Community Director for the Central Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Joel Penton is the Community Director for the Central Ohio Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is joined in the Community Ministry by his wife, Bethany, the office administrator, and Ryan Holliday, the Assistant Community Director. Together they run an event-based program with the purpose of bringing the Gospel of Christ to students that would not normally step foot in a church. The program is strategically comprised of two parts: school assemblies and evening “comeback” outreach events. Joel and Ryan connect with students during the day at school assemblies where we bring a presentation that is more motivational in nature. Then in the evening they take advantage of the platform and the rapport gained during the assembly by inviting students back for an evening “comeback” event. It’s here where they have the opportunity to share the Gospel and give people an opportunity to respond.

One student wrote after an evening event…

“I have to confess the day you came to my school I was like ‘great another speaker....better break out the MP3 player’...but when I heard you played big time college ball, I was like, ‘maybe this guy is actually cool’...so I listened, and really enjoyed the speech...so I went to the little gig down at Reading High School in the evening….and words cannot describe what happened. I rededicated my life to Jesus, and for the first time in 2 years I picked up my Bible, blew the dust off, and read it.”

—Taylor, High School Student