First Assembly Christian School

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Crusader Football and Make-A-Wish

Austin Rainey: No. 1 for FACS

The FACS football team’s most important member and the 2008 season’s honorary captain is 4-year-old Make-A-Wish participant Austin Rainey of Middleton, TN.

FACS participates with the Make-A-Wish program every year, granting a wish for a seriously ill Mid-South area child. Austin Rainey’s wish, however, was granted by a Cordova couple, who sent Austin and his parents, Jeremy and Shana Rainey, to Green Bay, Wisconsin in July to meet then-Packer Brett Favre (currently a New York Jet).

As part of Austin’s wish, he became an honorary member of the FACS football team, spending time with team members this summer at practice, and coming back this fall for football games wearing his No. 1 jersey.

Shana Rainey said the Make-A-Wish program has made a huge difference to the Raineys.

“I know that no matter what happens, my son is really happy,” she said. During the Green Bay trip, the Raineys toured the Packers’ Hall of Fame and Lambeau Field, and met several NFL players in the Packer locker room, where Austin enjoyed his own locker filled with a pint-sized jersey, a team-autographed football and a load of toys.

“He got to play catch with Brett Favre for about 15 minutes, and Brett told Austin he had, ‘a pretty good spiral for a leftee’,” Shana Rainey said.

FACS received word this spring that Austin's illness is in remission. We praise God for this answer to prayer.