Eleven years ago, Chad Poprocki attended Colonial and heard Pastor Davey pose the question: “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you”? Chad considered the question and knew the answer was “No”. However, that soon changed. He became a follower of Jesus Christ and, later, a member of Colonial.

At the time Chad was a very busy medical sales representative who was also a volunteer coach for middle school football in Apex. Chad has always enjoyed sports. The oldest of seven children, he grew up around his younger siblings and their friends.  “I love sports; I love kids!”

Some may have met Chad when he volunteered for Colonial Student Ministries. He worked with the Class of 2009 from seventh grade to graduation. He led a small group Bible study for guys, taught classes and volunteered at youth camps. Chad said it was a rewarding experience to follow that group from the winter of their seventh grade year all the way to graduation.  He continues to encourage and disciple many of them, now college sophomores.   

For several years Chad had a commercial real estate business in the area. That business didn’t require the extensive travel of his sales career and allowed him the opportunity to be home with his family, coach football and volunteer with church. With the recent economic downturn, things got tough with his business and he sensed God might be using those circumstances to lead him in a new direction. “I prayed God would make it clear what it was He wanted me to do,” he said.

For the last year Chad continued to run his real estate business in the afternoons. But, from early morning (5:30 a.m.) to noon he worked in the Facilities Department for Colonial. When he heard that Greg Burton, Colonial’s previous Sports Director, was accepting a new ministry opportunity with an area camp, Chad wondered whether the job as Colonial Outreach and Sports Director might be the open door for which he’d been waiting.   

After praying about it and talking it over with Greg and Mike Malpass, Pastor, Outreach Ministries, Chad knew that Colonial Outreach and Sports was the place for him. In April, he began training alongside Greg for twenty hours each week. He became the full time director June 1st. “He has an incredible match of skills and enthusiasm for this role [as Outreach and Sports Director]”, said Pastor Malpass.

Chad knows he’s stepping into a good place. “We’re not re-inventing the wheel [with Colonial Sports Ministries]; just continuing to tweak what is in place.” Colonial Sports serves almost 2000 participants each year through more than 10 leagues. “We don’t want to have leagues, just to have leagues. We want to plant seeds of truth and share the Gospel, while having fun playing a game,” he said.  All children’s leagues make time at each practice for devotions. That’s important considering that many participants in Colonial Sports have no church home.

“I want God to be glorified in what I say and do; one day I hope to hear Him say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant,’” said Chad.

Chad and his wife Tanya have been married seven years and have two children: Ava and Isaac.