***NEWS RELEASE***

 

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Names Two New VPs of Field Ministry in Texas and Southwest Region

Kevin Mark Will Lead Growing Texas Area, While Drew Beard Takes the Helm for Three-State Southwest Region

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo—Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org) is announcing two new Vice Presidents of Field Ministry in growing regions for the international sports ministry.

Effective today, Sept. 1, Kevin Mark will serve the state of Texas, which is becoming a new FCA ministry region.

“Kevin has served with FCA for 10 years in the state of Colorado, beginning his journey as an area representative in Fort Collins,” said Bob Wiedemann, FCA executive director of U.S. field ministry. “In 2013, Kevin took on the role of Colorado state director, and the Lord has used Kevin in an extraordinary way to grow the FCA ministry through the development of key staff leaders, leadership boards and financial resources. Kevin’s humble spirit and giftedness to inspire, equip and empower others to fulfill their God-given purpose and potential makes him a leader whom people love to follow, and it’s a blessing to our ministry to have him serve in this new role.”

Mark served FCA Colorado for 11 years, first as an intern and most recently as a state director. He played football at Colorado State University for 4½ years, graduated with honors athletically and academically in 2005, and also served as a lay pastor at Mountain View Community Church. He and his wife, Karlie, and their three young daughters relocated to Texas this summer.

“All believers are called to make disciples,” Mark said. “Therefore, each of us should be asking, ‘How do I make my life count?’ It was clear that the Lord has led us to Texas to be a part of an already incredible team of people to grow the work of disciples making disciples for the glory of God. Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts and facilitates Kingdom results. My job as the leader is to partner in a servant-hearted manner, reflective in the example of Jesus Christ.”

Also effective Sept. 1, FCA has named Drew Beard the Vice President of Field Ministry for the new Southwest Region, which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

“Drew was first influenced by the ministry of FCA as an 11-year-old boy through a Huddle coach at his school,” Wiedemann said of Beard. “Drew served as a Huddle leader as a high school and college athlete, and, upon graduation, continued serving FCA as a Huddle coach on the school campus where he was a teacher and football coach. After serving our country in Iraq, Drew immediately came on staff with FCA as an area director in Oklahoma. Drew is an incredible leader, and FCA is blessed to have him serve in this new role.”

Beard is a native of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, and graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, where he played quarterback for four years for the Savages. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and Oklahoma National Guard, completing a tour of duty in Iraq. He and his wife, Chelsi, who also has a background as a teacher and coach, have a son and a daughter.

“We look forward to serving the Southwest Region,” Beard said. “We believe God has positioned our family to lead this region in the growth of our team members, their families and their ministry efforts. This opportunity gives us a continued belief that what God has done in us, He will continue to do through us. FCA staff are hardworking, flexible, giving people. Often, we find ourselves exhausted and stretched thin. We believe ministry is to be done out of the overflow of our individual and family relationships with Christ. We can’t wait to serve alongside the team that God has positioned to minister to the coaches and athletes of the Southwest Region.”

FCA was previously organized into 12 regions throughout the U.S. With Marks’ appointment, however, the state of Texas will become its own region, and 13 regions now make up FCA’s nationwide impact.

For more information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit FCA’s web site at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcafans or its Twitter feed @fcanews. Read more about FCA here.

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