No matter what level you’re competing at, the world of sports is full of people who are devoted to training themselves up in the pursuit of a dream. If we were able to harness that same hunger, discipline, and teamwork for the kingdom of Christ, what would the result be? That’s what FCA is for. One of the longest running sports organizations for Christians, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a global entity that allows for athletes, coaches, and others to engage the world for Christ while also taking part in the sports they love. Here is our brief overview of the ministry and the work that it does across the world.
Founded in the 1950’s, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes came into existence after Don McClanen, the basketball coach at Eastern Oklahoma A&M, got the idea from watching the many athletes who were taking part in celebrity endorsements of popular products. McClanen said “If athletes could endorse automobiles or cigarettes, why couldn’t they endorse this thing that was about life?”
With this in mind, McClanen contacted a number of famous sports figures including Branch Rickey, the man who broke the MLB color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson. In the following years, the FCA was up and running with its first national sports camp and small groups called Huddles were popping up across the country.
The Mission of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes reads as such: “To present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.”
Inspired by one man’s dream, FCA has gone from a regional operation to having worldwide influence in a variety of ways.
When it was initially started, FCA was seen as a ministry for the United States that would help professional athletes invest time in future generations and, through their influence, create new spiritual leaders who could make new disciples in the sports world. FCA was immensely popular as a national organization for decades. Well known athletes from the collegiate and professional levels, as well as their coaches, were constantly making appearances at camps and in the organization’s publications. There have even been visits from politicians and writeups in magazines like Sports Illustrated.
In recent years, FCA has decided to take their proven approach overseas to invest in future generations outside of our own borders. Today, the ministry can be found in nearly 50 countries through camps, mission trips, and more. This is similar to the influence that groups like Athletes in Action have been a part of in reaching the world for the gospel using sports.
With over 60 years of using sports to share the gospel, FCA has a tried and true method of pouring into the next generation while also servicing the spiritual needs of those in the spotlight today. No matter what skill level you’re at or what sport you love, there’s probably a good fit for you in the organization. Let’s take a look at some ways in which you can get involved.
Huddles are the backbone of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. These groups serve as the frontline for reaching young athletes for Christ. Working as a chapel or Bible study, huddles can be based in the community around one or more sports or as part of a school team. Using this outreach, players from a single team or multiple teams from a single school can come together and grow spiritually as they also seek to improve their play on the field. Clearly this would be beneficial for developing one’s relationship with Christ, but it stands to reason that a team that prays together would also be better equipped to trust one another and play as a unit.
Players aren’t the only ones who can take part in these huddles. FCA also aims to help coaches with their spiritual needs. With over 12,000 huddles in existence, it’s hard to deny their usefulness. To start a huddle in your community or at your school, head over here.
While huddles handle the daily grind of a life in athletics, camps are big events where a larger pool of athletes can come together to work on their skills as well as hear from the Word. FCA has a few different types of camps, each with a different focus. First there are Team Camps. These are camps attended by a single team, say a high school football team. Think of it as 2-a-days with a spiritual component. There are also Sports Camps, which are meant to help mold an individual athlete. For kids who play multiple sports, these camps offer the opportunity to focus on different sports on different days. Power Camps are very similar to Sports Camps, except that their demographic is younger kids in the 8-12 range.
Focusing more on the spiritual development of players and coaches, Leadership Camps offer the opportunity for sports-minded people to come together and learn how to better serve their teams on a practical level. Devoted solely to the leaders of today’s teams, Coaches Camps bring together the adults mentoring the next generation of athletes and help them figure out how to be most effective in their coaching as well as their spiritual impact. Along with these camps, FCA also engages in Partnership Camps where third-party camps use a number of FCA elements to put on a sports camp with a religious aspect. Find out more about all of the FCA Camps here.
Like other Christian sports ministries, FCA has a number of opportunities to travel with the organization and reach new people for Christ. For those who can’t commit to go overseas with the ministry, there are plenty of options to keep you busy stateside.
On top of the camps and huddles mentioned above, you can also volunteer by serving with an existing FCA ministry in your area or on a leadership board that influences the FCA installments around you. There is also an event the organization puts on each year called “Fields of Faith.” This event is similar to See You at the Pole, but with a sports angle. Students, coaches, and others gather one day a year on local sports fields nationwide to rally together and pray for their communities.
Ministries like FCA are always happy to receive financial donations as well. Not everyone can set aside the time to serve in a physical way, but monetary gifts go a long way in helping others obtain the resources they need to get the job done. You can donate by going here.
Along with Upward and Athletes in Action, sports ministries like FCA are playing a big part in reaching students with the gospel. As sports continue to grow in the national spotlight, this is an important area that could use all of the divine attention it can get. That’s why the K-LOVE Fan Awards honors the athletes and coaches who are making an impact each year. Past winners and nominees of the Sports Impact award include football coach Mark Richt, MLB star Adam LaRoche, and NFL tight end Benjamin Watson.
The K-LOVE Fan Awards is the biggest Christian entertainment event of the year. Joining together the hottest names in music, film, sports, and more, it is the ultimate fan experience. Find out how you can attend by clicking on the link below.
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