Fellowship of Christian Athletes - As a 26-year-old, I can't forget how FCA impacted my Christian walk. I grew up in a Christian environment attending the same church my mother did and accepted Christ at the same camp my siblings did. Even though my church family would be a stepping stone, FCA was the place where I found my relationship with Christ.

Originally, I got involved because of my sister, and I found myself truly at home. The togetherness I found in the organization made for amazing relationships on the playing field with rival teams and opponents. It was amazing being able to talk about God on the playing field, and my own team members began to ask how I developed these relationships with the people we were playing against. It was amazing to see some of those inquirers find Christ for themselves--thanks to the outreach of the Camps and the support of the Christian family.

After I graduated high school I went to college hoping to study youth ministry and eventually work for FCA. During the spring semester I found myself with an invitation to fill out an application for the FCA S.A.L.T. internship, and my dream had come true. Working that summer in West Virginia with the FCA staff was truly life-altering. I made even more friends through FCA, and I truly thought I was on the right path to accomplishing what I'd set out to do after college. Nothing could stop me.

It seemed that God had other plans. I headed back to college only to find the biggest test, yet. The Lord allowed Satan to bring on the pain. I developed an eating disorder as a result of a depression and began a downward spiral with the hope to self-destruct.

After being forced to leave college because of my health, I found myself in a place I'd never been. I was on my knees praying to find the will to live, even though I didn't want to.

I'd saved my FCA Bibles (one of which I still use regularly) and began reading and studying and just reaching out to God. I found old notes from people and Huddle leaders I had met years before at track Camp. These inspired me and reminded me of how friends in Christ never die. Those people, whom I hadn't talked to in years, were helping me.

God saved me. . . again! He worked through those people years later and they don't even know it. I know FCA in and of itself didn't save me, but it was the people I'd met along the way because of FCA that helped--directly and indirectly.

I believe in FCA and what it can to for the students and athletes in this world. I believe that it teaches and helps long after the Huddle meetings and Camps are over.