When an Athlete Brings the Gospel Home

When Marketing Becomes Ministry | Growing God’s Kingdom Through Communication

What happens when a young athlete brings the gospel home?

Ben Schmidt of Northeast Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes shares how God is using coaches, athletes, Bible studies, camps, and sports programs to reach entire families with the message of Jesus Christ.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is about much more than what happens on the field.

In this special Partners in Ministry interview, host Dan Smith sits down with Ben Schmidt, Area Director for Northeast Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes, to discuss how FCA is using sports to share the gospel, build relationships, and make disciples who make disciples.

Ben explains FCA’s E3 ministry approach:

• Engage people with the gospel

• Equip them through Scripture

• Empower them to make disciples

You will also hear powerful stories of young athletes taking what they have learned home, sharing Scripture with their parents, and opening doors for entire families to learn more about Jesus.

Ben discusses his personal journey to faith, the Christian men who discipled him, his work with coaches and athletes across Northeast Iowa, and the ministry’s desire to reach more schools, campuses, communities, and families.

Please join us in praying for:

• People to know and follow Jesus

• Continued access to schools and campuses

• Wisdom and integrity for FCA’s leadership

• New staff members in unreached areas

• Coaches and athletes to become faithful disciples of Christ

Send Ben and the Northeast Iowa FCA team a word of encouragement, and pray that God continues to use this ministry to transform lives through the influence of coaches and athletes.

Subscribe to Partners in Ministry for more conversations with Christian leaders and nonprofit ministries serving their communities and sharing the gospel.

Until next time, let’s get out there and serve as Christ serves.

Recorded on July 21, 2026. Originally published on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Northeast Iowa FCA

— Learn More at: https://northeastiowafca.org

— Make a Donation: https://bit.ly/JWQF_NEIA-FCA

— Contact Ben:

— — by Email: mailto:bschmidt@fca.org

— — by Phone: (319) 721-3038

— Social Media:

— — Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neiowafca

— Resources:

— — Huddle Leader Resources: ⁠https://northeastiowafca.org/huddle-leader-resources⁠