Light shines brightest in the darkness.
And in a space with very little Christian presence, Garrett Lewellen’s work through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is receiving the spotlight.
The attention isn’t just from players and parents of the high school volleyball club team he coaches through FCA. It’s from other teams and coaches. There is a difference in how he leads and cares for his players.
“He’s an example of finding a way to leverage your God-given talents and passions for the Kingdom,” said Aaron Mann, who met Lewellen while serving as FCA Maine State Director.
On-campus ministry is notoriously difficult to establish in the Northeast, which routinely measures as one of the most unchurched and least-evangelized areas of the country. Gaining a ministry foothold requires creativity and building relationships.
Leading up to the summer of 2021, Mann and Lewellen prepared for clinics that were unlike those of other clubs. Two-hour Wednesday meetings included planning and talking, but centered around Bible study and prayer.
“This was, first and foremost, a ministry,” said Mann. “It was a club birthed in prayer that had God’s hand on it. When I look back, that’s one of the biggest things that stand out to me.”
Tryouts came that fall as Lewellen was earning Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) Coach of the Year honors at Southern Maine Community College. The first season came the following winter and the team completed its fourth season earlier this year.
Bible studies and prayer are practice staples and set the environment for a club that sees as many as 80 percent of its players from unchurched homes. In the team’s four years of existence, they’ve only played one other Christian club.
“My wife and I had led Bible studies for our kids and others in grade school and middle school,” said Lewellen. “I met Aaron, and he helped get a Bible study and FCA Huddle started at our high school. That was my introduction to FCA, and Aaron was very committed to helping us start a club sport and get it off the ground.”
Lewellen’s wife, Amy, assists as a coach, but finding experienced Christian volleyball coaches has been a challenge. Being a Christian is a non-negotiable requirement of the club’s coaches.
Lewellan’s daughter, Meryk, honed her skills on the FCA club team while starring at Gorham High School. She went on to play for her dad at SMCC, becoming an All-American last year as she rose to the top five in the nation with 241 kills and fourth with 62 aces. Under Lewellen, the Seawolves rolled to an 18-4 season and their first-ever YSCC championship and inaugural berth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament.
Mike McLaughlin, FCA Southern Maine Director, sees the Lewellens as a family committed to the sport (their 16-year-old son, Noah, is also a volleyball player) but just as much so to sharing the Gospel.
“They’re on a mission for the Lord,” he said. “Garrett is a man of the Word and a man of prayer. He’s all about Gospel clarity, and his coaching skillset brings an attitude that draws higher-level athletes. It’s not just about winning the tournament, which they aim to do every time. He and Amy love to coach and you see their love and passion for the Gospel.”
Several of the players have been saved and baptized, with parents who wouldn’t usually darken a church door seeing the impact first-hand.
“We were very upfront about being a Christian club,” said Mann, who now serves as the Northeast Georgia Director for FCA. “We have seen so many ripple effects from this ministry.”
It’s a spotlight on living out the Light of the world, and the Lewellens wouldn’t have it any other way.
Email ssmithson@fca.org to learn more about FCA Clubs.
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