Fellowship of Christian Athletes will enrich your team and your school!

Let God guide you as you start a FCA Huddle

Step 1: Pray for God’s leadership every step of the way.

Step 2: Whether starting a Huddle in school or with your Club team, fully check out all of the FCA Resources available: www.fca.org , www.fcacamps.org, www.fcawrestlinggeorgia.org, www.fcaresources.com. Please see the contact information on the www.fcawrestlinggeorgia.org website for advice and counsel. They are there to help you with any questions that you may have.

Step 3: Approach other Christian wrestlers. Ask Jesus to help you identify wrestlers that he has chosen to help in His work. Watch for indications of their faith. This is evident in their behavior, speech, attitudes toward others, attitudes toward the scriptures and especially their attitude towards God. Ask for these teammates to get involved.

Step 4: Prayerfully seek a sponsor, an adult advisor among coaches and teachers, or perhaps a minister. Seek advice from him or her and from a FCA staff person in your area or state. (Visit www.fca.org for more info) Discuss your efforts with your youth minister and pastor. FCA supports local church life in Huddle Ministry. (Please call and introduce yourself to the Ga. FCA Wrestling Director, Bill Gifford, 770-364-2527, he will be happy to help you get started.

Step 5: Organize an information meeting. Invite interested athletes and leaders. Discuss FCA and Huddle organization, involvement, goals, meeting times and places. Possible goals might be Bible study, prayer, encouragement and conflict resolution, outreach to others and sharing faith and hopes. In discussing a meeting place, seek the most convenient location for the most students. A school coach can advise you of school meeting policies; you may consider a restaurant or home from a non-school club wrestling huddle. Please keep in mind that a school huddle must be student-led looking to the advisor for suggestions, wisdom, and assistance with issues. Be familiar with student rights to organize and meet; discuss any concerns with FCA Staff. Most huddles meet once a week; try to pick the best time and place and consistently stick to these arrangements. If a need to change becomes apparent, take prayerful care to support any huddle members who may be inconvenienced.

Step 6:  Establish a regular format for the team huddles. Most people are more comfortable with consistency and predictability. For FCA Wrestling huddles, start with the lesson, pretty much as it is written. Finish it in no more than seven minutes. Include the discussion questions for another five minutes or so, depending on the level of participation. Try to close in prayer within 15 minutes of the start time. Encourage them to read the & study the Bible passage on their own, perhaps even memorize the key verse. Always be sure the focus is on Christ Jesus, and His life and teachings. (Note: FCA and other campus ministries have good materials for extra Bible study, if they are interested. The FCA Bible has some good tools to look at. FCA & Athletes-in-Action both have some good Bible study materials for athletes & coaches.)

Step 7: Finally and importantly, GET STARTED! Don’t wait until everything is “just right”. Jesus told us, two or three are enough. With faith, prayer and God’s blessings, your huddle will be the strongest team on campus!

For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them (Matthew 18:20)