FCA: Positive headlines from college athletes

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By Rick Bowles

Executive Director

Greater Dallas/Fort Worth FCA

Do you remember your college years? Ah, just got you going down memory lane and depending on your maturity at the time, there were some good and bad memories.

Personally, I grew 3 inches from my senior year of high school to my freshman year of college and my athletic skills (and confidence) grew with it but it was too late. Yet, it did help me with flag football games on weekends.

Thankfully, I did not rebel much during those years because of the character and integrity my parents taught me and the faith they allowed me to discover through their example.

Many college students fall off track and wind up regretting many of the decisions they made during those years away from home. 

Here at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, time after time, we see the positive impact college student-athletes make on their own campus and serving younger athletes. Recently 60 student-athletes from the DFW area attended an FCA retreat, taking time out of a busy year to learn more about how God can make a difference in their lives.

“I have been searching for clarity as to the Lord’s purpose in my Dad’s passing, and this weekend has helped me greatly.”  - Ben

“This weekend I spent my time at the College FCA camp. My time there has changed my life for eternity. I gave my life to Christ for the first time…” - KC

Those students will have fewer regrets mainly because they are leaning on and trusting a much greater source than their own selfish desires.

In a couple of weeks, 175 plus student-athletes from eight or more universities around Texas will volunteer one or two weekends to serve 7^th and 8^th grade students at an FCA retreat at Sky Ranch in east Texas.  Those college athletes will get very little sleep, will be on “duty” 24/7 and will impact hundreds of lives not only now, but for years to come and eternity. Some of those middle school students will get more one-on-one attention, support and appreciation in one weekend than they would normally get in a year. Can you imagine being in the 7^th grade and your camp counselor is a football “star” from TCU or SMU? 

Why do these college athletes do this? They have discovered the joy of serving and of sharing their personal faith with someone who needs a life-changing experience.

Want to support an organization that provides opportunities like this for middle school students and college athletes who are not making the headlines for the wrong reason?  DFW Fellowship of Christian Athletes needs you!  I’d love to talk with you, contact me at Rbowles@fca.org.