community establishing a strong foundation to propel that specific ministry forward after they’d leave.
The Randazzos and friends at the end of tour celebration
The Randazzo family—Rick, his wife Shannan, and five children: Alex, Aaron, Allie, Addison and Anderson, began the tour in Portland, Maine, in August 2011.
The Evans family (David, FCA Hockey Director of Coaches Ministry, wife Heather, and children Page, Isaac, Carter and Mason) joined the tour in 2013, committing to nine states of the tour. The finish line was Raleigh, N.C., in December 2015.
FCA Hockey directed youth and adult clinics, hosted coaches’ seminars, team Huddles, and ran practices for youth through college teams. Over 2,500 FCA Hockey New Testament Bibles were given out on the tour and thousands of lives were impacted for eternity.
The tour brought teachable themes to life such as obedience in the midst of difficulty, serving and loving others unconditionally, and finding joy in discomfort.
A well-deserved celebration brought the almost half-decade journey to an end. People gathered in N.C. to marvel at the work the Lord had done through the Randazzo and Evans families, board members, and countless other volunteers and members of the hockey community.
Comments from participants along the journey:
“Through the Randazzo family, my family was able to see a family that followed Christ's calling and gave up their home to travel the U.S.A. to minister to others through FCA Hockey. Rick, Shannan and their family are modern day Apostles impacting others for Christ and they have set a tremendous example of service and sacrifice.”
-Tom Strinden, North Dakota
“This tour was a great example of a family following God’s calling to spread the Good News and doing it in a way that was unique and impactful.”
-Harris Family, Indiana
“Because of this tour, many Alaskan hockey families were encouraged and saw that God can be glorified through the great game of hockey. I was encouraged in what is really important in life. Seeing this family following God’s plan on this tour was so awesome. God gave them a vision and they carried out His plan. Because of their obedience, many were blessed and God was glorified!”
-Lauwers Family, Alaska
“We have been encouraged to start an adult FCA monthly skate to reach the hockey world in Omaha, as well as mentor players who are here to play in college.”
- Behrens Family, Nebraska
Photos courtesy of FCA Hockey