Casting Vision

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Lately I’ve been having a lot of discussions with FCA leaders all over the county about the vision of FCA.  Student leaders always start out the school year so enthusiastic about getting their huddles up and running, but when the reality of homework, sports practices, and college applications set in, they sometimes start to lose their focus.  Believe me, I get it.  I remember what it was like to be a high school senior in Loudoun County, taking 4 AP classes, running cross country, being in charge of several clubs and extracurricular activities, and trying to make sure my college applications were completed on time.  My hope is that by reminding them about the purpose of FCA, their role as a leader will be more about the passion of reaching their school for Jesus and less about one more thing they have to juggle in their overbooked schedules. 
 The vision of Fellowship of Christian Athletes is to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.  I don’t think anyone in America would deny the fact that sports are influential in our culture.  Whether it’s the social hierarchy of high school or those competing at the college and professional level, coaches and athletes have sway in our society.  While there are certainly times that this influence is a negative thing, and I think we can all think of professional athletes that fit this criteria, the impact of coaches and athletes can also be wonderful.
Shortly after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area at the end of August, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt announced he was starting a fundraiser for relief efforts.  His initial goal of $200,000 was very quickly surpassed and because of his efforts and donations from people all over the U.S., his foundation ended up raising over $37 million to help rebuild in Houston.  I’m sure there are a lot of well meaning, financially blessed Texans who gave and supported efforts for Hurricane Harvey relief, but without the clout of “3 time NFL defensive player of the year” behind them, they would have a much more difficult time raising $37 million. 

            So what’s the point?  Without keeping this vision in mind, FCA huddles could very easily turn into a nice club where Christian kids can gather in a safe space.  Except that, praise God, Christians in our country already have a safe place to gather: Church.  We want to impact as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We recognize that coaches and athletes are influential figures in our culture.  So by focusing our efforts on them, we know we will be able to share the gospel with so many people.  And that, is a victory worth celebrating! 

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