This story appears in FCA Magazine’s January/February 2016 issue. Subscribe today!

You see it every week on college football fields across the country—a walk-on making an incredible play to help lead their team to victory. And it’s not just football. In my years on college campuses, I have seen so many young men and women choose to attend a college and play a sport without receiving a scholarship. Perhaps they were viewed as “too small” or “too slow,” but—somehow—they find a way to fund the cost of tuition and then contribute to the team.

For many, it’s a heavy financial burden on both them and their families. But why? Why go through all that? Why do these walk-on players have the same (and many times even more) motivation as those receiving scholarships to do the same thing?

The answer: It’s not about whether they get paid. It’s about a passion and love for playing their sport. They fell in love with the sport as a kid, and they want to keep playing as long as they can, regardless of the compensation.

If you think about it, we have an abundance of “walk-ons” on Team FCA—the volunteers. They come in various roles: student Huddle leaders, adult Huddle leaders, donors, board members, chaplains, speakers, prayer warriors, Bible teachers, camp administrators, coaches, worship leaders, and on and on. There are thousands and thousands of FCA “walk-ons” across America and a growing number around the world—men and women who, out of their passionate love for Jesus and through the vehicle of sports and youth, sacrifice their talents, treasures and time for God’s Kingdom through FCA.

Of those “Three T’s,” let me expand on “time.”

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” - Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV, emphasis added).

If we have trusted Jesus as our Savior, we have power from Him to make a gospel impact. For FCA volunteers, perhaps the wisest way to do that is to give of their time. It’s a double blessing on both FCA and the volunteer.

Time is a gift to us, and it should be used effectively. The Bible speaks a solemn warning about the wasting of time, or “idleness,” and one of the most famous sin stories came as a result of misusing time.

When King David committed adultery, murder, and then organized a cover-up for all of it, it started with a sloppy mishandling of time. When he should have been at war fighting Israel’s enemies, David took advantage of his power and poorly stewarded his time. One day, after sleeping through the afternoon, he woke up to the view of a bathing woman, the wife of one of his most trustworthy and faithful soldiers. Acting on his impulses turned into a gigantic mistake for him and many others.

When you and I are investing our time under the will and submission of the Lord, we will use that time wisely. We will choose activities that advance God’s Kingdom rather than unwisely put ourselves in situations to sin against the Lord.

I believe that preparation and confidence are married, and time performs the wedding ceremony. In other words, wise use of your time allows preparation and confidence to come together.

As wide receivers coach at Liberty University this season, I came up with a phrase during practices. During the daily five-minute special teams portion of practices, where the wide receivers aren’t involved, I’d yell, “Find work!” That served as a trigger for them to match up with a teammate and work on a particular skillset, like catching or releases. They understand the drills without me being there, and they volunteer five minutes of their time to benefit one another, which benefits our team in the long run.

It’s amazing what can be done with even five minutes every day. God has called us to “find work” for the skills and passions He’s given us, so that the gospel stays on the move! FCA is a great ministry to use your talents, treasures and time to advance Jesus through the vehicle of sports.

I’m asking you—parent, leader, businessman or businesswoman—become a “walk-on” for FCA. Volunteer for this great ministry to see the gospel move forward. There’s a great eternal pension plan that comes with it!

-FCA-

–This article appears in the January/February 2016 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue digitally, click here: January/February 2016 FCA Mag Digital 

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