Flake

As Philadelphia’s head coach for two years and an assistant for five, Jordan Flake knows what it takes to inspire and lead young athletes. But while coaching is something he’s thoroughly enjoyed, the need to do more has continually tugged at his heart. 

So when Philadelphia softball concluded its season earlier this month, it also marked the end of Flake’s coaching career.

Flake will soon assume a new position as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) area representative, where he will be tasked with working with area coaches in Neshoba, Kemper and Leake counties to establish and expand FCA’s Huddle ministry, which is similar to small-group Bible studies.

“They’re student-led, but you have to have some supervision, so you want to get a least one coach,” Flake said of FCA Huddle. “If I can get all coaches involved with it… but at least one coach to kind of take the lead and be the sponsor, so to say, and kind of facilitate the meeting and those types of things. We really want it to be student-led. Getting the students involved in the word, and just getting them prepared to go out and share.”

As of now, Flake is classified as a perspective staff member, but once he reaches his financial support goal, he will join the organization as a staff member on July 1.

“That was my goal for this whole entire semester, just to be strictly fundraising for this upcoming job,” Flake said. “And then the softball opportunity came along and that’s been one of those things that I’ve had to try to balance along with the duties of teaching and softball, but also trying to fundraise to be ready to roll into July.”

Flake credits his grandmother and friend with exposing him to church, and he gave his life to Christ at 12. But over the years, he said he’s always known that there was something about him that “was a little different.” 

It wasn’t until later in life, however, that he ultimately gave all of himself to Christ and put his life and future in His hands. 

“Things started to change from there,” Flake said. “I never audibly heard God speak, but it was as close to audible that you could get (that) God said the words, ‘Go.’ I didn’t know what ‘go’ meant. I was a first-year softball head coach; I knew the writing was on the wall for me. That that was not my calling in life. I loved coaching — every aspect of it — but it was apparent to me that that was not where I was supposed to be.”

With that confirmation from a higher power, Flake soon informed Philadelphia he wouldn’t return as head coach the past this season. He began looking for missionary opportunities and destinations when the Philadelphia-area FCA area representative informed him he was being promoted, which would leave a staffing vacancy.

“In our talks, he said, ‘You’ve heard the word go, and you’ve thought about around the world, but you can go right here your own community. You can go out and you can reach the people who are here who you come in contact with every day. That’s still that  mission field of going,’” Flake said. “And so, that’s where it all started.”  

Although Flake will miss coaching, he’s at peace with his decision to leave in pursuit of the ministry. God, he said, has also given him signs that his decision is the correct one.

“This has been a year-and-a-half process of spending time praying for it, making sure it was what God intended and what God had designed for me,” Flake said. “And throughout the past year, there have been numerous places where God said, ‘I’m putting you in the right spot. You’re doing the right thing.’”