What happens when the thing you built your identity around disappears?

In this deeply personal episode of FCA Central Arkansas: Beyond the Huddle, Cason Mertens steps behind the microphone alone to share his testimony—a story of sports, success, addiction, brokenness, searching for truth, and ultimately discovering what it really means to surrender your life to Jesus.

Growing up in Benton, Arkansas, Cason’s world revolved around athletics. He became an All-State basketball and football player, and his identity was deeply connected to his performance and what others thought of him. But beneath the success was a spiritual emptiness he didn’t fully recognize.

After an ACL injury disrupted his athletic future, Cason continued searching for identity and satisfaction through college football, relationships, partying, marijuana, money, business, and plans for the future. Eventually, those pursuits left him asking much bigger questions: What is truth? What is the purpose of life? Is there really a God? And if Jesus is who He says He is, what does it actually mean to follow Him?

Those questions led Cason to open the Bible for himself. As he read the Gospels, he became captivated by the person of Jesus. Then Ecclesiastes confronted him with the emptiness of chasing everything the world promises will satisfy us. Eventually, Jesus’ call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him became impossible to ignore.

Cason also shares the struggle that followed—trying unsuccessfully to free himself from marijuana, crying out to God for direction, and the unexpected way God brought a man named Adam into his life to disciple him. What looked like a simple job mowing yards became a season of studying Scripture, prayer, spiritual growth, and learning what following Jesus actually looks like.

At the heart of Cason’s story is a message from Galatians 5: Christ has set us free. Real transformation isn't found simply by trying harder to fix ourselves. It comes as we know Christ, receive His love, walk with Him, and allow that love to overflow into serving others.

If you’re struggling with your identity, addiction, pornography, marijuana, performance, or the feeling that something is keeping you from becoming who God has called you to be, Cason’s story is a reminder that your past does not have to determine your future. There is forgiveness, restoration, freedom, and a new identity in Jesus Christ.

What happens when the thing you built your identity around disappears?
In this deeply personal episode of FCA Central Arkansas: Beyond the Huddle, Cason Mertens steps behind the microphone alone to share his testimony&mdash;a story of sports, success, addiction, brokenness, searching for truth, and ultimately discovering what it really means to surrender your life to Jesus.
Growing up in Benton, Arkansas, Cason&rsquo;s world revolved around athletics. He became an All-State basketball and football player, and his identity was deeply connected to his performance and what others thought of him. But beneath the success was a spiritual emptiness he didn&rsquo;t fully recognize.
After an ACL injury disrupted his athletic future, Cason continued searching for identity and satisfaction through college football, relationships, partying, marijuana, money, business, and plans for the future. Eventually, those pursuits left him asking much bigger questions: What is truth? What is the purpose of life? Is there really a God? And if Jesus is who He says He is, what does it actually mean to follow Him?
Those questions led Cason to open the Bible for himself. As he read the Gospels, he became captivated by the person of Jesus. Then Ecclesiastes confronted him with the emptiness of chasing everything the world promises will satisfy us. Eventually, Jesus&rsquo; call to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him became impossible to ignore.
Cason also shares the struggle that followed&mdash;trying unsuccessfully to free himself from marijuana, crying out to God for direction, and the unexpected way God brought a man named Adam into his life to disciple him. What looked like a simple job mowing yards became a season of studying Scripture, prayer, spiritual growth, and learning what following Jesus actually looks like.
At the heart of Cason&rsquo;s story is a message from Galatians 5: Christ has set us free. Real transformation isn't found simply by trying harder to fix ourselves. It comes as we know Christ, receive His love, walk with Him, and allow that love to overflow into serving others.
If you&rsquo;re struggling with your identity, addiction, pornography, marijuana, performance, or the feeling that something is keeping you from becoming who God has called you to be, Cason&rsquo;s story is a reminder that your past does not have to determine your future. There is forgiveness, restoration, freedom, and a new identity in Jesus Christ.

Beyond the Huddle - Central Arkansas FCA

Beyond the Huddle

I Thought Sports Were My Identity—Until Jesus Changed Everything | Cason Mertens’ Story

What happens when faith and football come together?

In this episode of Central Arkansas FCA’s Beyond the Huddle, host Rick Maupin sits down with Dustin Grimmett, head football coach at Little Rock Christian Academy, for an honest conversation about faith, family, coaching, leadership, and the impact of living out the Gospel through sports.

Coach Grimmett shares the story of his faith journey—from placing his trust in Jesus as an eight-year-old, to discovering how God was working through difficult seasons of moving and transition, to meeting his future wife in seventh grade. He also talks about how football became more than a game and ultimately became a ministry opportunity.

Dustin explains his journey into coaching, his time as a player and coach in Arkansas, and how God led him back to Little Rock Christian Academy, where he now serves as head football coach. He discusses his philosophy of relational leadership and why coaches have an incredible opportunity to disciple and influence young men both on and off the field.

The conversation also highlights the powerful connection between FCA, faith, and sports, including the role FCA has played in connecting student-athletes' faith with their lives on the football field. Dustin shares about multiple student-athletes and coaches who publicly declared their faith through baptism in front of their teammates.

Throughout the conversation, Rick and Dustin discuss the importance of attitude, effort, accountability, teachability, discipleship, and trusting God even when we can't see what He is doing.

Most importantly, Coach Grimmett shares his desire to use every opportunity God gives him to glorify Christ and disciple young men.

In this episode:
Dustin Grimmett's testimony and faith journey
Growing up in Little Rock and Clinton, Arkansas
How football became connected to Dustin's faith
Meeting his wife, Casey, in seventh grade
Dustin's journey into football coaching
His path to becoming head coach at Little Rock Christian Academy
FCA's impact on coaches and student-athletes
Faith and sports as an integrated way of life
Baptism and public declarations of faith
Discipling young men through coaching
Leadership, accountability, attitude, and effort
The importance of being grateful and teachable
Balancing coaching, ministry, marriage, and fatherhood
Trusting God's plan even when the path is unclear
Living for Christ beyond the football field

Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, student, or simply someone seeking encouragement in your faith, this episode offers a powerful reminder: faith doesn't stop when the game starts. We are called to live for Christ wherever God has placed us.

Beyond the Huddle is a Central Arkansas FCA podcast focused on the intersection of faith, sports, leadership, and life.

What happens when faith and football come together?
In this episode of&nbsp;Central Arkansas FCA&rsquo;s Beyond the Huddle, host Rick Maupin sits down with&nbsp;Dustin Grimmett, head football coach at Little Rock Christian Academy, for an honest conversation about faith, family, coaching, leadership, and the impact of living out the Gospel through sports.
Coach Grimmett shares the story of his faith journey&mdash;from placing his trust in Jesus as an eight-year-old, to discovering how God was working through difficult seasons of moving and transition, to meeting his future wife in seventh grade. He also talks about how football became more than a game and ultimately became a ministry opportunity.
Dustin explains his journey into coaching, his time as a player and coach in Arkansas, and how God led him back to Little Rock Christian Academy, where he now serves as head football coach. He discusses his philosophy of relational leadership and why coaches have an incredible opportunity to disciple and influence young men both on and off the field.
The conversation also highlights the powerful connection between&nbsp;FCA, faith, and sports, including the role FCA has played in connecting student-athletes' faith with their lives on the football field. Dustin shares about multiple student-athletes and coaches who publicly declared their faith through baptism in front of their teammates.
Throughout the conversation, Rick and Dustin discuss the importance of&nbsp;attitude, effort, accountability, teachability, discipleship, and trusting God even when we can't see what He is doing.
Most importantly, Coach Grimmett shares his desire to use every opportunity God gives him to glorify Christ and disciple young men.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li>Dustin Grimmett's testimony and faith journey</li>
<li>Growing up in Little Rock and Clinton, Arkansas</li>
<li>How football became connected to Dustin's faith</li>
<li>Meeting his wife, Casey, in seventh grade</li>
<li>Dustin's journey into football coaching</li>
<li>His path to becoming head coach at Little Rock Christian Academy</li>
<li>FCA's impact on coaches and student-athletes</li>
<li>Faith and sports as an integrated way of life</li>
<li>Baptism and public declarations of faith</li>
<li>Discipling young men through coaching</li>
<li>Leadership, accountability, attitude, and effort</li>
<li>The importance of being grateful and teachable</li>
<li>Balancing coaching, ministry, marriage, and fatherhood</li>
<li>Trusting God's plan even when the path is unclear</li>
<li>Living for Christ beyond the football field</li>
</ul>
Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, student, or simply someone seeking encouragement in your faith, this episode offers a powerful reminder:&nbsp;faith doesn't stop when the game starts. We are called to live for Christ wherever God has placed us.
Beyond the Huddle&nbsp;is a Central Arkansas FCA podcast focused on the intersection of faith, sports, leadership, and life.

Faith, Football & Leadership: Dustin Grimmett on Living for Christ Beyond the Huddle

What happens when you achieve the career, income, comfort, and success you thought you wanted—and discover it still isn’t enough?

In this episode of the FCA Podcast, Caeson Mertens sits down with Justin Harrell, Men’s Pastor at Collective Church, for a powerful conversation about identity in Christ, finding true purpose, living by faith, and the influence coaches and mentors can have on the next generation.

Justin shares his journey from growing up in Mayflower, Arkansas, to a successful career in occupational therapy and corporate leadership. On the outside, life looked good. But despite reaching many of the goals he had set for himself, Justin found himself increasingly dissatisfied and searching for something more. That “holy discontentment” ultimately became part of God’s process of drawing him toward a deeper relationship with Christ and a new calling.

Justin explains how the Gospel became more than simply the promise of heaven. He began to understand that Jesus didn’t just save him from something—He saved him for something. Salvation meant living with purpose now, participating in God’s work, and allowing his identity in Christ to transform every area of his life.

That conviction eventually led Justin to leave a successful corporate career and step into full-time ministry. Even when consulting work could have provided a comfortable financial safety net, Justin felt God challenging him to “burn the ships,” surrender his backup plan, and trust Him completely. It was a decision that required genuine sacrifice, but Justin says it also taught him dependence on God and allowed him to experience His provision and presence in new ways.

The conversation also turns directly toward coaches, athletes, fathers, and mentors. Justin reflects on the lasting influence of Coach Boling, who cared about far more than wins and losses. His coach invested in players, put the Gospel in front of them, modeled humility, and demonstrated that caring for young men mattered more than the scoreboard.

That leads to an important challenge for every person in a position of influence: the people you lead will learn to value what they see you value. If coaches and fathers value only performance, achievement, money, or recognition, young people notice. But when they see adults pursuing Christ, serving others, practicing humility, loving their families, and walking faithfully, they see what biblical manhood and discipleship actually look like.

This episode is an invitation to move beyond comfortable Christianity and ask some deeper questions: Where is your identity? What are you pursuing? What are you teaching others to value? And are you willing to trust God when obedience requires more than common sense?

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, teacher, administrator, pastor, parent, or follower of Jesus, this conversation is a reminder that the Gospel is meant to transform far more than what we say—it should transform the way we live.

What happens when you achieve the career, income, comfort, and success you thought you wanted&mdash;and discover it still isn&rsquo;t enough?
In this episode of the FCA Podcast, Caeson Mertens sits down with Justin Harrell, Men&rsquo;s Pastor at Collective Church, for a powerful conversation about identity in Christ, finding true purpose, living by faith, and the influence coaches and mentors can have on the next generation.
Justin shares his journey from growing up in Mayflower, Arkansas, to a successful career in occupational therapy and corporate leadership. On the outside, life looked good. But despite reaching many of the goals he had set for himself, Justin found himself increasingly dissatisfied and searching for something more. That &ldquo;holy discontentment&rdquo; ultimately became part of God&rsquo;s process of drawing him toward a deeper relationship with Christ and a new calling.
Justin explains how the Gospel became more than simply the promise of heaven. He began to understand that Jesus didn&rsquo;t just save him from something&mdash;He saved him for something. Salvation meant living with purpose now, participating in God&rsquo;s work, and allowing his identity in Christ to transform every area of his life.
That conviction eventually led Justin to leave a successful corporate career and step into full-time ministry. Even when consulting work could have provided a comfortable financial safety net, Justin felt God challenging him to &ldquo;burn the ships,&rdquo; surrender his backup plan, and trust Him completely. It was a decision that required genuine sacrifice, but Justin says it also taught him dependence on God and allowed him to experience His provision and presence in new ways.
The conversation also turns directly toward coaches, athletes, fathers, and mentors. Justin reflects on the lasting influence of Coach Boling, who cared about far more than wins and losses. His coach invested in players, put the Gospel in front of them, modeled humility, and demonstrated that caring for young men mattered more than the scoreboard.
That leads to an important challenge for every person in a position of influence: the people you lead will learn to value what they see you value. If coaches and fathers value only performance, achievement, money, or recognition, young people notice. But when they see adults pursuing Christ, serving others, practicing humility, loving their families, and walking faithfully, they see what biblical manhood and discipleship actually look like.
This episode is an invitation to move beyond comfortable Christianity and ask some deeper questions: Where is your identity? What are you pursuing? What are you teaching others to value? And are you willing to trust God when obedience requires more than common sense?
Whether you&rsquo;re a coach, athlete, teacher, administrator, pastor, parent, or follower of Jesus, this conversation is a reminder that the Gospel is meant to transform far more than what we say&mdash;it should transform the way we live.

Burn the Ships: Finding Purpose, Faith & Identity Beyond Success | Justin Harrell 

On this episode of Beyond the Huddle, the Central Arkansas FCA podcast where faith meets competition, we hear the story of Ryan and his journey into full-time ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Ryan shares how God has used his faith journey, athletic background, adversity, and life experiences to prepare him for a new calling: reaching coaches and athletes throughout the Jacksonville area. From building relationships on local campuses to developing multi-sport FCA Huddles, Ryan talks about his heart for meeting students where they are and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The conversation also explores what it means to step out in faith when God calls you into something new. Ryan discusses the process of joining FCA staff, raising financial support, building a team of ministry partners, and trusting God to provide the people and resources necessary to accomplish the mission.

At the heart of it all is FCA’s desire to see every coach and athlete growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. It’s a conversation about calling, obedience, perseverance, sports, ministry, and the opportunities God provides when we’re willing to say yes.

You’ll also hear how listeners can come alongside Ryan and the FCA ministry through prayer, encouragement, and financial partnership as FCA continues reaching coaches and athletes across Central Arkansas.

On this episode of Beyond the Huddle, the Central Arkansas FCA podcast where faith meets competition, we hear the story of Ryan and his journey into full-time ministry with Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Ryan shares how God has used his faith journey, athletic background, adversity, and life experiences to prepare him for a new calling: reaching coaches and athletes throughout the Jacksonville area. From building relationships on local campuses to developing multi-sport FCA Huddles, Ryan talks about his heart for meeting students where they are and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
The conversation also explores what it means to step out in faith when God calls you into something new. Ryan discusses the process of joining FCA staff, raising financial support, building a team of ministry partners, and trusting God to provide the people and resources necessary to accomplish the mission.
At the heart of it all is FCA&rsquo;s desire to see every coach and athlete growing in a relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. It&rsquo;s a conversation about calling, obedience, perseverance, sports, ministry, and the opportunities God provides when we&rsquo;re willing to say yes.
You&rsquo;ll also hear how listeners can come alongside Ryan and the FCA ministry through prayer, encouragement, and financial partnership as FCA continues reaching coaches and athletes across Central Arkansas.

I Thought Sports Were My Identity—Until Jesus Changed Everything | Cason Mertens’ Story

Beyond the Huddle - Central Arkansas FCA

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