Each Monday at 6 p.m., students file into the First Baptist Church ready for a night of fellowship and friends. Fellowship of Christian Athletes, otherwise known as FCA, kicked off at the beginning of the fall semester with seniors Bree Rundle, Carson Wicker and Kenzie Winter leading the group. FCA’s kickoff party took place on Sept. 13 and included a 4 on 4 volleyball tournament, pizza and games, and since then they’ve been going strong with weekly meetings for worship.

FCA meetings take place every Monday DHS has school, and usually includes a message and a meal.

“It is a nationwide, school-sponsored organization for all high schoolers,” Winter said. “You do not have to be an athlete to join, but we use this as a way to allow students at our school to build community with those around them.”

Winter has been a member of FCA since her sophomore year, so when Coach Ty Lang approached her about leading the group she was ready to take on the role.

“Coach Lang was my geometry teacher and he asked me to start singing at FCA,” Winter said. “At the end of my junior year, he asked me to help be a leader and plan and organize the FCA meetings!”

Rundle, on the other hand, reached out to Lang in a hope to help act as a student leader, where she would join Winter and Wicker as the 2021 leaders. As the student leaders, the seniors plan out the specifics for FCA meetings.

“It’s a blessing to lead FCA. We plan out speakers, songs and other other events FCA helps put on,” Rundle said. “I personally take care of welcoming people when they initially arrive and we prioritize making sure everyone feels invited and welcomed.”

Going into 2022 as a FCA leader, Winter finds joy in being able to connect with fellow Decatur students over their faith and helping spread the message to others.

“My favorite part about FCA is the community I get to have with people in my school. I go to church in Keller, which is an hour away from Decatur,” Winter said. “Having people that live close to me that I know I can count on is such a huge blessing!”

Rundle agrees with Winter, citing the ability to connect with students of different ages as her favorite part of leading the group.

“I love that I have a chance to get to know people of all grades,” Rundle said. “I’ve met a lot of underclass men through FCA that I probably would not have the chance to talk to at school.”