After Ken Butler, a regional representative for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), attended a football practice in August and mentioned the idea of starting an FCA group, football coach Cade Oliver volunteered to be the Huddle Leader.

Organizers held the first meeting on Oct. 18. FCA meets every Wednesday from 6:45 to 7:15 a.m. in Z302. A typical meeting starts with a game or ice breaker and moves into a short Bible study and prayer before the school begins. 

“[Fellowship of Christian Athletes] is a way to start the day on a positive note,” Coach Oliver said. “It teaches students how to deal with their day-to-day struggles with more ease.”

Senior Christian Schlieker participated in Texas A&M’s FCA camp every summer since his freshman year, so he was excited to participate at school. He says the lessons that they go over during meetings help him realize God’s work

“Being a part of FCA has impacted me just by being able to find a group of people who want to worship God and make the school a better place for everyone,” Schlieker said. 

Schlieker said FCA helps remind students they aren’t alone in the world. 

“Sometimes it’s hard to remember that God is good when the world around you is trying to silence you,” Schlieker said. “So, just to see everyone in the room ready to praise God can lift spirits or help you see what you didn’t before.”

Junior Savannah Stewart is thankful FCA gives her and other students a platform to spread God’s word without judgment. 

FCA will host an event Feb. 7 in the gym. Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tejay Antone will speak, followed by pizza, games, worship and small groups.

“Churches in the area love to contribute [and] help reach our generation through FCA,” Stewart said. “We get donations of pizza from them and they help run games and worship.”

FCA welcomes all students to the event and to join the club. FCA focuses more on being a competitor for the Lord and less about being in a sport. 

“FCA is a place where you come as you are and learn about love, compassion, competition and the Lord,” Coach Oliver said. “It allows students to take a look from someone else’s perspective on life and have more of an empathetic view.”