8 years ago, in 2015, I was working full-time for WSB Radio in Atlanta– a large news talk station– and part-time for FCA. At this point, I had been on staff for 4 years and I wasn’t confident of my future in either career.
One of my best FCA friends, who had been my huddle leader coordinator countless times in college, asked if I would do one of my favorite things and be the huddle leader coordinator for St. Simons leadership camp in Georgia that summer. It required me to take a week of PTO, but I knew it was worth it, since I was serving along side one of my college FCA partners in crime.
St. Simons will always have a piece of my heart, but that’s another story.
I did what I always did, and vetted all of the applicants, which included quite a few from Alabama since Northern Alabama FCA started a large summer internship for college students. One of those interns was Madison Wood. I expect camp to change me in small ways, but I didn’t know how much that summer would stay in my heart or how often I would think on those amazing women that served.
We got to camp and it began as usual. Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary– just in awe of the amazing group we got to invest in that year.
As tradition, we go around and share testimonies with each other so the girls can not only get to know each other, but have some resources if a girl in their huddle has an issue they have never dealt with. There’s always profound moments during this time– but I wasn’t prepared for Madison to talk.
She shared her story– a very typical southern, Christian testimony– but at the end something happened. She revealed that she had just found out a few weeks earlier that she had cancer.
Cancer. 19-years-old with brand new devesting news, and she was at camp serving high school students. Her strength is always something I remember when I’m going through hard times in my life. If Madison could go and serve Jesus through her darkest moments, I can do it too.
Madison fought hard– so much so that her hashtag for recovery was #fightlikeMad– but went home to Jesus 6 years ago today– in 2017.
As I reflect on Madison, and another student of mine that passed away in a fatal car accident, I am reminded of why I am called to be on staff with FCA.
It’s not just about me touching the lives of those that I serve–it’s also about how they touch me. I grow everyday as a leader, and as a shepherd & minister, because of the women & men around me that I help to serve & lead.
I’m not in Vegas so that I can change it– I’m here so it can change me.
So much of the ministry that has been done in the last year and a half, since the end of the pandemic, has happened because the Lord is pruning and shaping me. He’s burning off past hurts & past pains. Past criticism that has been following me for decades. Showing me that my journey these last 12 years with FCA have purpose & meaning.
It’s been far from easy, and the struggles Derek & I have had to face– including cancer battle with his mom & moving away from the familiar without knowing there would be a worldwide pandemic– have taken it’s toll, but I know that there is a plan underneath it all.
One of my favorite sayings is “God didn’t bring you this far to leave you here” and I believe that is in full effect right now with myself and my staff. Ministry is thriving, but the journey for us is hard. We have to choose to know we are called everyday even if we don’t feel like it. We have to strive to display the values we believe in so deeply, when they feel like they aren’t coming to us.
Lord willing I’ll be with FCA another 12 years, but I know one thing, when it comes to serving in the middle of a storm I won’t hesitate to fight like Mad.
Lauren Roback 