AROUND THE STATE: ZACH LIMA

When I came to RPI as a freshman, I knew I needed to get more on track with putting God first in my life. Oliver Kaijja, our lacrosse team captain was one of those people who steered me in the right direction. Oliver invited me to come to FCA and told me: “We’ll train you up, make you a better man and follower of Christ.”

Oliver became my mentor and encouraged me to start coming to the FCA meetings. What I liked about FCA is the people there weren’t looking for anything in return, they were there to help you, look over you and guide you. They didn’t really care about the sports-related things as much as they wanted to help me stay connected with God, and help me get over all the challenges we face along the way.  The FCA model is unique to most clubs. Few athletes in college go to clubs, because they are so busy with sport, but FCA is tailored to athletes by looking for the best time to get all of our student athletes together.

If it weren’t for Oliver’s leadership and the initiative that he took to bring others to FCA, there are many students who would have never had the opportunities that FCA provides on RIP’s Campus. Paul and Krysten Zaloom are a couple who also helped make FCA’s presence here a home. They helped start FCA here at RPI are my home away from home. While the players come and go through the years, Paul and Kristen have remained a constant FCA presence at RPI. They often spend their Sundays preparing a meal and we all come that evening to fellowship with one another.

A lot of our athletes don’t know how to take the initiative to join or look into a club, and it’s at the bottom of the list for most of them. I have tried to encourage them to come to our FCA meetings, and have found if I can get one, then another comes, and it sparks more interest for others to join our meetings. In my final year at FCA, I continue to “recruit” some of the younger players to get involved with FCA. It is time now to keep that spark going and pass the FCA torch on!

Zach Lima is a senior mechanical engineering major at RPI. He plays long stick midfielder for RPI’s men’s lacrosse and is from Chatham, NJ.

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