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(L-R) Bob Moeck, owner NextStar Communications, Inc., Atlanta Braves’ Jeff Francoeur and Sara Moeck.
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By Auveed Bagheri-Cawthon
SNELLVILLE - Few organizations today inspire impact, shape lives and facilitate important and lasting relationships like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Many are introduced to FCA through high school athletic programs and continue their involvement in supporting the program.
Bob Moeck, owner of NextStar Communications, Inc., credits God, athletics and FCA as being a major part of his life and success.
Growing up in abusive environment in Odessa, Texas, ¬the “King of High School Friday Night Football”, Bob Moeck was very angry and confused.
“I was able to vent a great deal of energy and anger to the field but it was off the field that FCA started ministering to me. Helping me understand what life was all about. You see, football was my God. But I found out that football could not feel that emptiness, loneliness and brokenness. Only God could to that,” says Moeck. “When I was at Texas Tech in track, the FCA there took me under their wings. I was far from perfect. I was dealing with a great deal of personal and social challenges. However, there were awesome role models and teammates that helped me stay focused. (They) taught me how to run the race of life that is talked about in First Corinthians 9; 24-27,” explains Moeck.
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Michael Moeck and Jeff Francoeur
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“Today I own my own business, NextStar Communications. I have been very blessed over the years to have a great staff of managers and employees. I also am very thankful to all of our customers. We at NextStar have built our business values on putting God number one, to grow our leadership and have a servant heart,” says Moeck.
“I am truly blessed to be part of such great programs”, says Bob, who has been a lay coach at Brookwood High School for 13 years, a member of Gwinnett FCA Board and also on The UGA FCA Board.
With humility and humor, Atlanta Brave outfielder and former Parkview Panther Jeff Francoeur delivered a message of faith, strength, and courage to over 600 student- athletes, business leaders and supporters from all over Gwinnett who attended a recent FCA banquet earlier this year. “Seeing your name on the scoreboard, seeing people wear your jersey is great; but you have to remember that God has allowed that to happen. You bring glory to God by doing well in whatever you do”, says Francoeur.
Adding to power of faith and prayer, WSB weatherman David Chandley, who emceed the FCA banquet, shared an impact that Francoeur made on his life. “By saying a prayer in a public restaurant before our meal after the game (Chandley made a trip to see Jeff play in the minors before he was promoted to the big leagues) made me more aware of giving thanks,” says Chandley.
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Mickey and Halie Conn
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Francoeur surprised the crowd by auctioning off private one-on-one batting instructions at Turner Field including a jersey and free tickets to an Atlanta Braves baseball game this summer. The FCA event also featured a sports memorabilia auction with best in class professional sports items including an Eli and Peyton Manning autographed football and jersey
For the awards, high school coaches across the county nominated students who best exemplified the FCA values of integrity, service, teamwork and excellence, in and out of their sports.
Grayson High School Head Football Coach Mickey Conn has long been active in FCA. “I became involved in FCA in high school and was really involved in college,” says Coach Conn. Conn met his wife Haley on a Wednesday night at a FCA meeting at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Prior to becoming Grayson High School’s Head Football Coach, Conn started the FCA chapter at McConnell Middle. During that first year at McConnell, Haley would travel to see Mickey and his family for the weekend and stay to attend Mickey?s FCA meetings at McConnell on Monday morning then drove back to UA in Tuscaloosa for class. “Four hours, that’s what love does,” says Haley Conn.
Bob Moeck says it best. “If it were not for God, athletics, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes being such an important part of my life, NextStar would not be here today. So I support FCA with all my heart; to give other young athletes opportunities to find the meaning in life. It is not in a football, a shot-putt, or discuss … but in Jesus.”
Founded in 1954, FCA is the largest interdenominational school-based organization in the United States. An early supporter and underwriter of FCA was Major League Baseball executive Branch Rickey.
Please visit www.fcagwinnett.com <http://www.fcagwinnett.com> for more information.
