This article appears in the Spring 2025 issue of the FCA Donor Publication. The FCA publication is a gift from our FCA staff to all donors giving $50 or more annually. For more information about giving, visit here. 

Spreading the Word

FCA distributed 219,444 Bibles in 2024 as it marked 70 years of staying true to the mission of leading every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. FCA remains one of the most committed Bible distributors in the world, printing about 200,000 Bibles every year and distributing nearly 3 million Bibles around the world in the past 15 years. FCA has engaged in Bible ministry since its first camp in 1956. “We are committed to God’s Word and biblical truth, and we continue to be amazed at what God is doing to get His Word into the hands of coaches and athletes around the world,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson.

The Heart behind [THE] Huddle: for women

In January, [THE] Huddle: for women celebrated its fifth year of existence. This unique Huddle, co-founded by Sarah Roberts and Mindy Hopman, is a gathering for female coaches, athletes and staff to pray and worship together, hear biblical teaching, and have a space to share about struggles and how God is working in their hearts. This year’s event was held at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island, Ga., a tranquil campus on the scenic Frederica River. Throughout the week, thoughtful personal touches made the experience truly special. Each table was beautifully set, and attendees received gift bags filled with goodies like journals, an encouraging book, a tea candle and a Huddle sweatshirt. A cozy cottage was transformed into an intimate prayer room with words of encouragement for each attendee, who were personally prayed over by the Huddle Lead Team. The week also included moments of worship and an afternoon of free time with options to explore the island and fellowship. Many attendees participated in the Run to Remember, a 5K run/walk in honor of Paul Cifaldi, FCA Regional Director of Donor and Board Advancement for the Carolinas Region who passed away last summer from cancer. Shortly after the event, FCA released a related video and curriculum series in an effort to bring women together in homes, churches, coffee shops and any meeting space to watch teaching videos and create authentic community.

Faith, Food and Football 

On January 27, Southern Alabama FCA held its annual Chick-fil-A Senior Bowl Rally at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, five days before the Senior Bowl, a yearly college football showcase game at the University of South Alabama that features top prospects and serves as one of the first steps in the NFL Draft process. Seventeen Senior Bowl players, including Texas Christian wide receiver Jack Bech and Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, attended and shared about faith and football for the 1,700 students in the crowd. These testimonies, as well as Southern Alabama Area Representative Maddie Bergeron’s presentation of The FOUR, resulted in 57 students making faith decisions. “It’s wonderful to see how the partnership between FCA and the Senior Bowl has made such a lasting impact over 40-plus years,” said Southern Alabama FCA Multi-Area Director Dennis Hayford.

Olympic Fields of Faith

Last October, Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone spoke at Ventura County FCA’s Fields of Faith in Moorpark, Calif. McLaughlin-Levrone, a hurdle and sprint star, became the youngest athlete since 1980 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic track team at age 16, won gold in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, and set four world records from June 2021 to July 2022. At Fields of Faith, she spoke about her Christian testimony, how her faith transforms her approach to track and more. She told the crowd, “You don’t have the answers and that’s okay; you’re not supposed to. But there is One who does, and He died for you. Your value is not placed in whether you win or lose a race; your value is fixed in Christ.There is a debt that all of us have to pay. We’re born into sin, and Christ graciously died for that debt. Now you have the opportunity to place your faith in Him.”

Gothia Cup

FCA Soccer clubs from Coachella Valley and the High Desert in Southern California combined to send a boys team to the largest youth soccer tournament in the world, the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2024. Many of the athletes who were asked to compete in the tournament are from underserved communities and had never traveled outside the United States before. The team performed well, reaching the semifinals of its bracket, and they carried themselves in a way that other teams couldn’t help but notice. After each game, the players handed out The FOUR bracelets, which share the Gospel in four simple truths.The team also worshipped at a local church one evening in a service set up specially for them.

Huddles in the Great Outdoors

FCA’s Outdoor Huddles are thriving, even as they often meet at some interesting locations. Outdoor Huddles have gathered at boat ramps, parks, gun ranges and horse arenas. Other Outdoor Huddles are also meeting on school campuses, and several have found a great fit in Future Farmers of America (FFA) classrooms. In South Georgia, FCA Outdoors Area Representative Gerald Pannell coordinates five FCA Huddles in FFA rooms, averaging 25 to 30 students each meeting. Sam Surrat, a 12th grader at Brainbridge High School in Georgia, said, “Fellowship of Christian Athletes Outdoors had a significant impact on FFA, starting by building a strong sense of community and understanding of Christ while also exploring creation. FCA Outdoors will always play a vital role in my life and hopefully many more teens like me.”

-FCA-