Nearly 8 million high school students are involved in sports, and among the younger age group of 6 to 12, well over two-thirds are engaged in an individual or team sport.
So how can parents help ensure their kids are getting lifelong faith lessons that will serve them well outside of sports?
For the past 65 years, FCA has helped coaches and athletes of all ages strengthen their faith and deepen their relationship with Christ. For parents who desire to see their children excel not only on the field but also be secure in their faith walk,FCA enables millions of students from middle school to college have their lives transformed by Jesus.
“For more than 25 years, I have been an FCA coach as well as FCA parent, and it has been simply amazing to watch students’ lives be completely changed through the power of Jesus Christ,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Both in my own life and in my children’s lives, as well as in the communities we’ve lived, we’ve witnessed true transformation as God gets a hold of kids’ lives through the sports they love. Our youth are facing many hurdles in today’s culture—challenges that no other generation has faced. Parents are faced with the sometimes-stressful situation of keeping their kids focused on what’s good and right in the world. There is only one way to do that—through our Savior, Christ Jesus.”
FCA opportunities where parents can help steer their children toward God include Huddles, which consist of meetings and Bible studies for teams, coaches or groups involved in multi-sports at their schools.
Additionally, FCA recently completed its 2019 Camps season, with nearly 800 events in the U.S. and internationally this summer that reached upwards of 100,000 campers. Each year, coaches and athletes who attend FCA Camps discover that polishing their athletic skills is important but strengthening their faith in Christ is crucial. And it’s never too late to plan for next summer.
Students can also begin planning ahead now for the student-driven, student-led Fields of Faith gatherings, happening Oct. 9 on athletic fields nationwide. Many parents also attend Fields of Faith to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their children and sports communities. Said one past student attendee: “Fields of Faith was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been to. So many people were all able to worship God, at our school, in front of everyone. This is a wonderful event that all states and schools should try to start.”
FCA staff who meet and work with coaches, athletes and parents every day in their communities also see the impact the Fellowship of Christian Athletes—with God’s guidance—continues to make year after year.
“Some of the greatest memories in my life come from the playgrounds, ball fields and locker rooms, where I competed in athletics,” said Northeast South Dakota Area Representative Bruce Johnson. “My coaches along the way, especially in high school and college, had a tremendous impact on me and the way I approach life. As an athlete, coach, parent, sports chaplain and even as a fan—I have seen firsthand the power of athletics to influence and transform lives.
“What if sports could be a doorway to release the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to our communities?” Johnson added. “This is the vision and mission of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.”
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