Hiller, DeNooyer keep their faith through FCA

By Eric Woodyard
Western Herald

(Robert Youngs/Western Herald ) Junior quarterback Tim Hiller, along with Michelle DeNooyer, is a founding member of WMU’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Throughout the season, it may seem as though the athletes of Western Michigan University are entirely too busy to keep their faith in their religion.

Thanks to WMU athletes Tim Hiller (football) and Michelle DeNooyer (women’s basketball), there has been a place on campus since last year for the athletes to actively embrace their faith in God. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is not a new program. In fact, it has been around since 1954 and is the largest Christian sports organization in America. However, it was just started on campus last fall.

“It was something that I was involved with at home pretty heavily and I got here and we didn’t really have it,” Hiller said. “We had a team Bible study but it wasn’t the same and we wanted something for all sports. So I learned how to start a group from the connections I had formed in the FCA camp at Albion College, and me and Michelle put it together.”

FCA gives them a place to come, when their schedule permits, to get them motivated, focused and ready to compete in their respected sports.

“We talk about the basics of Christianity and what it takes to be a Christian and how we can live out our faith within the world of athletics,” Hiller said. “We also try to apply biblical context to our sport and we do praise and worship where we have some guest speakers come in.”

(Nicole Watkins/Western Herald) Bronco forward Michelle DeNooyer elbows past Cati Keating from Central Connecticut State University last season.

FCA meets every Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the Read Fieldhouse for approximately one hour. Some of the guest speakers have been former NFL tight end Mitch Lyons, WMU baseball coach Randy Ford and several local pastors. WMU women’s basketball assistant coach Phil Sayers is also expected to speak in the coming weeks.

“It’s been a tremendous encouragement in my faith to see others grow in their faith,” Hiller said. “I get as much joy out of my personal relationship with Christ as I do helping others to seek that joy and peace that I have knowing he’s my savior.”

Not only has the group been great for WMU’s athletes, but it has also been great for Hiller and DeNooyer’s relationship. The two have been dating for a year and a half with their faith in God serving as the backbone of their relationship. They met in class and then went to bible study together. Everything has just seemed to blossom since then.

“We are very encouraging and supportive of one another, and we pray (and) read the bible every night together because we are aware that our athletic abilities were given by God,” DeNooyer said. “We also realize that as athletes, whether right or wrong, people are going to listen to us because we are put on a platform so we try to emphasize to others the importance of God and to believe in the gospel.”

As it continues to grow, FCA has been pretty successful amongst Bronco athletes. There is usually an average of 35 to 40 students who regularly attend the meetings and are generally affected in a positive way afterwards.

“It all helps out because in college there are a lot of different things that are thrown at you that could distract you and throw you off of your faith walk,” FCA group leader and football running back Jaron DeShazor said. “I just try to remember to talk to my fellow members of FCA and we all remember to help each other so no one person can fall down and it has helped me a lot on the field to not get discouraged.”

Although the group was designed for athletes, FCA doesn’t discriminate against anyone who wants to improve their faith. FCA currently represents a majority of the sports on campus and it is looking to expand and represent all of the sports, as well as interested students.

“We try to influence everyone we come in contact with and how they can use faith to get focused,” DeNooyer said. “We are focused on WMU athletes because we are able to listen to athletes (since) we are in the same boat as them. But regular students and coaches can come to meetings as well.”

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Posted by HeraldAdmin on Sep 30 2008. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com