What is FCA?
Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
What is a fellowship?
Friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
A person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings.
What does it mean to be an athlete?
A person who is proficient in sports
What does it mean to be a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes?
FCA at UT Martin is every Monday night at 7:31 (Martin area code). Athletes from multiple sports teams meet, making time to gather in fellowship. FCA is student led, so the students are the ones to teach His word and pray. FCA brings a unique opportunity for student athletes to bring all their worries and struggles on Monday nights, and let them go, in the presence of fellow Christian athletes.
Mary Leslie Cranford, junior on the volleyball team and leadership team member of FCA, describes FCA as, “one of my biggest blessings throughout the week.” Cranford states that FCA creates, “community, fellowship, and spiritual growth among athletes here at UTM,” and emphasizes the importance of using the platform, and our God given talents as an athlete, to impact others and spread the word. Cranford wants her fellow athletes to know how to impact their teammates on the field or court, as well as the rest of the world. She uses FCA as a means to spread this message.
Jack Blyth, graduate student on the men’s cross country team, also is a part of the FCA leadership team. Blyth is sponsored by I Am Second, a non-profit organization that preaches and inspires people to put God first. Blyth explains the organization as, “The premise is God first, I am second. It takes the ‘me’ out of it. Oftentimes, as athletes, we remove God and just say ‘I won …’ or ‘look at what I did’ without realizing that we are in the situation we are in because of the Lord, not ourselves.” Blyth uses FCA as a means to spread this message.
So what does it mean to be a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes?
It means to be in community. It means that ‘I Am Second.’ It means being blessed each week. It means spiritual growth. But most of all, it means to be more than just an athlete, because as Blyth says, “at the end of the day, the trophies, the rings, the conference titles… those won’t get taken up with us in eternity.”
Calling all UT Martin athletes to join FCA Monday night at 7:31 pm in fellowship.
