More Than a Summer: Trinity's Story

After finishing her final semester at Clayton State in December, Trinity was encouraged by her local FCA rep, Kevin, to consider participating in FCA Atlanta’s summer internship, Encounter. At first, she was hesitant.

“I wanted to have my own summer. I wanted to go home, work at the beach, play soccer with friends,” she said. “I didn’t have a strong community in Atlanta, so I thought, Why would I stay? I just didn’t see how it would be beneficial.”

Despite her reservations, Trinity kept praying and kept walking through the doors God opened.

From Uncertainty to Connection

With almost no connections in the city, she arrived at Encounter unsure of what to expect. But something shifted immediately.

“After just two days, I became so close with the other interns. It was like God was saying, This is why you’re here. I was overwhelmed, in a good way, with how much I was learning about the Lord and about myself.”

That bond with the Encounter community would become a central part of Trinity’s experience, one so strong that she returned the following year as staff.

A Heart Made Soft

One powerful moment Trinity recalls was during a day-long prayer walk. She had been seeking God all day in silence and solitude but felt like she hadn’t heard from Him, until something unexpected happened on her walk back.

“In the last few minutes, I literally felt my heart soften. I had been struggling with unforgiveness, and suddenly I felt so much love and compassion. For the first time, I prayed for the person I had been holding something against. It was like God said, This is my child too.”

It was a moment of healing,  a clear reminder that God was working deeply in her life through this internship.

Why She Came Back

This summer marks Trinity’s second year serving on staff with Encounter, and her passion for it hasn’t faded one bit.

“Encounter changed my faith. The staff pour into you. The structure builds you up. And the community is unlike anything else,” she said. “There’s never a doubt that God is in this place.”

Trinity now helps lead other college students through the same program that once changed her life. Her hope for each intern is simple but powerful:

“That they’re so set on fire for the Lord that they go back to their campuses shining bright. And that their light draws others to Jesus. FCA is about disciples who make disciples.”

Encounter is more than just a summer internship; it’s a launching point for student-athletes to deepen their faith, build lasting community, and return to their campuses as bold, equipped leaders for Christ. Trinity’s story is just one of many that shows what happens when we say yes to where God is leading.

Interested in Encounter? Learn more about our internship and how to apply at https://www.atlantacollegiatefca.org/fcaencounter.