What happens when your identity is no longer tied to performance—but rooted in being loved?

In this powerful episode of the Rooted Podcast, hosts Josie and Symone sit down with David Melms, Twin Cities Metro Director and Sports Chaplain with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). David shares his journey of faith, leadership, and calling—from starting FCA as a college student in a spiritually resistant environment to now serving athletes at every level, from youth sports to professional teams.

Together, they explore what it means to “play loved” instead of playing for approval, how people-pleasing subtly becomes an idol, and why sports can be both beautiful and broken. David unpacks how identity, worship, and faith intersect in athletics—and how God often uses competition to surface what’s truly going on in our hearts.

This conversation is deeply practical, honest, and freeing—whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or simply someone learning to live rooted in truth rather than performance.

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00:00 Playing loved instead of playing for approval

01:00 Welcome to Rooted + introducing David Melms

02:00 What the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is

04:00 David’s call to ministry through college sports

07:00 Starting FCA at a secular college campus

10:00 Courage, calling, and pioneer leadership

13:00 Faith roots and early spiritual influences

16:00 People-pleasing and identity struggles

19:00 Root idols: approval, power, comfort, control

22:00 Why sports reveal the heart

25:00 Sports as worship and excellence

27:00 What a kairos moment is

29:00 Winning, losing, and identity in Christ

31:00 Adventure camp and spiritual formation

33:00 Mentorship for Millennials and Gen Z

35:00 Core truth: play loved

37:00 How to connect with FCA + closing

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1. “I don’t play to win God’s love—I play from His love.”
2. “Sports reveal what’s already in your heart. You can’t hide in competition.”
3. “People-pleasing is subtle, but it’s one of the strongest identity traps.”
4. “Playing loved makes you freer, faster, and fiercer.”
5. “Sport is morally neutral—it becomes beautiful or broken based on who’s leading it.”
6. “God often uses pressure to expose what needs healing.”
7. “Approval, comfort, control, and power—those are the idols beneath the surface.”
8. “Worship isn’t just singing—it’s how you live, play, and compete.”
9. “Leadership is constantly being formed on the field, whether we realize it or not.”
10. “Kairos moments are invitations from God—we choose whether to slow down and listen.”

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• Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) – https://www.fca.org/
• FCA Minnesota – https://www.minnesotafca.org/

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