***NEWS RELEASE***

For Immediate Release
June 5, 2017

CONTACT:
Deborah Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies, 215.815.7716, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com

Hundreds of Fellowship of Christian Athletes Camps in Full Swing, on Target to Reach 100,000 or More, with a Theme of ‘ONE’

700+ FCA Camps Kick Off This Summer in At Least 40 States Across the U.S. and 45 Countries Around the World

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The first official day of summer might be a couple weeks away, but the unofficial start of the season kicked off on Memorial Day, which means that hundreds of coaches, athletes and teams will be heading to Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA, www.fca.org) Camps each week this summer.

As registrations ramp up, parents of athletes, as well as coaches and entire teams, can find Camps by sport, day or location through FCA’s easy-to-use Camps site. Last summer, more than 100,000 coaches and athletes converged at 720 Camp events in 40 states and in 45 countries around the world, where 8,788 coaches and athletes made first-time commitments to Christ and 11,256 recommitted their lives to Christ. The 2016 attendance was an increase of more than 10,000 over 2015.

FCA’s 2017 Camps theme is “ONE,” based on the Bible verse Philippians 1:27: “… I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News” (NLT).

“When athletes focus on Jesus, have fun and get better at their favorite sport, while teams unite around a common goal, the results are sure to be incredible,” said Jeff Martin, FCA’s Executive Vice President of Ministry Advancement. “As Christian athletes, we can accomplish so much more together for Christ’s Kingdom with one mind, one purpose and one goal; we can rally and follow the one true God who brings us all together. There is great impact when Christian athletes stand together as one, which is why FCA’s 2017 Camps theme of ‘ONE’ is so fitting.”

FCA Camp organizers see the impact firsthand, as campers and coaches report how these events change not only their outlook on sports, but their faith in Jesus and their entire lives.

“FCA Camp really impacted me by showing me what it means to have an ‘all in’ attitude,” said one camper. “It not only taught me to be ‘all in’ with soccer, family and friends, but also in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I will give it everything I have to build that bond between the Lord and I, and I will become a better follower of him through that.”

Added another camper, “God showed me through FCA Camp that you don’t need to be anxious about your future because He will always have my back.”

Coaches, leaders and staff are impacted just as much as the young athletes they are guiding and mentoring.

“FCA Camp was a great experience for our team to come together, bond and get to know one another better,” said one coach, while an FCA staff member added, “FCA Coaches Camp is extremely important to our local FCA Ministry. Every coach we get to camp not only returns renewed and excited in their personal walk with the Lord, but they also come back with a greater sense of how they can utilize the FCA Ministry to impact their teams and campuses for Jesus.”

Said another coach, “I’ve been able to grow in my relationship with God by being surrounded by other Christian coaches and believers discussing challenges faced everyday fighting to live counter cultural to society’s expectations of sport.”

And for one FCA Huddle Leader, the impact was eternal.

“FCA Camp showed me that my story can change lives, and my struggles had a light at the end of them. I loved being a Huddle Leader and impacting young lives.”

In the coming weeks, hundreds of Camps all around the world will reach more than 100,000 participants. In 2016, FCA’s Camps ministry experienced another record-breaking year, with a total attendance of 106,000 at 720 Camps in 40 states and 45 countries. The 2016 attendance was an increase of more than 10,000 over 2015.

For the immensely successful and popular Camps ministry, FCA takes the best attributes of both athletic- and spiritual-focused camp events and combines them into an athletic/spiritual experience like none other. Camps also remove athletes and coaches from the daily routine of their sport, friends/co-workers and community, and place them into an exciting, healthy, athletic environment that allows them to pursue their passion for sport and clearly see and hear Christ’s passion for them.

The seven types of FCA Camps, planned around the world this summer, include:

• Coaches Camps challenge coaches in their faith and family life, and allow coaches to be spiritually, relationally and professionally refreshed. Coaches Camps are for single and married coaches and their families and are designed to minister, to equip and to encourage. FCA Camps minister to coaches through Bible studies, small groups, fellowship, prayer support, discipleship and mentoring.
• Leadership Camps train athletes to be spiritual leaders in their personal lives, on their teams and on their campuses. These Camps are geared toward student-athletes, FCA Huddle Coaches and volunteers who serve as leaders. Camps focus on teaching practical skills for Christian growth, developing effective leaders and preparing participants for FCA Huddle ministry.
• Partnership Camps work with other ministries and organizations involved in sports ministry. At Partnership Camps, FCA develops a relationship with an existing Camp to provide the spiritual and/or the athletic aspect of the program. This can include FCA Camp curriculum, FCA resources, speakers, Huddle meetings and staff.
• Power Camps develop young athletes in their faith and their sport. Power Camps are typically for young athletes ages 8 to 12 who want to develop their sports skills. These Camps provide excellent instruction and competition through sports-specific and multi-sport focus, and are normally day Camps that involve the local community.
• Sports Camps specifically focus on “Training the Total Athlete” and develop athletes mentally, physically and spiritually. Sports Camps are for athletes and coaches who want to develop their athletic skills through outstanding instruction, skill development and intense competition.
• Team Camps equip teams with spiritual principles through competition and are designed to impact coaches and athletes for Christ through team competition. Coaches enroll their players to attend this Camp as a team. Team Camps are a wonderful outreach opportunity, and coaches benefit greatly by evaluating their team’s talent. Team Camps serve the coaches by providing an incredible Camp experience for their players while building team unity.
• International Camps focus on worldwide impact and reach coaches and athletes around the globe.

To find FCA Camps in specific areas or to inquire about volunteering at an FCA Camp, visit www.fcacamps.org. 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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To interview a representative from Fellowship of Christian Athletes, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.