The global organization FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is a community working towards seeing the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. The organization desires to see every coach and athlete grow in their faith, seeking to make disciples through their strategy of engaging, educating and empowering coaches, as well as athletes to know and grow in Christ while leading others in the same direction. In October of 2023, Manitou Springs High School joined in on FCA and created a club of their own.
Jimmy Morin, a former athletic trainer at MSHS, was the previous supervisor of FCA before moving on from MSHS in 2024. Gabriela Santos, the current head varsity coach of the girls basketball team, and health teacher, is now filling his shoes. After Morin retired, Santos was asked by previous club members of FCA and student athletes, Leah Aldridge (11) and Nora Bowie (11) to be a supervisor for the club. “They came to me looking for a home for FCA,” Santos said.
Santos agreed to be a supervisor not only because she appreciates Aldridge and Bowie, but also because she wants to support clubs. “Any club that helps students build community is something that we should keep alive and not fall apart when staff changes,” Santos said.
This semester the club has pivoted. “We are shifting focus this semester into spending more time with the club itself and the people in it, through worshiping God, and going to church together,” Aldridge said.
Bowie has ideas for the future of FCA. “We want to try volunteering with the club, and continue to grow closer to God and be better Christians,” she said.
Apart from the main goals for the club as a whole, Aldridge and Bowie both have personal goals they want to accomplish through FCA. “For me personally, I want to grow closer to God and help everyone else in the club grow closer to God through our discussions,” Bowie said. Aldridge shares a similar goal.
FCA has not only helped people grow in their faith but it helps students be better athletes. “FCA helps me keep in mind what I can control and can’t control,” Aldridge said.
During meetings members discuss a daily bible verse in small groups, then they go over what they had talked about using questions to spark conversation. The club discusses the main ideas portrayed in the daily verse, and how that can help them in their faith. “Occasionally we play a short game, and usually there is food or a treat,” Aldridge said. “Then at the end, we all pray.”
FCA is open to any MSHS student. The club holds meetings every Tuesday during lunch in Santos’s classroom. “We are trying to bring more people into the club, because we have a lot of seniors. We are always looking for more people to come,” Bowie said.
Santos has high hopes for the club’s future, and is specifically proud of Aldridge and Bowie. “I think Story and Nora are doing a really fantastic job in keeping that established group together and also building a lot of potential for what it can become in the future,” Santos said.
