An Invitation can Change Everything
A Story of Transformation
Lucien, a collegiate wrestler at Linfield University, had little to no personal relationship with Jesus Christ just over 10 months ago. He began the 2023 wrestling season with the idea that it would be “his year,” but that quickly changed when he experienced a full tear in his right shoulder labrum. This meant that Lucien would have to sit out during the contact part of practices and would not be able to compete. As he waited to see if surgery was an option, Lucien did the workouts he could to stay as strong as possible. However, with the vision he had for his year fading, he began to feel hopeless.
Throughout the year on Wednesdays, I was able to
host Bible studies with a few of Lucien’s teammates before practice. Lucien shared, “I had been asked to join multiple times, but instead of showing up, I would make up excuses on why I couldn’t come. In all honesty, I was scared to take that leap of faith.” A few weeks later, Lucien went to turn in his medical redshirt papers, but no one was in the office, so he decided to go to practice early. On his way to the wrestling room, I saw him and invited Lucien to join our Bible study. This was a moment that marked Lucien’s life and would begin to change everything.
Just a short while after Lucien’s first bible study, I saw the hunger that Lucien had for the Word of God and gave him an FCA Wrestling Bible. Lucien said, “This Bible...serves as a roadmap for my life, teaching me to meditate on and reflect upon the Word through the devotionals in the back...”
What started as something that others may see as a tragedy; Lucien’s season-ending injury became the time when God completely transformed his life. He began regularly attending church, opening his Bible daily and engaging God in prayer. In August of 2024, Lucien made the decision to publicly declare his relationship with Christ through baptism and I had the incredible opportunity to be the one who baptized him.
In less than one year, God is using Lucien to share his testimony with others and he is living on mission, on the mat – all because countless donors have said “yes” to the endless power of discipleship. Your gift multiplies through the investment of FCA Wrestling, creating opportunities for staff to make disciples who make disciples in their communities. Where coaches and athletes are, that’s where FCA Wrestling wants to be - engaging relationally, equipping spiritually, and sending out empowered disciples, like Lucien, to the world. Thank you for investing in disciples making disciples across Greater Portland and beyond.
Follow us on social!
Contact Info
7405 SW Tech Center Dr. Suite 140 Portland, OR 97223 USA