It’s undeniably the best cost for high-level instruction anyone will find.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Day of Champions is entering its fifth year and the participation has grown from relatively light turnouts to an expected 300 boys and girls on Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
For $10, children 8-14 can sign up for up two sports - one in the morning and one in the afternoon, or one for the entire day - between football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and golf. Each activity has either a current collegiate coach or former collegiate athlete conducting his or her respective event.
“It’s something I felt like I was supposed to do,” said Jermstad, a former Temple quarterback who played football at Houston in the 1970s. “But I admit I was a reluctant servant for a while.”
Jermstad, like many other parents, had sent his children to various church-related and sports-related camps. But he looked around and didn’t see much of that offered locally or affordably for some.
“We sent our kids to a lot of nice camps, but they cost a fortune,” he said. “I just wondered how we can get some of these kids to go to a camp. There’s not a lot of Christian camps around here.”
A gentle nudging from Jeff Stegall, former youth pastor at First United Methodist Chuch of Temple, finally put idea into action.
“He said, ‘Mark, pick a date,’” Jermstad recalls.
From there the wheels were put in motion. Jermstad called Charlie Kimmey, executive director of Ralph Wilson Youth Clubs. Kimmey was immediately on board, providing a base of operation and transportation to other instruction venues.
“We’re lucky to have a camp like this,” Kimmey said. “We have great Christian coaches in this area who make it work. It’s easier to sit at home, but it’s a great community service and it’s fun to do.
“Now, I get four or five phone calls a day about it,” he added. “It’s neat to see.”
Jermstad and Kimmey had eager accomplices in former Heart of Texas FCA director Steve Ellison and current representative Seth Chambliss to make this part of FCA’s local outreach ministry.
“Part of the uniqueness of it is that it involves so many people to make it happen,” Chambliss said, adding that some 75 people volunteer their time. “Those folks desire to serve. It’s an obedience only God can explain.”
The first two years the event was set on the second Saturday in June. Less than 50 kids participated. But the decision to move it to Friday made a major difference.
“I fought that,” said Jermstad, who feared volunteer help would fall off on a weekday. “But it’s not about what I want to do. That change made a significant impact to the volume. Now, if there’s a demand (for a sport) we will find a coordinator for it. We’ll just tee it up and let God work.
“This is an amazing community.”
Capturing part of those already involved at RWYC enhanced it, but Kimmey said only about a third of the 225 involved last year were youth club kids.
Campers now come from as far away as Cedar Park, Gatesville and Rockdale. Flyers were sent to many churches in about a 60-mile radius and some youth pastors are making it a field trip through their churches.
Facilities at RWYC, Temple College, Temple High School and Sammons Golf Links are utilized.
Day of Champions incorporates a gospel message between and after sports instruction sessions. The First Methodist praise band will be on board again. Among the speakers is James Ellis, youth pastor at Foundation Methodist Church and a former football player at Maryland.
Instructors include former Temple and Baylor football player Gordon Marshall, former major league pitcher and current TC coach Craig McMurtry with ex-Texas player Jerry Jones for baseball, TC softball coach Larry Hennig, TC men’s basketball coach Kirby Johnson, former Mississippi volleyball player Sue Weaver, and Temple girls soccer coach and former UMHB player Oscar Bersoza.
Golf will be headed by outgoing and incoming UMHB coaches Randy Mann and Aaron Rodeffer, respectively. Golf is the only sport that caps its participation to the first 20 to sign up.
All campers will receive a T-shirt, a Bible and breakfast and lunch.
Organizers are open to adding more sports, such as tennis or track and field, if the interest and availability warrants it.
The camp allows budding athletes to pick up added instruction in sports they are already involved in, but it also gives kids a chance to try a sport they haven’t considered or had an opportunity to participate in for very little cost.
“People talk about it year-round,” Chambliss said. “People come up to me and say, ‘My kid or my grandkid sure enjoyed it.’ I’ll see kids in the T-shirts and it puts a smile on my face. I know they’ve heard the gospel.”
twaits@temple-telegram.com
