1992 Coach Reeves

Coach Reeves was the athletic coordinator for North Cobb High School back in the early nineties.  Like most lead or head coaches, some liked him and some didn't like him in the coaching arena.  His basketball team didn't really win and so people blamed him but really NCHS basketball teams aren't known to be world class anyway.  Coach Reeves and I met indirectly through a young wrestler and his family.  Coach was thinkng about restarting the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club at the school.  Restarting, I say, because the clubs had come and gone with waning interest over the years.  However, Coach was certain that it could succeed.

He, with a few other coaches helping part-time, began the process of organizing Christian youth and players.  Most who came to the first meeting were "groupies" of the coach or a few football players.  We got T-Shirts that first year - all the kids and the few sponsors.  Six years and six T-Shirts later I finally left the really successful club and moved out to let the new youth minister of our church in.  Coach left a year or so after that but the club went on.  We started in a small room with a handful of teens and the last time I taught it was to 1/3 of a gym.  But numbers don't matter so much - Coach and the leaders really inspired quality.

There are many big Christian clubs and then there are the ones that really change lives that are all sizes.  I found out why Coach started the club - he had had his own revival of heart at a local church.  He had found that prayer changed lives - his.  He just wanted to give back.  He did not have any teens.  He did not have the time.  He just knew that these kids could have a better life.  Even though few remember him and no plaques were put up for him, Coach was right about that and I and many others won't forget FCA or how we all grew up there.  Find a small place you can make a difference, believe that you and God can - then six T-Shirts later we might all be better.