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Fellowship of Christian Athletes Looks Back on Blessings of the Year and Impact the Lord Has Allowed Ministry to Make in the World of Sports

After 63 Years of Reaching Coaches and Athletes for Christ, FCA Reflects on God’s Grace and Guidance in 2017

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The end of each year is naturally a time to look back upon the blessings God has bestowed, especially as those who put their faith in Him reflect on the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

After more than six decades in ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org) is also reflecting on the amazing impact God has allowed the ministry to make on coaches and athletes around the world.

This past year, FCA’s ministry theme was “ONE,” and through God’s power and nearly 1,600 staff and tens of thousands of donors and volunteers, FCA reached approximately two million people through ministry efforts that impacted coaches, athletes, families, school campuses and entire communities, both here in the U.S. and abroad. The Bible verse for 2017 certainly aligned with this ministry focus: “I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News” (Philippians 1:27 NLT).

“The Fellowship of Christian Athletes continues to band together as ONE body in Christ through the influence of sports,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson, looking back on his own first full year in leadership. “True to this year’s ONE theme, FCA had the privilege of coming alongside coaches and athletes to equip, serve and strengthen their faith in God to live wholeheartedly for Him. In ways only He can, God continues to take His ministry to new heights and greater depths.

“Staff numbers are expanding, more ground is gained and tens of thousands of coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, are coming to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ,” Williamson continued. “And the ministry of FCA has been supported by those who, with earnest hearts, give their time, talent and treasure to present the gospel and impact countless lives of coaches and athletes to be unified as ONE body for such a time as this.”

FCA saw an incredibly impactful year across the globe, with workers and resources reaching far and wide. Highlights from the past year include the following:

Feedback from those impacted by these efforts illustrated the power of God leading willing servants through the sports they love:

Around the world, FCA International continues to expand rapidly with a three-pronged strategy to: Pray, Give and Go. FCA now serves in 62 countries through 164 leaders and countless volunteers who spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all corners of the globe. FCA supports initiatives and partnerships that provide opportunities for leaders in sport ministries within their own countries by equipping them with the programs, services, support, resources and tools to grow their ministries.

In 2017, FCA International touched thousands of lives by leading or facilitating nearly 300 international Camps, with more than 40,000 in attendance. The ministry also hosted 876 Huddles, attended by nearly 22,000. FCA International reached coaches through more than 100 3D Coaching Workshops, attended by 4,743 coaches—an increase of more than 1,500 over last year. Through all FCA International events and efforts—and by God’s grace—6,667 outside the U.S. made first-time commitments to Christ.

Throughout the year, FCA Magazine also introduced readers to the biggest names in the world of sports—coaches and athletes who put their faith in Christ on and off the field. In 2017, some of those stories included:

Read more about Fellowship of Christian Athletes here, visit FCA’s web site at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcafans or its Twitter feed @fcanews.

 

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