Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host its annual banquet 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The theme, “A Night to Celebrate the Ministry of FCA,” will include dinner by Ole South Barbecue. Jockey Pat Day will be the featured guest speaker.
FCA area director Erica Houston said Day has a big heart for the ministry of the FCA and that because of a life-changing experience when a chaplain approached him while racing, he speaks to the organization that “meets students where they are,” according to Houston.
Day’s career spanned 30 years with more than 8,800 winning races, and he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1991.
In 2005, he chose to become a representative and ambassador for Racetrack Chaplaincy.
The banquet will be an evening to hear an update on the ministry of Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Northwest Kentucky, which includes nine surrounding counties.
Guests will hear testimonies from area coaches, athletes and volunteers within the organization.
This is FCA’s biggest fundraiser for the 52 schools its serves locally.
“All funding comes locally [for FCA,” Houston said. “There is no national organization that provides money for it.”
The evening will also include presentations of the 2019 Bobby Watson FCA Coach of the Year and the 2019 Character Counts Award for a local athlete.
Houston said they continue to see growth in FCA chapters that are in elementary schools through college, and their purpose is to meet student-athletes where they are. They go into schools to equip students to lead FCA “huddles” and to celebrate what God has done throughout the schools.
“It is a non-denominational ministry,” Houston said.
Houston said that athletic departments sometimes utilize FCA character coaches who serves as a team chaplin and that often, these volunteer FCA character coaches are requested by players in times of need and uncertainty, both in and out of the game.
“They make an impact,” Houston said.
The banquet will be held at His Church, formerly River City, at 4810 Frederica Street. A VIP Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and program beginning at 6 p.m.
Sponsorship packages are still available, which include a table for eight or individual tickets are $50. Both are available by calling 270-570-3290 or emailing [email protected]. Their office is located at Life Community Church at 1101 Breckenridge St.
