New athletic director joins Faith Christian

Tim Leahy loves Christian ministry and athletics.

As Faith Christian Academy's new athletic director, he will combine both.

The energetic New York native began work at the Hurt school last week. Leahy replaces longtime athletic director Gene Carwile, who will begin work as high school principal at Westover Christian Academy in Danville this fall.

"The greatest excitement is the opportunity to impact students and families for Christ through athletics," said Leahy. "Athletics is a tremendous vehicle to teach life skills. It's an opportunity to teach them about the reality of serving Christ."

Leahy will lead the school's athletic department, which includes middle school and varsity soccer, volleyball and basketball, along with varsity baseball, varsity softball and golf. He will coach the soccer and basketball teams.

As the school's physical education and health teacher, Leahy plans to encourage wellness, nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles through a program he calls "Fit for Life."

"My biggest hope is that I can impact this culture of youth to be fit for life. Physical fitness is a lifestyle, not just an action. God has given us bodies to be healthy. When we are healthy, we can live for Him," said Leahy.

An associate pastor at Grace Community Church in Altavista, Leahy will use athletics to impact students for Christ.

"If this was not a Christian organization, I would not be excited," said Leahy. "We just want to train our student-athletes to love the Lord."

The new athletic director brings a wide range of skills and experience to the school. He used his associate degree in criminal justice as a police officer in Tampa, Fla., for five years.

He first began working with youth at a New York Division for Youth juvenile correctional facility.

He and his wife of 20 years, Renae, also served as house parents at Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Plantation. He joined Centra Health as a mental health counselor in 1998.

Leahy received a bachelor's degree in Biblical studies from Liberty University. He taught middle and high school Bible at Faith Christian from 2000-2005. He left Faith Christian to serve as associate pastor at Grace Community Church.

He began attending Bible college in 1993 after becoming a Christian.

"I couldn't serve a Savior I didn't know," he said. "So I enrolled in Bible college to learn more about who God was."

Leahy, who played baseball and basketball and wrestled in high school, has always had a love for athletics. Over the years, he has refereed soccer and basketball. He has also boxed and played rugby.

"I've always been involved in athletics from playing or coaching," he said.

He wants the athletic program to train "Champions for Christ."

"If we are doing athletics for the right reason - glorifying God - it's a form of worship," he said. "We get to give the real reason for athletics. The world is telling them (athletes) it's all about them. The real reason to do sports is to glorify God.

"My biggest goal is that when we take the field, God will be glorified through our attitudes and actions. Every student-athlete may not have the same talent or ability, but everyone can give 100 percent," he said. "It's not about winning or losing, it's about giving your all. We lose a lot more than we win in life. So I want them to learn to win with class and lose with class."

Leahy wants to encourage players to always give their best effort and play as a team.

"If we give our best effort, we will be satisfied with the results. If we win the state championship, great - we give God the glory. It's not about the individual, it's about the team," he said.

Leahy will also work with coaches to help them become Christian leaders.

"Everything is a teachable moment, and we are going to take every opportunity to teach them Christian attitudes. It's going to be neat to see the end result," he said.

The athletic department will also reach out to the community by hosting basketball and softball tournaments.

"We want to reach and impact the community for Christ," he said.

Leahy also wants to add family sports nights that encourage fellowship.

The family has one married daughter, Bailey Brandenberger, and four children at home, Kyle, 16, Cailin, 15, Candice, 15 and Deepak, 15.

Leahy is also involved in the leadership team of Celebrate Recovery, a ministry helping people struggling with alcoholism, divorce, abuse and drug addiction. The group meets Monday nights at First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Altavista.

He serves as director of the Greater Altavista Family Forum, a chapter of the Virginia Family Foundation, which promotes, protects and preserves biblical family values in the community and country.

Jonathan Parker is Faith Christian Academy's director of school advancement.

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