#FCAVirtual: 3 Ways to Stay a Team in a Time of Separation
Team Relationships Don’t Have to Fade Away—Instead, Says Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Re-Imagine Community
May 26, 2020
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—In these days of social distancing, it’s difficult to maintain the tight friendships forged in the everyday interactions of athletes on sports teams. Just because coaches and athletes can’t be in the same location together doesn’t mean they should let those relationships fade away.
But, asks the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org), how can teams stay close when that tight-knit community isn’t available?
Answer: We must re-imagine community.
FCA is offering three ideas for “Staying a Team in the Time of Social Distancing”—just one of many resources within FCA Virtual, an online and social media initiative to rally coaches, athletes and staff around the incredible stories of what God is doing through virtual FCA ministry, because FCA knows that ministry work is never cancelled. FCA Virtual also helps coaches, athletes and teams to keep up with evolving ministry and training events in the field, as they unify leaders around a common rallying cry during a time of increased isolation.
“The Bible reminds us in Psalm 133:1: ‘How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers [and sisters] live together in harmony!’” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “Dwelling together means connecting on a deeper level. We often think of this in real-time terms, face-to-face interaction and literally being in the same space. But this can also mean team building outside the box in creative ways. Just because we may not be physically in the same space doesn’t mean team bonding has to stop. Thanks to the digital technology of today, we can still ‘meet together’ and stay more connected to our teammates and coaches through virtual avenues.”
For those who want to stay connected with their teams this spring and summer, FCA offers three ideas:
- Start a Prayer Chain
Email or text a Bible verse of the day and center a prayer around it. Then, ask teammates and coaches for any prayer requests they have. Respond to the requests and build on them to keep a continuous circle of prayer going throughout the day. Ask how God wants us to respond to what He’s doing in our communities and around the world.
- Begin an Online Bible Study
There are plenty of resources available for online study, or ways to tweak the studies to make them accessible for a digital version. Gather teams together to discuss the topic of the day and compare notes on what God is teaching you through the message.
Teams can start a Huddle through #FCAvirtual here and search the #FCAvirtual online community to find the content that works best for them, including the following:
- YouVersion Bible reading plans (FCA has over 50 plans to choose from.)
- The FOUR Gospel presentation
- Daily Impact Play devotionals
- FCA Resources (Choose from thousands of options.)
- Spread Kindness, Not Fear
Come up with a list of kind acts of service that can be done from a distance and share with teams. Write a letter to a friend, send a note of encouragement to a shut-in at church or post a Bible verse about God’s goodness on social media accounts. Come up with other ideas and encourage teammates to add their own as well, then tag one another to see how far and quickly God’s kindness can spread.
FCA reminds that wherever we are, God is too. He is not bound by physical limitations or time, and through His Holy Spirit, He is with us always. We can rest assured that He sees and knows and is still using His people to share a message of hope and grace through Jesus.
Read more about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes here, visit FCA’s website www.fca.org, or connect on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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To interview a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Patrick Benner, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
