IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

There are sports fans, there are sports aficionados, and there are sports fanatics. Then there are sports entrepreneurs. Those are people who may be one of the first three but actually redeem the time spent on their passion for others' perspiration with "legal" (read not gambling) economic gain. I would classify Stefan Helm as the official sports entrepreneur of the region. On a city visit last year he told me he had won not one, but two TV's in a national fantasy football contest. Whether you call it luck or mad skills, that is impressive considering the scope of competition.


Above is a picture of Stefan and his wife Beth doing research at the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals World Series celebration. They are also pictured below representing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics softball stadium. The Helms are world class sports fans with capitals F-A-N-S.


But hobbies are for recreation. (These unique facts and other interests of Stefan are in his profile section to the left.) Stefan's real heart is about regeneration for the lost. Growing up in Macomb, Illinois, he came to faith in Christ at the ripe young age of 10, was shaped by Youth for Christ in high school, and connected with Campus Crusade at Lindenwood University while pursuing his degree in corporate communications. Less than a year after graduating in 2003 Stefan joined staff with the St. Louis metro team, home to the Rams, Blues, and Cardinals.

As much as he enjoys running a fantasy football league or helping Rick Neuheisel fill in his brackets for the NCAA tournament, Stefan still sees that the most important win is the win, build, send of our mission. "One of our biggest challenges on staff is that sometimes we don't always see tangible results. Through my new staff training I have learned to trust that God is in control. I guess that is why the thing I enjoy most about being on staff is seeing students value their faith increasingly."

Through ministry success and seeming ministry failure I have learned that His ways are not my ways, but that His will will be done.
Stefan Helm
St. Louis Metro Team

Pictured above (in the bottom middle) with students on a relief project, Stefan has his heart set on the eternal kingdom and working with the King of kings to expand the gospel to new territory. "One of my best ministry memories was launching Campus Crusade at Hannibal-LaGrange College. There was a special excitement to see the Lord get things started up after I had cast the vision for what Campus Crusade could be on their campus." Nothing like the reality of a vision fulfilled to put fantasy sports in its place.

Props to you Stefan on completing your new staff training! We were thinking of giving you a TV to commemorate your accomplishment, but since you don't have room for another one we will be just sending a TV dinner.

And that completes our new senior staff "class of 2008". And just in time to post pictures of our time together in Colorado Springs! I'll be seeing most of you in 5 days.

Yours for storming the Castle,
-Bert