FCA students focus on serving others

High school athletes are used to hard work. Countless hours are spent training, practicing and competing. These efforts can lead to great success, media attention and possibly a college scholarship. But for the student athletes in the Cape Girardeau Central High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, there's more to life than sports.

Every Wednesday morning a group of about 30 students gathers for the weekly FCA meeting at Central High School. Prayer, Bible devotions and guest speakers are all part of these meetings that help athletes draw closer to God and grow in their Christian faith.

Senior Kristyn Sanders, part of the Central FCA leadership team, says watching the organization grow over the past four years has been encouraging.

"Even in just my four years of FCA, I've seen a major improvement," Sanders said. "My freshman year, the club was very small and we didn't really have new people joining. Now the classroom is overflowing every week and I always see someone new."

Sanders, who is a football and basketball cheerleader, said that it's exciting to see FCA make an impact in the lives of high school students.

"If even a simple Bible verse that I share can bring at least one person closer to God, it has been a successful day."

In addition to the weekly meetings, FCA plays host or partners in several other special events. One of those events was the See You at the Pole rally in late September that attracted 80 students and faculty from the high school.

"Probably the coolest thing I've experienced through FCA is See You at the Pole," Sanders said. "Every September, a morning is set aside to meet at school flag poles all across the country. It is astounding to see how many people show up for this event. We sing a few songs and then pray for anything and everything."

This fall FCA also participated in the Fields of Faith event. Originally planned to take place at Houck Stadium, the event was moved to the Central High School gymnasium due to rain. But even the damp weather didn't stop more than 1,000 students and adults from attending the night of worship and student testimonies. Rich Garza, a former professional football player, also spoke at the rally.

Coach Scott Sanders, one of the Central FCA faculty advisers, said when it came time for the call of commitments at the rally more than 200 students came forward. Out of that crowd, more than 150 young people filled out cards stating a new or recommitted life for Jesus Christ.

"To see so many students sitting down with community members in a public school cafeteria discussing how to start a relationship with the Living God is beyond words," Sanders said.

Joplin trip

In November, 13 FCA members traveled to Joplin, Mo., to help the community in the rebuilding efforts from the tornado that struck the area in May. The students moved truckloads of furniture and toys for the school district and helped with a Salvation Army clothing drive. In addition to their hard work, the students also visited with some of the individuals affected by the tornado.

Coach Sanders, who said he is reading former professional football coach Tony Dungy's book "Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance," told the students they had an opportunity to do something special in this "uncommon" field trip.

As it turned out, the students, in their efforts to help others, received a blessing of their own and grew spiritually.

"Coming back from Joplin or any other mission trip makes you appreciate what you have more because you are able to see people who have absolutely nothing," said Pablo Jaramillo, a junior at Central. "It is so humbling. God has blessed us so much, and we have more than what we could ever need. We shouldn't complain about the little things in life."

Senior Dalton Williams also noted the impact the trip had on his life.

"The Joplin trip changed me by showing how delicate life is," Williams said. "Just visit there and you will be changed."

Coach Sanders echoed these sentiments, saying this was not a "typical Hollywood-version" trip, but rather an opportunity for the students to serve and be involved in the grunt work of the rebuilding efforts.

Central FCA members continued their focus on serving this weekend. Several students planned to participate in the Feed My Starving Children event organized by La Croix United Methodist Church.

To learn more about FCA, go to www.fca.org.

lpresson@semissourian.com

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