It's Official...

Kelly Spann is named head coach for the 2007 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Grays!

The FCA Grays is a summer collegiate baseball team, based in Kansas City, Missouri, and plays in the M.I.N.K. (Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas) League. We're really excited that Kelly has been asked to fill this position and look forward to a baseball-filled summer.

There are still lots of details to be fine-tuned but here's what we're looking at thus far: Kelly is the head coach with 3 assistants and a roster of college baseball players. Being based in KC (also home of FCA Headquarters), Kelly will report the weekend of May 26th, with the first game scheduled for June 2nd. Kelly will be assigned a host family, which will provide meals and housing. They play nearly everyday, traveling throughout the league. The team also participates in bible studies, youth camps, clinics and service projects. The regular season ends in late July with playoffs extending into the first 2 weeks of August.

So, what about the rest of us? As Kelly will be gone all summer, the kids and I will go it alone part-time and travel to Kansas City for much of the summer. As of now, we plan to take 2 extended trips and stay with my sister and her family. It's going to be a crazy, exciting season.

And yes, it's a summer position, so Rochester will continue to be our home. There are still details to be worked out, namely financial, but we're going on faith (and support) on this one. FCA is a great organization and Kelly is looking forward to being part of it. We're not making hard-and-fast plans, as we'll be as flexible as possible. Our summers involve many celebrations, including our 10-year anniversary and all of our birthdays, so we'll have to be creative this year.

We would definitely appreciate your prayers as we anticipate a busy but wonderful summer, and especially as the finer details on our part are finalized. As you're making your summer plans, why not come through the midwest and catch a game? We'd love to see you! We'll get a schedule out soon (as well as letter with more details and requests for your prayers!).

So, as I gaze out the window at the snow and freezing rain, I know it's just a matter of months until we're sitting in the sun, enjoying a game and cheering on our team! Go Grays!