Ask Elijah Palmer, a student-athlete on the Rainbow Warriors Football team at the University of Hawaii, what God is up to in the Hawaiian islands, and he is quick to share how God is on the move.

“God is putting Jesus on the heart of students and athletes at the university,” he said. “Most importantly, people are responding. The season of revival is here!”

Or take Kami Wong, a golfer and Huddle leader at Hawaii Pacific University, who is watching God bring more coaches and athletes to Himself through the ministry.

“Through FCA, God is continuing to expand His Kingdom here in Hawaii,” she said. “Thanks to the dedication of our leaders, our FCA community has grown this year through both word of mouth and social media. I believe He's been teaching us the importance and power of faith, evangelism and love for one another.”

These are only a couple of the students the FCA Hawaii team points to when sharing about the impact FCA is making on the islands. FCA Hawaii Director of Communications Corinne Niswander says God is doing so many things across the islands, it’s amazing to see.

Niswander and her family moved to Oahu, a popular Hawaiian island that houses Hawaii's three universities with collegiate athletic programs, one year ago after her husband, Hunter Niswander, took a job at the University of Hawaii after playing professional football for seven years.

As a sophomore lacrosse player at Northwestern University, Corinne learned about Jesus for the first time during an Athletes in Action (AIA) Bible study on campus, and her life was radically, instantly changed by the Gospel. She carried her newfound faith into her relationships, and it was her and Hunter’s shared faith that drew them together and gave them a heart for sports ministry.

When they moved to Hawaii, they got connected with FCA Hawaii State Director Daniel Rich, and Corinne jumped at the opportunity to join the staff. In her role as Director of Communications, she sees and shares the many stories of how God is moving across the islands.

Koko Crater Hike

One of the exciting ways the FCA Hawaii team experienced God moving last summer was a hike up Koko Crater, a well-known summit on Oahu.

Koko Crater is a challenging climb up an extinct volcano using an abandoned railway track, a staircase of 1,048 old railway ties built in WWII and later used by the U.S. Airforce. When brainstorming activities to build community amongst FCA, Corinne had the idea for a group hike. The team loved the idea and planned the hike for June. They assumed a handful of student-leaders would join. But to their surprise, dozens of students ranging from middle school through college-level showed up to do the hike together. One youth leader piled his students from the North Shore into an old church van and drove several hours so they could all participate.

Before the ascent, FCA staff handed out laminated cards with Psalm 46:1-3 printed on them as an anchor verse:

“God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah”

 Student-athletes also received FCA Bibles, devotionals, The FOUR bands and gear. Before taking off, Corinne and the team discussed how the Lord is with them during hardship, painful experiences and loss.

“We were able to share the Gospel of Christ, acknowledging that in this broken world we live in, we all face difficult things,” she said. “Even during a challenging hike like Koko Crater, we can do every aspect of our lives with Jesus, for His glory!”

Throughout the hike, hikers were encouraged to remember God’s promises, like James 1:12 that says, “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”  

At the end of the hike, they reflected on Hebrews 13:5. It was a day where students heard the Gospel, grew closer to the Lord and meditated on His Word.

Since the event, FCA Hawaii has continued to find ways to engage, equip and empower coaches and athletes across the islands.

Leading the Next Generation of Leaders

FCA Hawaii is made up of leadership areas from the islands of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. After the Koko Crater hike, later in the summer, high school students came together from each island for a high school Leadership Weekend.

"Being at FCA Hawaii's Leadership Weekend was a remarkable, God-centered experience,” said Alayna Fuamatu-Ma'afala, FCA Central Oahu Representative. “Seeing the next generation's heart for the Lord was both inspiring and comforting. I'm intrigued to see how the youth work to further God's Kingdom using the lessons from the weekend's sessions.”

In addition to the middle and high school ministry happening across all areas of Hawaii, FCA Oahu is uniquely poised to reach college students on their island. With the three collegiate-level teams all located on Oahu, FCA is seeing tremendous growth and opportunities at the universities.

Over 100 student-athletes gather on the college campuses each week and bring their friends to hear about Jesus. As students are engaged and equipped with the Gospel, they are empowered to share their faith and bring more people to Huddles and other FCA activities.

It’s a sight the Niswander ohana loves seeing, not only because they want to see FCA reach coaches and athletes across Hawaii, but because they know who else is watching.

“When my two girls (ages 4 and 1) can come to a Huddle with us and see students worshipping and praising God, hear their testimonies, and then go to their games to cheer them on, I love what it’s teaching them,” said Corinne. “It’s a beautiful depiction of the Gospel and evidence that you can be a servant of Christ in your sport (Galatians 1:10).”

To learn more about what is happening on the islands, visit www.fcahawaii.org.

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