June 8, 2026
FCA’s Pro & Collegiate Conference fosters growth, team spirit and connection for staff and volunteers
Mike Blanc, FCA Executive VP of Pro and Elite Sports CEO: ‘This conference was a powerful reminder of what makes FCA so special’
AUBURN, Ala. — Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) recently hosted this year’s Pro & Collegiate Conference, bringing together staff and volunteers from across the country for a time of connection, training and spiritual growth. Held May 19-21 at Auburn University, the conference focused on equipping FCA leaders to advance the ministry’s mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.
Throughout the three-day event, attendees participated in worship gatherings, breakout sessions and collaborative discussions focused on FCA’s E3 ministry strategy of engage, equip and empower, while also building relationships through key networking opportunities.
The Pro & Collegiate Conference featured guest speaker and former NFL professional C.L. “Shep” Shepherd, a culture coach, author and performance consultant known for his work in motivation and personal growth. Shepherd shared insights from his experience working in high-performance environments and challenged attendees in their calling to serve athletes and coaches with excellence and intentionality.
Attendees represented a massive footprint across the sports ministry, with FCA staff from over 50 collegiate teams, 30 Power 4 teams, 13 professional teams and three international teams. Anchored by the theme of the “Ministry of Presence,” leaders walked away with sharp, actionable blueprints for program building, chaplaincy, pro & elite ministry and collegiate ministry.
Mike Blanc, FCA Executive VP of Pro and Elite Sports, shared, “This conference was a powerful reminder of what makes FCA so special — people who are deeply committed to serving coaches and athletes while pointing them to Christ. Through it all, God’s word was preached, vulnerable testimonies of shortcomings and faithfulness were shared and practical application of how to walk aligned to FCA’s mission and vision through the strategy of E3 was received.”
One FCA staff member shared, “This year’s conference was a spiritual overflow. Learning from chaplains across the country and hearing their wisdom gave me a new perspective on serving people and leading well. My favorite parts were the fellowship, connections and breakout sessions, which offered practical wisdom on what it truly means to serve with compassion, intentionality and presence.”
Olivia Crum, FCA Director of Recruiting, reflected, “The conference was like a family reunion with FCA staff who truly see one another. These team members are committed to their work to make disciples who make disciples with excellence. The FCA team also announced and filmed a chaplaincy training while there and I believe this will bring incredible support to current and future pro and collegiate staff. The group left challenged to be faithful, excellent and encouraged to remain servants surrendered to God to do the work!”
Blanc summarized, “By giving staff and volunteers the opportunity to connect, encourage one another and grow together in their calling, we believe the impact of this time together will extend far beyond these three days.”
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Its mission is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. FCA’s guiding values are integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence.
Since 1954, FCA has used the powerful medium of sports and building relationships to reach the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is cultivating Christian principles by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same so that lives are changed for current and future generations.
Visit Fellowship of Christian Athletes at fca.org and on Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
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To interview a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative, contact Hamilton Strategies, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Jeff Tolson, ext. 108.
