TO: FOLKS LIKE YOU WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE ALABAMA FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS, SUPPORT AND CONCERN…A REPORT OF RECENT BLESSINGS THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU. READ AND BE ENCOURAGED AS I HAVE BEEN.

FROM: WAYNE ATCHESON, FCA ADVISOR

FROM ONE BUS TO FIVE BUSES…Each bowl has a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast and both teams are always invited. Through the years, our head coaches have made it voluntary. However, Coach Franchione has always made it a team function as a bowl coach. So on Monday, December 24 at 7:00 a.m., five buses pulled out of our hotel heading toward the Downtown Convention Center for the breakfast. In the past, we could all get on one bus.

As I sat on the fifth bus and watched those buses pulling out for the trip, my heart was overwhelmed. It was one of the greatest blessings I’ve had in 17 years as advisor. Each coach called his position players at 6:30 for the wakeup call. Even their wives attended as did most of the staff members who were on the trip.

For the first time in 25 years, the Independence Bowl FCA Breakfast had both teams to attend on the same year. The program was most Christ-centered throughout. Coach Fran spoke first for us and said, “If there was ever a time when the message of FCA needs to reach young people, it is today.” After other remarks, he introduced Coach Mark Tommerdahl, tight ends/specialty teams coach, who is the staff spiritual liaison. Mark spoke for five minutes and was awesome in his remarks. He is a very polished speaker who always lifts the name of Christ. Then, a local TV personality interviewed seniors tight end Patrick Tate, quarterbacks Jonathan Richey and Andrew Zow. He asked them pointed questions about their faith and what they would say to young people in the audience on why they should be Christians as well.

The same format was used for Iowa State and our group was blessed by their witnesses. Pat Tilley, former St. Louis Cardinals all-pro receiver from Shreveport, wrapped things up and led in the prayer of salvation. Some 1000 people attended. It was a fast moving program with brief witnesses that kept everyone’s attention and certainly had to touch their hearts. For me, it was quite a blessing to see the entire football team and coaching staff attending an FCA function. It all happened because Coach Fran made it a team function. He took 120 players and one added blessing occurred after the game. All but maybe ten players gathered at the center of the field for the post-game prayer.

ADDED POST-SCRIPT TO THE BOWL: Last August, Coach Fran took the football team bowling during two-a-days. They had a blast. During the bowl preparation, a player said to Coach Fran, “Coach, can we go bowling again?” So two nights before they broke for home before reporting in Shreveport, the team and coaches only went bowling at 9:45 p.m. “They turned down the lights and turned up the music and the boys had a ball,” Coach Fran said. The Sunday before the FCA Breakfast, Coach also had a Chapel worship service for the players. Then Chapel was held again the night before the game as usual. Coach Fran means what he says about building the “Team Concept.”

MAJOR APPLEWHITE…ALABAMA AND JAY BARKER CONNECTION…As most of you know, Texas senior quarterback Major Applewhite grew up an Alabama fan and was named after Major Ogilvie. His dad, Larry, was former president of the Alabama Alumni Association. Major wanted to come to Alabama but was not on our list. So after a fine high school career in Baton Rouge, he chose Texas. As a sophomore, he was Big 12 Player of the Year. Then Mack Brown transferred in Chris Simms from Tennessee and made him the quarterback the past two seasons. He got hurt in the Colorado game after throwing three interceptions and costing 24 points. Major came in, threw a 79-yard TD pass on his second play and almost pulled the game out.

His role model has always been Jay Barker. He was in the eighth grade when he saw Jay’s 29-28 come from behind victory over Georgia in 1994 on ESPN. After the game, Jay quoted I Peter 5:6…”If you just humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will lift you up in due time.” Jay went on to say that God had lifted him that night in spite of so much criticism, etc. That all led to me writing IN DUE TIME a book about Jay that Major read over and over.

After his great play against Colorado, they gave Major the start against Washington in the Holiday Bowl. He was behind 36-20 as the defense gave up so much. In the last minute, Major pulled out the victory, 47-43. Then here’s the best part. As the ESPN announcer interviewed Major after the game, Major responded, “My role model hero is Jay Barker who once had a great come from behind victory at Alabama, and quoted I Peter 5:6…’If you just humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, he will lift you up in due time.” Then Major went say that God had lifted him up tonight and went on to praise his teammates and talk about the game. He was saying all of this from San Diego, California. I came up out of my seat when I heard that and really to no surprise. What presence of mine to use his great opportunity over ESPN live.

During Major’s Texas tenure, his dad has kept his TIDE PRIDE seats and told me he plans to get back to Alabama games now. Major, who is another Jay Barker type kid, will finish his one course at Texas this spring, do an internship with FCA, and see what the NFL holds for him. He desires to be a college football coach and greatly desires to be a graduate assistant right here at Alabama. I have had many talks with his dad Larry over the past year and Coach Fran and Coach Charley North are most interested in having Major when he has a clearer picture of his future months ahead.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with Larry and his wife in tracking down Major. Talking to Major’s mother is like talking to Jay Barker’s mother, highly spiritual and always wants her son to be in God’s will, plus admires his patience to wait for God to lift him up. Major is just like our players of course. I helped hook him up with Jay Barker who interviewed Major that day on his Birmingham sports talk show. Jay got Major Ogilvie on at the same time and Jay says it was his best interview yet. In fact, they got so many calls, they replayed it the next day. What a joy it would be to have Major here. We could use his influence among our players and program. Besides, his favorite restaurant is Dreamland. If it’s meant to be, God will get him here.

“I WASN’T AN FCAer AT ALABAMA…BUT I AM SURRENDERING TO THE MINISTRY”…On January 8, I received an e-mail that started out like this: “Don’t know if you’ll recall me…Tray Pruet. I was on scholarship there in 85-86 for football under Perkins. I was from Texas. Anyway, what I wanted to get in touch with you about is your book, FAITH OF THE CRIMSON TIDE. WOW! My old roommate Daryl Whitfield from Birmingham sent me your book to me for Christmas here in Texas. I am so impressed with Coach DuBose…though I wasn’t before I read your book. He was my position coach. I’d love to get in touch with him and share how I respect him and his new life in Christ.

“So you know, I wasn’t an FCAer at Alabama. I was running, searching, having too much fun. But soon after my first child was born, Jenny and I started attending a church here (Corpus Christi) regularly. Then a few years later, we yielded to his call on our lives and started teaching youths. About two years ago, I was ordained as a deacon and now I am surrendering to the ministry. What that entails for me now, I’m not quite sure. So please pray for me along those lines.”

Then he went on to indicate some possibilities at this time. I must say, when I read that e-mail, I had a “Hallelujah” right there. I keep saying to our FCA group that every athlete and every student here is searching and what they are looking for is what you have…a new life in Jesus Christ. No matter how wayward and much they may shun FCA, the church and ways of God, this is exactly what they need in their lives. Never give up on anyone. You never know how and when they may turn to Christ. The worst one out there may turn out to be the most powerful witness.

“MR. A…MR. A….I GOT SAVED SUNDAY AFTERNOON!”...One day this fall, I was walking from the weight room in the football building to the Coliseum when a voice hollered over to me, “Mr. A. Mr. A. I got saved Sunday afternoon.” I turned around and it was Kate, a white blond swimmer from Australia. Kate got a swimming scholarship to Alabama and had to give swimming up due to a shoulder injury. She came to FCA meetings, got into a Bible Study and started attending a local church with several friends. She had worked part-time for us in TIDE PRIDE, so I got to know her some and enjoyed her accent. She then got a student job in the weight room.

Anyway, she was so excited to tell me and so unashamedly. She was the most excited new convert I had experienced in a long time. “How did it come about?” I asked. “A lady at church sat down with me Sunday afternoon, explained everything to me and I got saved!” I was so taken by her excitement. So I rejoiced with her, encouraged her and told her I thrilled I was for her.

Later I got to thinking, here’s Kate who came to Alabama from Australia, across the world, to swim for Alabama and get a college degree. But she got something far greater…Jesus Christ as personal Savior, a home in Heaven and the assurance of eternal life with all the saints.

“I’VE STRAYED, BUT AFTER FCA WEDNESDAY NIGHT, I WENT TO MY ROOM AND GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES BEFORE GOD AND”…In late October, a freshman football player came by to see me on Monday afternoon. He was one of the first recruits to commit to Coach Fran. We had become acquainted. I knew his father from years past. Being a freshman, he had Study Hall requirements that kept him from attending FCA meetings. However, he got free and came the previous Wednesday night for the first time.

This is what he said to me sort of hesitating but still wanted to open up. “I wanted to come by and tell you that since I have been at Alabama, I have strayed somewhat from the way I was at home, my church and high school. I was so involved in the youth at our church and even FCA. At the FCA meeting last Wednesday, which was my first, the Lord just convicted me so much of the things I was doing. So I went back to my room and got down on my knees before God and told him I was sorry and that I wanted to get right again with him.

“I told God that I was determined to give up some things I had been nothing here. If it took giving up my girl friend, I will do that. I told God that I would quit running with guys on the party scene. The main thing is, I want to let God use me as an Alabama football player for His glory, to be a strong influence on young people for Christ and to be a role model and take advantage of this pedestal we have here.”

Inside I was having another “Hallelujah” and begin to tell him how I admired his courageous commitment, encouraged him and told him how God would use him in great ways as an Alabama football with his career all ahead of him. He was redshirted as were all freshmen except one.

This young man has become the most “on-fire” member of the team. Every time I see him, he has something to say about his walk with Christ. He will be one of our strongest leaders in FCA and he will play for the Crimson Tide as well. He also has a burden for other team members and his spirit and love of God is something to behold.

FCA HIGHLIGHTS THIS PAST SEMESTER…As always, we have great programs. John Croyle always comes early and is a real favorite. Our largest crowd of 230 came to hear Heather Payne, husband of former Tide walk-on Brian Payne and an FCA leader in the late 80’s. Heather is the lead singer in the Christian contemporary group, Point of Grace…24 No. 1 hits. Heather sang and Brian, a seminary student, spoke. The students loved it.

The athletes enjoyed hearing from Ben Pollard, our strength and conditioning coach who is a fine Christian man, who attends many of our meetings. Coach Mark Tommerdahl is a fine speaker. His wife Annette attends almost every meeting. Coach Rick Moody, women’s basketball coach, spoke. Jay Barker was a hit on the Auburn week. Jay loved being there even though it was strange for him not to know anyone, after being away just a few years. Our last meeting was a rally with other students at Calvary Baptist Church with evangelist David Nasser and Third Day leader, Mack Powell. This group won the top Dove Awards last year. David and Mack are huge Alabama fans. Our meetings have seen several indicate their professions of faith for which we are grateful. The college campus holds so many temptations and alternatives, but FCA and other Christian groups provide great places to fill spiritual needs. We also encourage church attendance.

When Brandon Miree transferred to Pittsburgh in September, Jonathan Richey took over and did a superb job of leading the meetings. Jonathan was a fine leader on the team also as holder of all the kicks and as third team quarterback. We have some fine young men coming up who have become regulars such as Wesley Britt and Evan Mathis, who started on the offensive line as redshirt freshmen. They are sound in their faith and will have an impact at Alabama for football and FCA. Tyler Harris, an injured defensive back from Knoxville, has provided good leadership as well.

We plan to have 10-12 of our athletes to attend the State FCA College Retreat at Shocco Springs Feb. 1-3. This will be a time of renewal and inspiration that we are looking forward to.

NEW YEAR’S DAY BLESSING…On January 1, I got up early before the big football day began and had an extended time in prayer with the Lord to thank him for the past year’s blessings and to ask his grace and blessing upon the New Year. I had a good Bible time and decided at 9 to turn on the TV to start the long day of watching parades and all the games, plus the food and black eyed peas.

The first thing that came on the screen was an interview on the Inspiration Channel of an evangelist and his wife that I had never heard of. His name was Dutch Sheets from Colorado Springs. I got interested real quick as he and his wife revealed what God, through His Holy Spirit, had revealed to him and her while he was preaching one day since the 9-11 attack. They both shared and this is some of what they shared as I grabbed a pen and paper real quick.

“The spirit of God was on me in such a strong way that I could hardly bear it physically. He said that there would be a sweeping of the Holy Spirit that would come through Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the Ivy League schools. It would spread throughout college campuses across America. It would be so strong that professors who defied the name of Christ could not even enter their classrooms where students had been put down for their stands for Christ. The power of God would capture students and University professors in such a powerful way that athletic events would be cancelled. There will be miracles to occur in the classrooms and this sweeping of revival would also enter the high schools and down to the elementary schools.

“God showed me that this revival spirit would sweep across America. He saw Texas on fire. It would go into Hollywood where most would think God could not shake, but he will among the top movie producers. God will also move among rich people in our nation and see their power and resources turned to Him.” There was more but this touched me the most.

It was such a powerful few minutes as I watched and rejoiced…Let it be so Lord! I tell our students who are just a few among 18,500 that they are keeping the fires burning. One day, FCA will not have enough space as well as other Christian groups on campus when the spirit of God sweeps through and students will realize that knowing Jesus Christ is everything and the only thing for their lives. Until then, we will keep our mission station open and available and being faithful in His service.

Thanks to each one of you who cares for our group through your prayers, support and interest. The bottom line, to reach students for Christ and to be a mission station for Christian students spiritual needs and encouragement during their all-important college years. May Jesus Christ be praised.