Kyle Oldham was born and raised in Hardin County, Kentucky, in the heart of the Bluegrass State. With a love for the area and a desire to see others come to faith and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, he was a natural fit to re-establish a Fellowship of Christian Athletes presence in the area.
“This was kind of a gray area for FCA for 10-15 years,” said Oldham, who stayed in the state to get a degree in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine at Georgetown College, then earned his Master’s in Exercise Science at Western Kentucky University. “There was a long span of time where we didn’t have a director or any full-time staff. You need people who can provide resources, connect with others and help the ministry grow.”
Some schools had Huddles, but there was a lack of actual investment with prominent supporters or certified Huddle Leaders.
Oldham was up to the task.
Before Oldham could get going, though, he needed support.
FCA Kentucky State Director Brian Runyan asked David Byrd, the Multi-Area Director who also leads FCA at WKU, to establish a Board of Directors before Oldham’s start.
They specifically set their sights on Elizabethtown, which was circled as a strategic location for FCA.
“It is a community of over 100,000 people, one of the state's fastest-growing areas and they love their athletic programs,” said Runyan.
Runyon noted the board’s establishment came from Byrd’s relationship-building.
“The leadership board is made up of individuals in the community who will guard, guide and support the ministry and staff when needed,” said Byrd. “We felt like that was the first step toward success and giving FCA staying power.”
The board formed quickly, and the next step was hiring a staff person. At that point we weren’t even concerned about getting clubs started. We needed someone in charge,” said Byrd.
Oldham was the clear pick.
“He has a love for the Lord and a love for these schools,” Byrd added. “His passion is to see the Gospel shared, and with his background as an athletic trainer, he already knew a lot of the athletes. One of our board members said that upon meeting Kyle, she felt very strongly that this was who the Lord was raising up before Kyle even said a word.”
In August, Oldham celebrated three years as the Heartland of Kentucky FCA Director, overseeing FCA’s efforts in Washington, Marion, Nelson, Breckenridge, Grayson, Meade, LaRue and Hardin counties.
He estimated that when he began, there were just three to five Huddles in his ministry area, which included approximately 300 students. Now, around 2,500 students are part of 52 certified Huddles.
“It’s the little things we do that make a difference,” said Oldham. “You plant seeds, and those go a long way. God does all the work.”
“FCA was an answer to Kyle’s prayer,” said Runyan, “and Kyle was an answer to ours.”
To learn more about becoming a board member in your area, visit FCA.org/get-involved.
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