The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) will reach out to Boston Marathon runners, families and fans by facilitating Christian events throughout the Easter weekend and Marathon Monday. The sports ministry will meet with athletes at the marathon expo Friday through Sunday, partner with local churches for Easter services on Sunday and host a prayer/support team at Mile 20 during the race on Monday.
“For many people running a marathon is a lifelong dream, and Boston—especially this year—is the crown jewel,” said FCA State Director for New Hampshire Jason Allen, who is helping lead and organize the FCA Endurance ministry events in Boston. “It’s a great opportunity to minister to those who are running to glorify God as well as share how an individual’s identity is not defined by a race for those who don’t yet know Him.”
This marks the sixth year that FCA’s Endurance ministry has sent staff and volunteers to meet and connect with runners at the marathon expo at the Hynes Convention Center. At its booth, FCA Endurance provides Christian resources and information while offering personal and spiritual encouragement to athletes and their families. The booth also allows FCA to connect Christian runners to other athletes who share their faith.
“FCA is an extension of the local church—a tool for reaching others and equipping and sending local church congregants as missionaries into the world of sport,” Allen said. “It’s a way for the athlete to be a part of God’s Great Commission.”
Because the race falls on Easter weekend, FCA is directing runners to one of two local churches for group fellowship on Sunday. Runners who want to attend a Sunday morning service with FCA Endurance will be directed to Boston’s Citylife Presbyterian Church at the Revere Hotel Boston Common, while those who wish to go later in the day can join the group at Park Street Church at One Park St. at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon.
On Monday, FCA Endurance staff and volunteers will support runners by gathering at Mile 20 to pray for and encourage runners. Athletes will be encouraged to stop for prayer as needed, and all runner family and friends as well as fans are encouraged to join the group for fellowship and ministry during the race.
FCA operates under the vision of seeing the “world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes." With four categories of ministry—coaches, campus, camps and community—FCA reaches athletes and coaches in every state and in multiple countries worldwide. As one of FCA’s nine sport-specific ministries, FCA Endurance exists to fulfill the overall FCA Mission and Vision by “uniting and equipping Christian endurance athletes to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and share that faith with others.” With “teammates” from all endurance sports competing under the FCA Endurance banner, athletes can connect with others who share a love for both Christ and their respective sports.
For more information about FCA Endurance or the ministry events in Boston, contact FCA New Hampshire State Director Jason Allen at jallen@fca.org.