Fellowship of Christian Athletes storm local schools

Not a Christian? Doesn't matter – keep reading. Fellowship of Christian Athletes is not solely for Christians – or athletes. Certainly, it was founded for and around athletes and Christ-followers, but ever since its inception in 1954, FCA has engaged, equipped and empowered children to build integrity, serve, foster teamwork and exemplify excellence.

Giving a shoutout to Jesus is a bonus, but not a requirement by any means. FCA is about challenging coaches, athletes, local church leaders and their communities to use the powerful platform of athletics to impact the world spiritually. Professional athletes hold a lot of power these days, and many of them credit either FCA, the power of God or both for their fame and glory.

Case in point, the Los Angeles Dodgers' one-in-a-million talent Clayton Kershaw – a devout FCA supporter – explains in a recent interview with FCA Magazine, "You can't control the talents he gives you, no doubt about that. But you can control the effort you put forth with them."

Kershaw, a man reportedly so intense that his daily routines may as well be set in stone, said his dedication and performance come from a much deeper motivation.

"I didn't do anything to deserve this gift," Kershaw said in the article. "God gave me an ability to throw a baseball. He chose me for a reason, and I want to honor Him with that." To read the article featuring Kershaw's inspirational story in FCA Magazine's July/August 2018 issue, visit https://www.fca.org/fca-magazine.

So, what does FCA look like on a day-to-day basis at school? It's a lunch club for every kid – the jocks, nerds, musicians, performing arts students, goths, geeks, cool kids and everyone in-between. Really. This organization was founded on the principle of utilizing the positive power that coaches, youth pastors and community leaders have over students to help foster them into healthy, driven and compassionate humans. It's a Christian-based concept but one that fosters character and compassion in children, which seems like a good thing overall.

So, regardless of religion, FCA is a fun, high-energy lunch club that offers a safe and inspiring place for children to gather, laugh, obliterate each other with dodgeballs, learn and eat pizza. Yes, every week lunch, games and entertainment are brought in to get students amped-up about life and connected with each other because there is power in numbers.

At a time when tweens and teens are judged relentlessly, bullied on social media, experience high levels of stress, performance anxiety, have alarming numbers of suicidal tendencies and are under constant subliminal fear of mass shootings, FCA offers a safe place for children to chill during lunch with like-minded children – the kind of children most folks would like their children to be hanging out with.

Fallbrook and Bonsall's FCA program director Chace Steeves, a Fallbrook High School alumni, is one of those guys who could really make a student's day. As a former high school pastor at Riverview Church in Fallbrook and graduate of Calvary Chapel Bible College, Steeves motivates students to make good choices over so many other bad ones that are thrown in their faces at every turn.

Currently FCA operates at Fallbrook High School, Bonsall High School, Sullivan Middle School and James Potter Junior High. To support FCA, donate goods or give financially, call Steeves at (760) 500-9613 or email him at [email protected]. For information about the overall San Diego FCA program, visit www.sandiegofca.org.