Lori Adams
Iowa State FCA Campus Coordinator
I serve as an ambassador for FCA at Iowa State University. I volunteered for over 35 years in FCA in different places and ways prior to coming on staff in March of 2021. I help to facilitate the Multi-Sport Huddle, Fields of Faith, and special events. As the ISU Campus Coordinator, I am helping to connect student-athletes with mentors as well as community members with teams so that they might serve where they are needed. I consider myself a stay-at-home mom for other people's college kids. My greatest joy is being Aunt Lori to my biological and spiritual family.
Lori Adams
Iowa State FCA Campus Coordinator
I grew up on a small farm outside Liscomb, Iowa, part of BCL of Conrad school district. I was the oldest of four children, raised by a community leader dad who loved to shoot baskets and play catch and mom who showed us how to be deeply involved in community, 4-H, church, school, and family.
I played sports year-round, including 6-on-6 girls basketball as a forward/guard. But, my strengths were in softball and track as an All-State catcher/hitter and State Champion softball thrower in track.
In 1976, I was in the first class of women athletes to receive a softball scholarship from Iowa State. I worked at the State Fair at the Youth Inn during college, which gave me the opportunity to compete in the rolling pin throw. In 1979, I beat Janet Thompson of London with a throw of 175’ 5” and my name has been in the Guinness Book of World Records ever since. It’s fun to now share in my testimony that my relationship with Jesus brings me much more joy than having a world record.
Even though our family attended church, my identity in college was rooted in my friendships and being an athlete. I had lost several friendships because of my hard and unteachable heart. And, I had quit softball in search of something more meaningful and less conflict ridden.
In January of 1981, a good friend brought me to a Bible study about forgiveness, which I desperately needed to understand. I remember crying tears of joy when I understood the depth of my sin, yet what Jesus had done, is doing, and will do with my sin: HE FORGIVES ME!
I felt the emotional pain of not being on the softball team anymore diminish as I received my new spiritual family. My desires changed, my heart softened, and Mere Christianity by CS Lewis began to help build a new foundation for my thinking.
I received my BS from Iowa State in May of 1981 with a K-12 endorsement for PE, driver education and health. I’ve taught in Prentice, Wisconsin (3 years) , Marshalltown (7 years) and Gladbrook, Iowa (2 years.) I coached volleyball, basketball, track and softball.
The past 40 years have also given me experience in church-based youth ministry, church camp and conferences, missions with Youth With A Mission (about 2 years in 7 countries) and other organizations, and campus ministry in many forms. FCA coaches camp in 1983 gave me my first glimpse of humility of Christian coaches. In 1984, I became the FCA high school girls' huddle coach at Marshalltown, helped lead the state retreats (where I became the Paper Plate Lady), national camps, and many forms of FCA at Iowa State since 1996. Since 2011, I have served at different times as chaplain for Cyclone women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track, and softball. My greatest joy has been shepherding leaders who: lead our weekly multi-sport huddle, speak at area high school FCA meetings, facilitate Fields of Faith and Winter Blast, and build into the lives of their own teammates and coaches.
As I reflect on my past and continue to walk in this ministry, I can give grace to student-athletes who party, don’t understand how you can hurt people by your humor, give God very little attention, or are inconsistent in walking out what they say they are going to do. I’ve walked in their shoes and by the grace of God, He is replacing my life with His. I am grateful to grow in helping student-athletes move from performance orientation to being rooted in the love and grace of God for our identity.
In 2002, I began a parallel ministry as Iowa Field Staff with the national ministry of Christian Educators. I have personally grown through my involvement, and we are seeing many Iowans encouraged, equipped, and connected through prayer, scripture, training, support, and gatherings. We are seeing many teachers, coaches, staff, and administrators thriving as ambassadors for Christ in our schools. I continue in this work as well.
My mission is to joyfully and wisely live out the reality that Christ is with us and in us. I come alongside athletes, coaches, and teachers as they grow in their relationship with Jesus and His church with the hope that we can be a unified and beautiful embodiment of Him on this Earth.
Fields of Faith 2022
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
John 17:21
I am Recruiting Character Coaches
A Character Coach is a FCA trained volunteer who engages, equips, and empowers coaches and athletes through character and leadership development. If you are interested in becoming a character coach please reach out.
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