On Thursdays evenings in the Interfaith Chapel at the Mount, a group of students come together to grow in faith and spirituality through their shared passion for sports.
On Thursdays evenings in the Interfaith Chapel at the Mount, a group of students come together to grow in faith and spirituality through their shared passion for sports. Created by three football players, this new club, called the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), was established right before Christmas break this past year.
One of these student athletes, Trevor Thome, was part of a similar group in high school and says his faith has impacted his life as a college football player in more ways than one. For starters, his strong religious faith has helped him to stay humble and to battle the adversities that come with balancing both school and sports. In addition, his devotion has brought him the opportunity to positively impact others. With the platform his faith has provided for him, he is able to share his spiritual journey with students in the Mount community who have similar beliefs or who simply want to connect with others to learn and grow as people.
When asked how the idea for this club started, Thome explained that he and his two teammates, Julius Fisher and Collin Matt, had simply felt there was a niche to be filled on campus, one where students could join together in “fellowship and fun.” Last fall, the three were part of a group created through Crossroads Church. They were filled with a tremendous need to expand that journey further and include as many people as possible, with a basis in their connection to sports.
Currently, there are 25 intercollegiate athletics programs at Mount St. Joseph University. There is certainly a central focus on student athletes striving to maintain high academic success while making achievement in their respective sports, but part of the mission of the Mount is also grounded in spiritual values. That is where the Fellowship of Christian Athletes comes into play. First and foremost, the student-led club hopes to have a positive influence on the lives of Mount students. While they have been making great progress in expanding, they are always looking to continue to grow. They urge anyone who wants to deepen or explore their faith to join without hesitation.