FCA Impacts Student-Athlete Lives

By Jaydn Noonan

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is an international non-profit Christian sports ministry based in Kansas City, Missouri.  FCA was founded in 1954. It has staff offices located throughout the United States and abroad. FCA's mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.  Its vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.

FCA was introduced to Potosi three years ago; the coaches were Mr. and Mrs.Siegert, Mrs.Nutter, and Mr.Downs. They began FCA because they found out that many kids were not going to church on a regular basis and thought that a little Christian teaching and fun would be good for them, and they also saw it as a chance for kids to grow closer to God. The school was very open to having an FCA huddle and the student body was okay with this as well. The coaches hoped to have many students involved. Mr. Downs is one of the coaches for the FCA, and he decided to become a coach because he saw the value of FCA through his own children when they were in High School.

Our FCA huddle has meetings every Wednesday night in the foods room and also does activities outside of Potosi. The FCA huddle goes to Fields of Faith in Boscobel each year. They work a concession stand at Badger football games, and went to Des Moines, Iowa for a mission trip for three days last summer. They have also raked leaves for community members during the fall. During the year they encourage the athletes by making posters for the locker rooms.
As a coach for FCA, Mr. Downs has seen a change in the students that attend the FCA huddles regularly he says  “ I have seen lots of changes, some of the kids are going to church more and some kids are seeing the needs of others and are trying to meet them, there is an openness to talking about Christianity in public without being embarrassed.” Mr.Downs hopes more students see the value of FCA and want to join and be a part of it. Right now the FCA huddles have 10-12 students that come on a regular basis. He also hopes to do more service projects that benefit the community.