CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is a worldwide nonprofit organization that focuses on serving local communities by “engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire and change the world through the gospel.”

Gary Rankhorn, FCA Area Director for Northwest Middle Tennessee, said FCA began with a coach who was a pastor in 1954 who saw that prominent athletes of the time were using their prowess as an athlete to be able to sell products.

“For us it’s established the foundation of using that vehicle of sport for reaching people to not sell a product but be able to talk to them about life and be able to connect in that world about what does it mean to have a relationship with Jesus Christ,” said Rankhorn.

The FCA office in Clarksville is a partnership between the FCA Board and staff that serves Montgomery, Cheatham, Stewart and Houston Counties as well as Fort Campbell. The board and staff work together to help the organization with their Christian ministry.

Rankhorn referred to a poll he read that said 96 percent of all Americans either participate in or watch a form of athletics every week.

FCA’s vision is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. “We’re a field driven ministry so we try to be out there on those campuses and connecting with those coaches, those teams and those athletes in that school,” Rankhorn said.

Rankhorn said FCA is a faith driven ministry, not a denominational based ministry focused on one denomination within the church, they are interdenominational meaning we focus on our relationship with Christ and we partner with others to do that.

FCA is a nonprofit organization that accepts donations but they also have fundraising events including a fall banquet and a spring golf challenge. This year’s banquet is set for October 23 at First Baptist Church downtown.

Summer camps are another major project for FCA throughout the world. The camps help bring coaches and athletes together not only to work on their sport but to also be challenged and inspired beyond the game. FCA will be hosting a one-day Team Football Camp at Austin Peay State University on July 10.

To learn more about the Northwest Middle Tennessee chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes visit www.fcanwmt.org or call 931-919-4800.