Fellowship of Christian Athletes: students growing together

Student athletes play games to break the ice and begin FCA meeting.  Photo by Kira Roberts.
Student athletes play games to break the ice and begin FCA meeting. Photo by Kira Roberts.

Kira Roberts, Editor-in-Chief

   “Since 1954, Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ,” according to their website.

   The mission of FCA is to “present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.”

   Jeremy Tims is the FCA Area Representative for the OKC Metro.  He lives with his family in Piedmont and has spent the last nine years working in this position.  He became involved with this organization during his college years at Southeastern University when an FCA staff member asked him to join the team.

   “FCA was the only tool that appealed to me as a college athlete. It allowed me to grow in my own walk and gave me the opportunity to invite my teammates to learn about the Lord,” Tims said.

   “I absolutely love getting to drive around the OKC Metro on a daily basis and encourage Coaches to make an impact on their student-athletes’ lives.”

  As far as a vision for FCA at Southern Nazarene this year, Tims would like to see multiple coaches attend meetings as well as to have every team represented at FCA gatherings.  He wants everyone who comes to receive the challenge of growing closer to God on a daily basis.  The goal is to give Him the glory on and off the playing fields/courts at SNU and to reach out and make an impact in the local community schools.

   When asked about a story that stood out to him during his time with FCA, Tims said, “Watching college athletes from all across the state come together to volunteer five days of their summer at an FCA Camp.  Watching them compete, laugh, cry and praise God together. It’s amazing to see how close they come to each other in those few days and how they refuse to let anyone down as they return to their campuses to make a difference for Christ.  I never get tired of seeing this summer after summer!

   “To be a complete athlete you have to be consistent in all three dimensions.  To experience growth physically you must practice, work out and eat consistently.  To grow mentally you must push yourself in the classroom and study.  And to grow spiritually you must commit to being a part of Christ centered organizations and churches.  Once an athlete has made these three dimensions a priority, they will succeed in life and will make an impact for Christ in everything they do!”

   For more information about FCA, contact Jeremy Tims at jtims@fca.org or visit their website at www.fca.org.  Meetings are every other Monday evening at 9:00pm in the Sawyer Storm Room.