Worried about what life will be like for the future generations? In a scary world, FCA has at hundreds of reasons to praise God! This November, about 600 middle school students from all over South Carolina joined together for a weekend of growing in Jesus.

Sixty two kids changed from death to life, and 149 re-dedicated their lives to serving the Lord!!

There are demons in your child’s school…but, rest assured, if there is a Christian presence, there are also fighting angels! It may sound harsh or extreme, but the Bible says we are constantly surrounded by spiritual warfare, by principalities in the spiritual realm that we cannot see, who make a difference in our daily lives. In some schools there are strongholds of racism, or sexuality, or self-importance, and we, as Christians, are called to battle those with prayer and righteous action. This week, all over the nation, young students took up their armor and did battle for their schools! At Wright Middle School in Abbeville, SC, 216 students lined the gym and prayed for their school and their peers. A sixth grader was the first to shoot his hand in the air to volunteer to pray aloud in front of a third of his classmates!

This summer I was blessed with the experience of going to FCA Captain’s Camp at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA. I had no idea what this experience would hold. I had been thoroughly involved in FCA since middle school, but I had never been to any sort of camp. As the weekend started, we all received a 2x4. I had no idea what this would mean to me a short 48 hours later.

As a full-time worship leader, Cody Hall has seen his fair share of camps, retreats, and church events. This summer, though, he says he saw something different at FCA camps. "Let me start by saying that the staff and leadership at these camps is top notch. The instructors are very knowledgeable and skilled in their craftand present themselves with a positive attitude, and the FCA staff membershave an amazing affinity for connecting straight to the hearts at the camps."

Have you ever played the game 'Simon Says?' You try to mimic exactly what Simon tells you to do, even if he tells you to jump up and down on one leg while rubbing your stomach and patting your head. Okay, maybe that's only if “Simon” is crazy, but you've probably seen people want to fit in so badly they do whatever the “Simon” of the moment tells them to do! Likewise, student athletes all over the world try to imitate their coaches' lives. It has been said many times that a coach is the most influential person in a young person's life. That's where FCA comes in.

It's much easier to witness to people while on a foreign mission trip, and it's definitely less intimidating to share your testimony while at a Christian camp, surrounded by those who support you. You probably know just how much harder it is to witness to a co-worker who could shut you down and then talk about you in the office. And while you may have gone door-to-door in other countries, you may shudder at even the thought of knocking on your neighbor's door. Why? Because it's hard to be vulnerable and open yourself up to rejection, especially in your comfort zone.

The pruning has begun! This part of our Christian growth process is not always fun. Sometimes cutting things out of our lives or starting new things is painful and scary. But, Jesus "pruned" 16-year-old Grace Westbury at one of FCA's summer camps last week, and she loved every minute of it! "It really showed me how to live with integrity, intelligence and service. I thought I was already doing all those things, but it showed me how to really live it in every detail and everyday. It showed me how to live to my full potential as a Christian athlete."

Middle and high school players from all over the southeast sweated it out at last week’s South Carolina Fellowship of Christian Athletes basketball camp. It was obvious some students needed work on their court skills. And they definitely got it: there were four courts filled at all times with basketball teams scrimmaging each other.

LeAnn Phillips is grieving the loss of her nephew. The 19-year-old was found dead in his Tri-County Tech dorm room in January. When she needed it most, FCA became her support system.

Landon Guglielmana, of Madera, California packed more living into 18 years than some people will in a lifetime. On the way back to Limestone College from Thanksgiving break, the freshman’s car ran off the road. His life ended.

His legacy did not. “Landon was the type of person, even if you only met him for a minute, you’d love him forever, and always remember him.” Courtney Taotoai , friends with Landon at Limestone, says if there was music playing, Landon was dancing. She remembers that he was always happy, always smiling. Landon told her he missed home, but had found his Christian family through FCA.

Impacting the Leaders of Tomorrow

"It was AWESOME! The singing, letting God into my heart, the competition, and getting to know other people, it’ll change me a lot. Now that I’ve come to this school and have a place to experience God even during school, I have a place for Him in my heart.”

Brice Brazell, a 6th grader at Irmo Middle School, is one of 500 South Carolina middle schoolers who enjoyed FCA’s middle school retreat this November in Garden City, SC.