Monday nights look special for some athletes on Fresno City College campus as they meet for their weekly Fellowship Of Christian Athletes (FCA) meeting over food, games and a message near Ratcliffe Stadium in room 118. 

FCA is a national organization across thousands of high schools, colleges, and club teams. The club focuses on building athletes and coaches relationships, with faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ. The club emphasizes 4 key values, integrity, serving, teamwork and excellence. 

Destiny Edwards, sophomore on the Fresno City College Women’s Basketball team helped restart the campus FCA her freshman year. Combining Edward’s efforts with men’s basketball athlete, Hudson Swaim, Pastor Sean of Remedy Chapel and Fresno City College Athletic Advisor Rick Sheit. They built a plan to bring a faithful club to campus. 

FCA’s 2026 staff consists of 12 student-athletes, all contributing their efforts and passions towards the club. “I think a lot of leaders pretty much have equal opportunity to be as engaged,”  Edwards said. Monday nights take a lot of effort, every minute counts leading up to 6:30 p.m. 

“We always provide a meal for our athletes,” Edwards said.

She gave an insight into the work leading up to huddle nights for herself to help keep athletes involved. The action begins several days before, when leaders meet on Thursday nights to prepare the message and time spent together. Members offer ideas, suggestions, check in with one another and prayer over their teams. 

On Sunday evenings, Swaim and Edwards get into contact with one another. Swaim has a speaker prepared and is confirming the food order. Edwards finalizes social media posts and starts sending out information. 

At 6 p.m. all leaders gather in the weight room to pray over the huddle and discuss the game plan. Who’s serving where, what game they’re playing, and the welcome team. 6:20 p.m, athletes start to show up. One by one they begin to fill up the small room. 

“My role is basically just to serve wherever I need to serve. So whether that be praying over students, praying over the food, or introducing our guest pastors and leaders,” Edwards said.

Edwards takes on a role organizing events and meeting, promoting FCA across campus and socials and connecting with athletes the second they step in the door. She prioritizes connection with others, making them feel seen and heard, especially in a place that can be vulnerable. 

A key part in ensuring athletes feel connected to one another is team check-ins. A leader will ask each sport to volunteer a person to share how their season is going. Whether the team is in pre-season or in the championship game, every sport present gets to share.

Followed up are injury reports and prayer requests. Whether you’re asking for prayer over yourself or a teammate, every name and ask is written down. Then as a group, they pray over one another. 

Student-athletes in FCA also have the chance to share their own testimonies during huddles. This opens up opportunities for athletes to connect with one-another through trials and successes, relating back to athletics and faith. 

There is a great amount of research behind the weekly speaker, Swaim ensured they preach the Word of God, speak biblical truth and interact appropriately with the young-adult athletes. 

“We bring in guest speakers, whether that be pastors from different churches around Fresno and Clovis or former athletes who are of the faith, and they come and share more about faith or give a message about the Bible,” Swaim said. 

After the message, athletes break up into small groups to participate in group discussion. Each athlete shares something that stood out to them in the message and even real-life application. They can all share struggles they are facing and pray together as a group. 

It can be a vulnerable yet connecting moment for the athletes, especially when needing a support system.  

The idea and motive behind small groups is to engage in the message. To apply what it meant to you rather than just listening. Small groups are a good time for you to ask questions to one another or testify to something that stood out to you. 

The other motive is to find community and share. It can be easier to ask for help or speak up when in a smaller crowd compared to a full room. Small groups are encouraging athletes to help each other. Finding community in FCA means making friendships that last in the rest of your life and can help you find a church. 

Over the past year, Swaim and Edwards have worked to grow FCA on campus. From sharing the club with their own teammates, participating in club rush, other networking events and ensuring their behavior on and off the court reflects one of a believer. Swaim has gone out of his way to meet with different sports during practices to spread the news of FCA by bringing snacks and a message.

Both Swaim and Edwards shared how important it is to them to speak positively over their team and connect with others. 

 “And ultimately, we wanna be helping people connect into churches and find this is just a glimpse of what we hope is the glory of heaven,” Swaim said. 

As Christians the goal is to grow the church and the amount of believers. Christians are presented with the challenge to go out and share the gospel, to get people involved and plugged into different opportunities. FCA is a way for these leaders to fulfill their faithful mission and grow the church. 

FCA is for athletes and coaches, Edwards shared her own take on coaches being present in the club. Coaches can be an encouraging step towards their athletes joining FCA. FCC coaches are one of the most notable and regular attendants to these huddles. 

“I noticed there’s more of a buy-in and more of an engagement when it comes to the gospel when the coaches are believers,” Edwards said.

When athletes see a coach almost every day and sometimes more than their own family, they have a great effect on their athletes behavior, participation and character. The coaches show interest and encourage athletes to show up and make an impact on their teams. 

Edwards testifies that FCA is for everyone, both non-believers and believers. Everyone is welcome to come as they are and ask questions. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” Swaim said. Encouraging those interested in learning about FCA and the gospel with a verse from John 3:16. 

The first step to a new faith is showing up. When attending your first meeting or even questioning it, be reminded that leaders on campus want to share this moment and message with you. 

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Edwards said. 

Edwards chose to emphasize the message behind salvation and redemption. She shared a piece of scripture that is close to her heart. 

Both athletes encourage and invite FCC student-athletes to try out FCA, no matter where they are in their faithful journey, because all are welcome. 

For more information, FCA has an Instagram account @fca_rams.