August 2022 Update
FSI Michigan Summer 2022 Update
It has been a jam-packed summer. Alissa and I had a chance early in the summer to have some time to recharge, slow down and spend time together with family. As our older boys were busy working, we spent a lot of time with Josiah, walking, swimming, going to the beach, and taking him to his many activities (karate, sports camp, horse camp, and horseback riding to name a few). It is hard to believe that we are in our fifth year of ministry here in Grand Rapids. Also, this summer Alissa and I celebrated our 27th year of marriage. As we have reflected together, we are reminded of the many highs and challenging lows that we have experienced, all with opportunities to see God in the midst of it. In June, Alissa approached me with the desire to start a marriage community group. We reached out to six married couples we felt God had laid on our hearts to gather together. While this is not a “sports ministry,” it is at the very heartbeat of where we feel God is leading us. To pour into, walk with, and learn from these couples! We are off to a great start! Please pray for us as we strive to work in this together, that we will not only pour into others, but it will strengthen our relationship as well!
In July, our college ministry began to pick up. We also had the opportunity to host many friends and family leading up to the end of the month, which was tremendous. Much of our ministry experiences are shared below, with the highlight being ten days out west in Yellowstone country, followed by seven days in Guatemala. I led a team of athletes, coaches, and administrators from Cornerstone out west on a trip we call our “Yellowstone Vision Trip”. Alissa joined halfway through, and then as the team went home, we stayed with our ministry partners and mentors, Jim and Jenny King, for some downtime, great fellowship, and fun! After two days at home, I was off again, this time with CU women's basketball to Guatemala in partnership with our friends Doug and Holly Harrold at Hands of Grace. I couldn’t have scripted a better week! You can read all about this trip and find the pictures below. One of our dreams five years ago was to connect young future ministry leaders with the ministries like Hands of Grace, Damou Mission in Haiti, and Mack Ave in Detroit. This summer has been an excellent opportunity to get back at it post-covid.
With each team trip we focus on these core values in our teachings and experience: Apprenticeship to Jesus, Authentic Community, Clear Communication, Influencing Culture, Thriving in the tension of Limits and Potential, and Engaging Missionally. We believe these are relevant topics that resonate with the students and student-athletes we work with. We also feel these are the pillars of being a leader in the church both now and tomorrow!
As a new semester arrives, ministry on campus looks as busy and promising as ever. There are more opportunities with coaches and athletes. Opportunities for vision and ministry trips locally, in Detroit, and abroad are increasing! Working with these young adults to raise a new generation of church leaders living these core values is what we are pursuing!
None of this is possible without your help! To those of you who have supported us financially, we are so grateful and pray you can see the fruits of what you have shared! As we grow and our ministry expands, the needs continue to grow! We would like to both challenge and encourage you to continue your partnership with us and consider sharing our vision with others who may want to join. Should you have questions, feel free to reach out! Blessings to all of you in the coming school year!
Shalom,
Matt and Alissa
Yellowstone Discipleship/Vision Trip 2022
Our second Yellowstone Vision trip with Cornerstone University Athletics was a great success. While exploring the mountains of Wyoming and Montana, hiking, white water rafting, and Yellowstone National Park, we discussed how leadership must start with our pursuit of apprenticeship to Jesus. We also covered our core FSI ministry values of building an authentic community of leaders, effective communication, what true servant leadership is, how to be Godly influencers within the culture, and working within the tension of both potential and limitations. There is something about getting away from the hurry, from constant notifications and calendars. Out west, we were able to slow done a bit, build in time for silence and solitude, and go into the community to discuss how this community of leaders can pursue the practices of Jesus and make an impact! We are very grateful to all of you who helped make this trip happen. Jim, Alec and I are discussing ways to generate opportunities for other groups to embark on this experience in the future!
CU Athletics Article Recap: Click Here Video Slideshow: Click Here
Alec Papale - Student Assistant/Ministry Coordinator. I am excited to share that Alec will be back in a big role this year with our ministry at Cornerstone. He is a senior at CU and will work with students alongside Matt. Alec helped lead the “Yellowstone Vision Trip” and has been a tremendous asset in bookkeeping! More information will be coming about and from Alec soon!
CU Women’s Basketball Team Vision Trip to Hands of Grace in Antigua Guatemala
August 8-15, Matt led the CU Women’s Basketball team to Guatemala to work with Hands of Grace Ministry. During this trip, the team discussed the topics of apprenticeship to Jesus, community, culture, leadership, dealing with the tension of potential and limitations, and service. These discussions came to life each day as we watched and worked alongside the Harrold family and their ministry to the indigenous people in the village of El Sitio. While we dove into deep discussions of discipleship and faith within our topics, FSI always desires to connect our teams towards long-term partnerships with ministries such as Hands of Grace. Below are quotes from CU Women’s basketball team members who were on the trip alongside this gallery of pictures from the trip.
“There are times when the veil between heaven and earth gets thin, and we got to experience one of those moments when we prayed with the women of El Sitio to end our time serving in their village. We made a circle around the women and began praying in English. While we were praying, the women began praying in Spanish at the same time. We experienced Psalm 141:2 and felt our prayers and the prayers of the women of El Sitio being lifted to heaven like incense.” Head Coach Jessica Yonkers
“The most impactful thing on the trip was being able to go on home visits and see what their day-to-day lives look like. As Americans, it is easy to think we know how hard it is for them. But when you're under a tin roof and inside mud walls, your perspective really does change.” Mackenzie Stein
“Being in Guatemala this week really opened my eyes to how big our God is. In the village we were working in for three days during the week, the love of Jesus was evidently shown through the kids and moms we were able to be with. It was so crazy to me because a lot of these people have nothing yet have everything in Jesus. They have so much pride, joy, and love in everything they do, and I was able to see the love of Christ so clearly. On the last day, we were with the moms and kids, some of us were able to share with them the impact they had on us, and they did the same. That moment was a glimpse of heaven for me. Even though we didn’t speak the same language, we were all connected because we are brothers and sisters in Christ. It reminded me of Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could remember, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands”. God’s love for us is so vast and so deep. He truly knows every single detail about our lives, and I am so thankful to be His forever.” Olivia Kubik
Read more about the trip from the perspective of CU Athletics: CLICK HERE.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
July 18 - FSI hosted a Summer Coaches Talk - Matt and FSI board member Gary Ross facilitated a discussion between Cornerstone and Taylor University intercollegiate athletic coaches entitled, “Defining Success, Winning and Discipleship with Today’s College Athlete”. Over 15 coaches participated in a robust discussion via zoom for an hour and a half. We look to continuing these talks again in the fall!
On June 22, FSI Hosted the West Michigan Sports Ministry Alliance Luncheon at Cornerstone University. Leaders from FCA, Athletes In Action, Power Up Sports, Our Daily Bread, and numerous sports Chaplains from professional teams were on hand to join together for devotions, prayer, and a time of encouragement.
Heart Path - Last Semester, we launched our subscribable devotional, Heart Path. Each week over 75 people chose to engage with us in our devotional. We will be sending this out again this Fall semester after Labor Day! To subscribe and learn more, click the purple button below.
Upcoming Events this Fall
Thursday 8/25 - CU Women’s Soccer Dinner and Prayer over the Season at the Wallace’s
Sunday, Sept 4 - Matt Preaching at Relevant Church GR
Planning for Dec. 14-21 CU Women’s Soccer Vision Trip to either Honduras or Guatemala
Fall retreat/trip to Detroit - MACK AVE COMMUNITY CHURCH and sports camp - October
HeartPath weekly study kicks off after Labor Day - Building the habits of Jesus!
Matt and Alissa are leading a bi-weekly marriage re-engage group.
On-campus organic ministry with coaches and student-athletes constantly happens with Matt and Alec throughout the semester.
Fall FSI Leaderboard Retreat in Grand Rapids is being scheduled for mid-October
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We could NOT do the ministry we do without your financial and prayer support. To donate, click the purple button and share our info with others who might like to partner with us in sharing the Hope, Hands, and Heart of Jesus through sports.
Between Elijah Wallace’s photo and video skills, as well as Gabe Wallace’s video production, we have been able to capture our mission through photos and videos. Check out some of their work to learn more about FSI…
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Sharing the Hope, Hands, and Heart of Jesus through sports.
Building Apprentices of Jesus who: Create Community ~ Communicate Clearly~ Influence Culture ~ Become Servant Leaders ~ Thrive in the tension of Potential and Limitations and Engage Missionally.