What does it mean to be “undefeated?” For some, it’s a successful, winning season with no losses—complete victory over the opponent.
FCA's 2015 Camp Theme: Undefeated
But for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), “undefeated” takes on a different meaning. And that “undefeated” attitude is the focus of the 2015 season of FCA Camps.
“For FCA, being ‘undefeated’ means serving a God who never loses and will never let us down, no matter what the score might be on the playing field,” said Les Steckel, FCA President and CEO. “Through FCA Camps, we have the awesome opportunity to impact tens of thousands of coaches and athletes, sharing with them that serving a God who is a champion and always ‘undefeated’ is the most important thing they will ever do.”
The 2015 FCA Camp theme of “Undefeated,” is based in 1 Corinthians 15:57: "But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The FCA Camp curriculum includes lessons about winning through humility, truth, faith and love. As the FCA Camps web site (www.fcacamps.org) reminds, “We serve a God who has never lost. His string of victories is unmatched. He has dominated the competition throughout history. He is the ultimate competitor with a game plan that cannot be stopped. God is holy. God is mighty. He is UNDEFEATED!”
FCA Camps take the best attributes of an athletic-focused camp and a spiritual-focused camp and combine them into an athletic/spiritual experience like none other. FCA Camps remove athletes and coaches from the rut and routine of their sport, friends/co-workers and community and place them into an exciting, healthy, athletic environment that allows them to pursue their passion for sports and clearly see and hear Christ’s passion for them.
In 2014, FCA Camps saw record-setting numbers, with total attendance reaching 86,557 coaches and athletes at 516 camps in 40 states and 33 countries. Nearly 20,000 attendees chose to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus Christ.
This year, several FCA Camps are available for coaches, student-athletes, leaders and teams, both in the U.S. and internationally:
- Coaches Camps challenge coaches in their faith and family life, and allow coaches to be spiritually, relationally and professionally refreshed. Coaches Camps are for single and married coaches and their families and are designed to minister, to equip and to encourage. FCA Camps minister to coaches through Bible studies, small groups, fellowship, prayer support, discipleship and mentoring.
- Sports Camps focus on “Training the Total Athlete” and develop athletes mentally, physically and spiritually. Sports Camps are for athletes and coaches who want to develop their athletic skills. Outstanding instruction, skill development and intense competition prepare the camper for future athletic competition.
- Leadership Camps train athletes to be spiritual leaders in their personal lives, on their teams and on their campuses. These camps are geared toward student-athletes, FCA Huddle Coaches and volunteers who serve as leaders. The camps focus on teaching practical skills for Christian growth, developing as an effective leader and preparing for FCA Huddle ministry.
- Power Camps develop young athletes in their faith and their sport. Power Camps are typically for young athletes ages 8 to 12 who want to develop their sports skills. These camps provide excellent instruction and competition through sports-specific and multi-sport focus. The camps are normally day camps that involve the local community.
- Partnership Camps work with other ministries and organizations in sports ministry. A Partnership Camp is a camp in which FCA develops a relationship with an existing camp to provide the spiritual program and/or the athletic aspect. This can include FCA Camp curriculum, FCA resources, speakers, Huddle meetings and staff.
- Team Camps equip teams with spiritual principles through competition and are designed to impact coaches and athletes for Christ through team competition. Coaches enroll their players to attend this camp as a team. Team Camps are a great outreach opportunity, and coaches benefit greatly by evaluating their team’s talent. Team Camps serve the coaches by providing a wonderful camp experience for their players while building team unity.
- International Camps focus on worldwide impact and reach coaches and athletes around the world.
FCA Camp Staff lead the camps, and the 4,000-plus instructors have been carefully selected and consist of FCA staff, current collegiate and high school coaches, professional athletes and current and former college athletes. They bring years of coaching and performance experience to FCA Camps and serve as role models for campers both on and off the field. Every camp is led by certified FCA staff, and each director has been trained and certified as an FCA Camp leader. These leaders collectively provide years of FCA Camp experience.
To find camps in specific areas or to inquire about volunteering at an FCA Camp, visit www.fcacamps.org. For more information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit FCA’s web site at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcafans or its Twitter feed, @fcanews.