bright futures
SPORTSMANSHIP
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
words & photos by TERRY RICHARDS
The modest house on Jerry Jones Drive hosts some big dreams .
The home — street number 2110 — hosts not a family but a sports family : Valdosta ’ s branch of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes .
The FCA was founded in 1954 in Kansas City , Mo ., as a Christian ministry that used sporting culture to spread the word of Christ .
In Valdosta , Bob Willis serves as the FCA ’ s area director , while Donna Jones is the administrative assistant .
“ The founders wanted to form a more fair sportsmanship deal ,” Willis said , “ based on how God would see things and do things .”
The FCA has been in Valdosta for almost 30 years , he said . Willis has been working with the local branch for nine years .
The Fellowship has Bible study groups called “ huddles ” at many schools , both public and private , in an 11-county South Georgia region , Willis said .
“ There has been no pushback ” regarding “ huddles ” at area schools for the Valdosta Chapter , he said . The FCA has faced such opposition in other regions of the country , according to Willis .
The FCA also hosts summer camps for coaches and student-athletes in everything from football , baseball , and golf to coaching clinics .
Many of the camps are held at a borrowed college or university facilities ; a softball camp was held at Valdosta State University , Willis said .
The newly-acquired Jerry Jones Drive house is used for Bible studies , ministry , and office use . Willis said it was the Fellowship ’ s first FCA-owned property in Georgia .
The Valdosta FCA unit holds an annual spring banquet in February and smaller local banquets in Cook and Berrien counties and Fitzgerald , Jones said .
A 17-member local board is a “ huge help ” in operating the Fellowship ’ s local branch , she said .
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes recently acquired this house on Jerry Jones Drive .
February 2023 | Valdosta Scene 13