{"id":39398,"date":"2018-08-30T16:12:46","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T20:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=39398"},"modified":"2018-09-04T08:32:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-04T12:32:07","slug":"uniting-faith-and-athletics-senior-brittany-viands-spends-her-summer-with-fellowship-of-christian-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2018\/uniting-faith-and-athletics-senior-brittany-viands-spends-her-summer-with-fellowship-of-christian-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Uniting faith and athletics: Senior Brittany Viands spends her summer with Fellowship of Christian Athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brittany Viands<\/strong>\u2019 plan for this summer definitely did not include traveling to summer camps working with Fellowship of Christian Athletes<\/a> (FCA). Nor did her future.<\/p>\n

A social work major<\/a> with a psychology minor at Eastern Mennonite University, she thought her plans after graduation in May 2019 were sealed: to go where she thought she was needed most. Viands wanted to work with mentally ill, hospitalized children.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Brittany Viands leads a group of Harrisonburg Power Campers to the softball field in summer 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not so sure now,\u201d she said, during a mid-summer interview at the Valley FCA headquarters in downtown Harrisonburg. \u201cI thought I had a plan, but that\u2019s all kind of shifted now.\u201d<\/p>\n

June to August has been a whirlwind of trainings and camp sessions, spending time with middle and high school athletes in varying stages of spiritual need.<\/p>\n

It was a role Viands needed some convincing that she could fill, though for the past several seasons, she\u2019s been one of the spiritual leaders of the Royals softball team<\/a>, as well as a leader within the university\u2019s FCA chapter.<\/p>\n

The 60-year-old organization equips coaches and athletes \u201cto know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same,\u201d according to their website. It\u2019s active at all levels of sport, from youth teams through to professional athletes. The July\/August FCA magazine<\/a> features articles about Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, Olympic thrower Michelle Carter, a university coach and collegiate athlete, and updates from chapters around the world.<\/p>\n

A spiritual leader on campus<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Viands belonged to an FCA chapter as a dual-sport athlete at Hedgesville High School in West Virginia. Arriving at EMU \u201cnot knowing a soul,\u201d she eased into the collegiate FCA chapter during the second semester of freshman year, aided by then-chapter-leader Jolee Paden<\/strong>, \u201cwho pulled me out of my shell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mentoring youth wasn’t on Brittany Viands’ radar until her mentor Marsha Justice suggested she think about working at FCA summer camps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The fellowship and camaraderie on the Royals softball team also encouraged her growth as an athlete and leader. \u201cBrittany has contributed so much to the team through her spiritual leadership of devotional activities,\u201d said head coach J.D. McCurdy<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cShe\u2019s worked hard to improve her skills and never gives up on her game \u2013 a true inspiration to our team in so many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through these transitions and challenges, FCA fellowship has provided a unique opportunity to explore identity, choices and faith, Viands said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to talk with others about real-life things that happen when you\u2019re an athlete and a Christian and a college student,\u201d Viands said. \u201cI think at times there\u2019s situations that occur and choices you have to make about how to act in a Christian manner on and off the field, and it helps all of us to have a place where we can grow spiritually stronger and work out some of those challenges with the help of prayer and fellowship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marsha Justice<\/strong>, Viands\u2019 longtime FCA mentor, had long sensed her appreciation of the organization\u2019s mission and values. That, paired with Viands\u2019 offhand comment over lunch in the spring that she just wanted to \u201cspend time with kids and be outside,\u201d caused Justice to suggest a summer internship.<\/p>\n

Prayer opens the door<\/strong><\/h3>\n