5 HPU Students go to 2012 FCA College Advance

The Brownwood Area FCA sent 5 Howard Payne University students to FCA’s annual College Advance on January 27-29, 2012 at Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose, Texas.

Over 400 students from nearly 50 different schools across Texas attended the camp, including: Junior Colleges, NAIA, NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III. Throughout the weekend they had the opportunity to compete in co-ed team events, small group times, and chapel worship services. Scott Crenshaw, Sr. Pastor of New River Fellowship Church in Weatherford, Texas was the camp chaplain and the worship music for the weekend was led by the Zeke Dorr Band. During the invitation given at the Saturday night chapel, nearly 50 student-athletes stood to receive Christ, either for their first time or re-commitment.

These 5 HPU students were able to attend because of scholarship donations made by the generous supporters of FCA in our community. Thank you for making a difference with your investments. Read the 5 students’ testimonies below to see the impact you made possible.

HPU Students at 2012 FCA College Advance
Left to Right: Michael Ballejo, Charles Hill, Jennifer Kotzur, Kevin Domingue & Taylor Casleberry

“What made the FCA extreme so incredible was the community that we got to share among other believers our age with our same passions and goals in mind. Getting to encourage and build up one another reminded me of what being a family of believers is really about. God definitely worked in my life throughout the weekend, as I know He did great things in others’ lives as well.”

- Taylor Castleberry, HPU junior FCA huddle leader.

“I was very blessed to be able to attend the FCA Extreme weekend. It was amazing to see so many individuals from so many different places with such varying talents and abilities come together and be united by not only sports, but most importantly our savior, Jesus Christ. Despite only being with our "huddle" for a short amount of time you are able to develop relationships with those guys due to the simple fact that we all have a similar goal: Colossians 3:17. I already look forward to next year’s camp and am excited for God's plan of everyday for the rest of my life.”

- Kevin Domingue, HPU freshman football player.

“It was a great experience and an opportunity to interact with athletes from all walks of life, but still call them my brothers and sisters in Christ. I was encouraged and motivated by my new amazing teammates and friends. The entire weekend was truly filled with Christ and the Holy Spirit. We all look forward to going back next year and hope more students from HPU will attend.” 

- Jennifer Kotzur, HPU grad student FCA member.

“Camp was pretty fun.  I enjoyed going to Glen Rose and getting to meet other athletes, especially Division-I athletes.  It was AWESOME getting to see D-I athletes turning to Jesus Christ and cool to see how they interacted with others, regardless of their college size.  Also, the speaker really spoke to me in a very positive way.”   

- Charles Hill, HPU freshman football player.

“College Advance was so awesome. It was really neat to watch and participate in how sports brought a group of strangers close enough to call each other brother and sister and tell them you love them. FCA impacted me so much and I will remember the group I was with forever. God is so good.”              

- Michael Ballejo, HPU freshman FCA member.

FCA History

 

FCA Camp 2012

2012 Camp Theme
“In the Zone” - Ephesians 3:20

Everyone at an athletic competition knows the moment it happens. The competitors can sense it; the coaches can only watch it and the fans are in awe of it. It’s the instant when an athlete takes his or her game to a higher level during the course of a contest. Something happens that catapults the athlete into a stage of competitive performance where every skill is performed with perfection and every move is executed flawlessly. The competitor’s confidence rises with every second that goes by…and he or she literally becomes unstoppable. The athlete is playing “In the Zone.”

God desires each one of us to live our lives “In the Zone” through an unstoppable faith. He calls us to a higher level of living that is much greater than simply living for ourselves. What would our teams or athletic programs look like if students lived their life “In the Zone” for the Lord? How would things change on our campuses if coaches and athletes lived out an unstoppable faith in Jesus Christ? Is this level of spiritual influence possible? Absolutely! It’s time to live “In the Zone” for Jesus Christ!

Sponsor a student/coach to Go to Camp
2012 Camps are right around the corner! We had a record 351 camps last year. Only a hand full of Brownwood middle school girls from our area went to camp last summer. Two area coaches and their wives, from Brady and Early, were also able to attend our FCA Coaches Retreat in Horseshoe Bay last July because of generous donations that made their scholarships possible. Please consider making a difference this year by sponsoring a student-athlete or coach to attend camp! Either way, be in prayer for our coaches and athletes who are able to go.

2012 Texas FCA Camps
Save The Dates: 

FCA Leadership Camp (HSU/Abilene)                             June 4-8

FCA Sports Camp (Texas Tech/Lubbock)                         June 18-22

FCA Sports Camp (Texas A&M/College Station)              July 2-6

Coaches Enrichment Retreat (Horseshoe Bay Resort)     July 12-15

Camp Video, Info & Online Registration

www.fcacamps.org/

The "4 C's" of FCA Ministry

Coaches Ministry
At the heart of FCA are coaches. Our role is to encourage and equip them to be role models in knowing and serving Christ. FCA ministers to coaches at every level through our Heart of a Coach program, R12 Coach discipleship training, 3D Coaching Bible study, outreach events, training and resources. Resources include coach-specific Bibles and devotionals. In addition to FCA staff discipling and mentoring coaches, we provide marriage weekends and retreats at Horseshoe Bay Resort every July.  Our outreach events include programs at national and local coaches' conventions. Locally, we attend the THSCA School every July and provide a Coaches Appreciation Luncheon in Brownwood every August. In the Brownwood Area, there are over 310 coaches in the schools FCA impacts.

 Campus Ministry
The FCA Campus Ministry is initiated and led by student-athletes and coaches on junior-high, high school and college campuses. FCA's goal is to enable student-athletes to know and grow in their faith in Christ and to encourage their peers to do the same. Our programs include Huddles (school clubs), team Bible studies, pre-game devotionals, chapel assembly programs, prayer groups, TeamFCA membership, our One Way 2 Play - Drug Free program and  Fields of Faith. Locally, there are 18 active FCA Huddles in the Brownwood Area, which consists of 7 counties, 31 school districts, and over 18,000 students.

Camp Ministry
Camps are a time of "inspiration and perspiration" for athletes and coaches to reach their potential by offering comprehensive athletic, spiritual and leadership training. Now FCA offers over 350 camps including Sports Camps, Leadership Camps, Coaches Camps, Team Camps, Partnership Camps and Youth Sports Camps called Power Camp. To learn more, please visit our FCA Camp Website: www.fcacamps.org/

Community Ministry
FCA reaches out to the community through our non-school-based FCA ministries and programs which are made possible through partnerships with parents, volunteers, local churches and businesses. The dramatic growth of club, league and church sports, presents a significant opportunity for FCA, and we have established many sport-specific FCA ministries including golf, lacrosse, baseball, health and fitness, motocross, volleyball, soccer and endurance. In the Big Country, Fields of Faith and the annual Myrle Greathouse FCA All-Star Classic football and basketball games also make a great impact locally.

What is FCA?

About FCA

Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has challenged athletes and coaches to impact the world for Jesus Christ. FCA is cultivating Christian principles in local communities nationwide by encouraging, equipping and empowering others to serve as examples and to make a difference. The playing field is where many cultivate their values. A staggering 41 million kids between 8 and 18 play competitive sports. That's why, as the largest interdenominational sports ministry in the world, we believe FCA is needed more than ever. FCA reaches well over two million each year for Christ on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels through our "4 C's" of Ministry: Coaches, Campus, Camps and Community. With greatly valued volunteer and financial support, we are indeed putting the heart and soul in sports.

Our Vision

To see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches.

Our Mission

To present to athletes and coaches 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.

Our Values

Integrity | Serving | Teamwork | Excellence