Chaplains are student-athletes, called of God, to use their influence to lead coaches and athletes on their teams to live for the glory of God in obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord.

Chaplains programs are student-initiated, student led programs designed to provide Christian athletes a platform to engage their teammates for Jesus. 

FCA Chaplain's Programs are unapologetically Christian.  They are all about Jesus and his glory.  For that reason chaplains programs must have content that revolves around, and leaders who live from, the gospel of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as the only forgiveness of sin, the only rescue from hell, the only means to eternal life and the only power to live in obedience to Jesus as Lord for the glory of God.

This page is intended to equip student athletes to reach their specific sports teams for Jesus Christ through student initiated Chaplain's Programs.  For the most effective use of this site use the content listed in the table of contents to the right.  The content is numbered 1. through 10. to walk you through the process of becoming a chaplain to your team step-by-step.  Additional content is also available in the chaplains blog located below the Table of Contents.

The objectives of a chaplain program are the desired biblical outcomes that every chaplain must seek to see accomplished in, and through, their life and program.  The objectives are listed as follows:

1. Chaplains are to use their position and influence to lead their teammates to become witnessing believers who obey Jesus as Lord in all areas of their lives through deliberate relationships and at least one of the following: Chapels, Devotionals, and/or Team Studies

2. Chaplains are to call athletes and coaches to repent (turn away from) of sin and believe on Jesus’ death and resurrection as their only forgiveness of sins, their only rescue from hell, their only means to eternal life and their only power to live in obedience to Jesus as Lord over all they are, have and do; teaching them to live for the glory of God alone, by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

3. Chaplains are to deliberately seek to help teammates and coaches to serve Jesus as active members of a local church.

4. Chaplains are to train teammates to help in the work and continue the program when they are gone.

Chaplain expectations are developed to help chaplains and their programs live in a way that makes accomplishing the objectives possible, keeping God's glory the focus and bringing athletes to Jesus the aim. The expectations of chaplains are listed below.

1. To obey Jesus Christ as Lord in all areas of life by the power of the gospel.     

 By grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. (Colossians 2:6-7)            

2. To live with a deliberate focus on bringing glory to God and people to Jesus.
-1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 28:16-20

3. To be a student of the Word of God who grows in Christ daily.
-John 8:31-32

4. A life that embodies Christ-like character, attitudes and behaviors that are reflective of Biblical standards and the vision, mission and values of FCA.
-Titus 1 & 2, 1 Timothy 4:16

5. To be deliberate in accomplishing the objectives of a chaplains program.

6. To be a regular, and active, serving attender at a local church who seeks to invite your teammates and coaches into the church as well.

7. To communicate with the appropriate FCA staff, as needed, and to respond to FCA communication from FCA staff.

8. To adhere to the FCA policies and procedures outlined in the Ministry Leader Application.

Chaplain roles include relationships, chapels, devotionals and/or team studies.  These roles provide chaplains specific settings from which to reach teammates for Jesus.

Relationships
Chaplains must see every relationship in the context of the gospel. They must be focused on helping Christians grow in obedience to Christ as Lord and leading non-Christians to faith in Christ as Lord.

Since chaplains cannot have deep, personal relationships with every athlete on a team, it is critical that they invest into the lives of few who can then invest into the lives of many.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, Jude 1:20, 1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:5-6

Chapels
Chapels are 10 to 15 minute messages intented to be a platform for pre-game inspiration by using the games context to convey the gospel truth of Jesus Christ, while providing athletes the opportunity to focus on the competition at hand.

Devotionals
Devotionals are 5 to 10 minute post-practice discussions that create an environment for character and leadership development, team chemistry and focus, while using sports to clarify God’s larger purposes for our lives through the person and work of Jesus Christ (the gospel).

Team Studies
Athletics oriented Bible studies designed to unpack the meaning of the gospel in the context of sports so that athletes can learn to follow the example of Christ, while shaping their lives around the person and work of Christ.

The chaplain requirements are the necessary paperwork that FCA requires of all its chaplains to ensure that chaplains are in agreement with FCA's vision, mission, values, policies and procedures.  The requirements also allow FCA staff to establish an agreement for the program.

1. Fill out a Ministry Leader Application.

    The MLA includes: Background check, Statement of Faith Agreement, Testimony, and Sexual Purity agreement.

2. Interview with FCA staff.

    Upon submission of the Ministry Leader Application, FCA staff will contact you for a phone interview to finalize the program or to address any potential red flags in your application.

The Chaplain Program Essentials are the components that every chaplain must have without exception.

1. The Gospel
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the only forgiveness of sin, the only rescue from hell, the only means to eternal life and the only power to live to the glory of God in obedience to Jesus as Lord.  Every chaplains life, and program, without exception, must be shaped by this truth.

A distinction must be made between those who do, and those who don’t know Jesus. A chaplain must be willing to call Christians to a life of leading others to faith in Jesus Christ. A chaplain must also be willing to call non-Christians to repent of sin, believe on the person and work of Jesus Christ and to follow him as Lord in all things.

The gospel must be in every chapel, devotional and team study and the goal of every relationship must be to lead others to a life of obedience to Jesus and his gospel for God’s glory.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21; 1 Corinthians 9:16; John 3:36

2. Be in Jesus
You can’t give what you don’t have.
John 15, John 8:31-32

Read the Bible, Pray, meditate and reflect.

3. Preach the gospel to yourself daily!
The gospel must shape your life if you expect it to shape the lives of others.

4. Pray and Obey
Prayer causes things to happen that wouldn't happen if you didn't pray.

5. Live a lifestyle of worship and mission.
Worship: To glorify God by enjoying him through Jesus Christ.
Mission: To glorify God by leading others to faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ through actions, words and prayers.

Mission includes the components of evangelism and discipleship.
Evangelism: To glorify God by sharing the gospel with non-Christians in action and word, so that God might bring them to faith in, and obedience to Jesus Christ.
Discipleship: To glorify God by establishing relationships with the purpose of helping teammates learn to live in obedience to Jesus as Lord hrough faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
1 Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 2:12, Matthew 28:18-20

Starting a chaplain program can be difficult.  The following process is designed to make the challenge more manageable.

1. Seek the Lord

Pray and ask God's direction concerning your team.

2. Identify what your team needs.

Read through the Activities of a Chaplain to determine whether a chapel, devotional or team study will most benefit your team.

NOTE: The goal is to eventually have a chapel, devotional and team study going on your team at the same time.  When getting started, however, choose one and learn to do it well, then expand.

3. Read through Chaplain Training resources in section 8 of Chaplain Development page (necessary resources are linked below as well).

Make sure you understand the expectations of the following: Characteristics of a Chaplain and Responsibilities of a Chaplain

It would also be helpful for you to understand the outline for the appropriate activity you are starting for your team (ex. Devotional Outline, Chapel Outline, Team Study Outline)

Once you have completed this, begin to plan your program.

4. Find a Sponsor and Certify you Campus (if under 18 and in high school) OR fill out MLA (if in college)

If you are under 18,or in high school, find an adult to sponsor you huddle and have them fill out a Ministry Leader Application. Then, you must fill out a Student Leader Application and give it to your sponsor.

If you are in college, and over 18, fill out the Ministry Leader Application.  You will function as both leader and sponsor. 

Lastly, for staff support, resourcing and insurance purposes Certify your campus chaplains program.  Please be sure to mark huddle, chaplain program and team study.

Note: If you have already filled out an Ministry Leader Application before, you will not need to fill another one out for this. 

5. Contact FCA Staff for further training, resources and answers to any questions you may have.

- This is not a necessary step, but is available to you as needed-

    Trevor Nashleanas. NWMO FCA Staff.  tnashleanas@fca.org or 402.651.1952

6. Inform your coach/ Gather interest from teammates.

Let your coach know your plans so that he, or she, can help promote it.  Inform your teammates what you're doing and invite them to join in.

7. NIKE!!

    Get over your reservations and JUST DO IT!!

8. Utilize Available Resources

Check out all the resources available to you on this site by scrolling through the options below.

9. Pass it On

Identify other athletes on your team who meet the expectations of a chaplain and can help you accomplish the objectives of a chaplains program.

Below are two lists of resources for FCA chaplains.  The first list are resources pre-developed chapels, devotionals and content  and the second list are resources to help you in developing the activities of the program itself.

1. NWMO FCA Chapel Download Site

This site contains videos of NWMSU Bearcat football chapels that you can download and play for your team.

2. NWMO FCA Staff

Trevor Nashleanas - tnashleanas@fca.org

3. FCA Campus Tools

A comprehensive website designed to provide you with links to the best content, resources, training, programs and staff directories that FCA has to offer.

The following is a devotional from NWMSU Bearcat Football.  The video's intent is to give you an idea of what a devotional could look like.

The following video is a chapel from the NWMSU Bearcat Football team.  The video's intended purpose is to allow you to see what a chapel is like.

Sign-up for a chaplain training seminar here.

1. Introduction

2. Chaplain Program Objectives

3. Chaplain Expectations

4. Chaplain Roles

5. Chaplain Requirements

6. Chaplain Essentials

7. Starting a Chaplain Program

8. Chaplain Resources

9. Example Devotional

10. Example Chapel

The following links are particularly helpful in developing sound, biblical doctrine and theology for personal growth and chaplain development.

1. www.monergism.com

2. www.theresurgence.com