PRINCETON, W. Va. –The Fellowship of Christian Athletes got its start in 1954 when a Texas coach saw athletes using their influence to promote tobacco products and realized that it could also be used to promote the Gospel. More than seventy years later, it’s grown worldwide, continuing that vision in our area as well.
“…Billy Graham once said that a coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in a lifetime, and so we take that into perspective. It is an incredible opportunity that we have to step into the sports arena to allow our athletes and our coaches to use the platform they already have within their school, and instead of using it in a way that could damage the school or using it in a way that could damage what’s going on, they could use it to build and encourage their teammates, their classmates, their school, their community…” says Brian Young, area director for the Southern West Virginia FCA.
Young says FCA groups are in most of the counties in our area, with thousands of athletes, coaches, and more participating in their clubs and meetings every month, as well as their support groups, Bible studies, retreats, and more.
Dr. Derek Wilson, a board member with the Southern West Virginia FCA says they make a difference in these lives and help young people avoid paths like substance abuse by giving them a group who understand them.
“…You see a lot of students really looking for connection, looking for something that makes them feel valued, and when they get a part of FCA and these groups, they realize that there’s something there about their life that’s important…” says Dr. Wilson.
Those we spoke to encourage, not just athletes, but all students to consider joining the FCA group at their local school. If you aren’t a student but would like to support their mission, they do rely on local support to keep them going and for things like camp scholarships.
The Southern West Virginia FCA will have two fundraising events coming up if you’d like to help them. They will have their annual banquet on April 11th at 6pm at the Karen Preservati Center and a golf tournament on May 31st at the Fountain Springs Golf Course. Young says you can contact him for more information: 304-809-5431 and [email protected].
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