Fellowship of Christian Athletes' rally focuses on core values

In an age where winning at all costs is often emphasized, fostering spirited but healthy competition will be one of the primary goals of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Fields of Faith rally at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 in Tiger Stadium at Cape Girardeau Central Senior High School.

Organizers Bill Ray of Poplar Bluff, Mo., FCA area director, and Central teacher-coach Scott Sanders said attendance probably will surpass the 1,100 who took part in a 2011 rally in Cape Girardeau and the 900 who gathered in Jackson last year.

Featuring about 20 local and area high school FCA members as speakers, the event will move to Central's basketball field house if bad weather is threatening. A band of musicians from Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau and other churches will play.

"There is a misconception that sports build character," said Ray, adding that youth pastors from 14 churches are helping to plan the rally. "It's the parents, coaches and other adults who influence the students to conduct themselves with the FCA core values of integrity, service, teamwork and excellence."

Ray cited the example of Tim Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner and All America quarterback at the University of Florida who was cut by the NFL's New England Patriots last month. Ray said, "Tebow knows there will be ups and downs in athletics, just like in life, but that won't change who he is as a Christian.

Bill Ray, co-coordinator of the Fields of Faith event at Jackson High School stadium talks with speakers Charity Butler, a former professional fast-pitch softball player, and Jeff Moran before the Oct. 10, 2012 event. (Adam Vogler)

"If the athletes understand that they're competing not just to win but to exemplify Christ, they will end up being better people. We're looking forward to a big night."

Ray said coaches Darrin Scott of Jackson and Nick Grassi of Scott City also are helping to organize the event.

Sanders said the Kansas City-based Fellowship of Christian Athletes' purpose "is to provide the student athlete with a platform to influence his or her classmates.

"They're expected to be a competitor in every sense of the word but not be solely focused on winning," he said. "Whether the outcome is a win or a loss, their first audience is God."

Asked how players should respond to opponents who compete in an unethical fashion, Sanders said, "Young people today face more challenges on and off the field than ever before. They should focus on their attitude and their game while understanding that not everyone else feels the same way they do."

Sanders said the Fields of Faith rallies, held in Poplar Bluff, Jackson and Cape Girardeau, keep gaining momentum and eventually may top 2,500 in attendance.

He said teens and sponsors will come from throughout the area -- "from the Bootheel to Perryville. It will be an opportunity for students to impact other students and get them into the Word."

As a follow-up, he said, former St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys fullback Tim Lester, representing the Sports World Christian group, will speak at area schools Oct. 8, 9 and 10.

A Fields of Faith rally also is scheduled Wednesday in Poplar Bluff -- the sixth to be held there -- where previous rallies have attracted more than 2,000 people.