One Day. Eternal Impact.

Southwest MN FCA hosted 342 campers, 88 huddle leaders, 24 coaches, 10 Worship Team and Tech volunteers and 44 additional volunteers from across Southwest Minnesota at Jr. Sports Camp. Wow! We are blown away by God's faithfulness to provide campers, coaches, and volunteers for this event year after year. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your prayers for this ministry and the coaches, athletes, and families we serve.

This year at Jr. Sports Camp, campers learned how to remain connected to Christ and His church, how to cultivate a Christ-like character, what it means to choose to love like Jesus, and how to stay committed to Christ. We are PROVEN in Jesus!

Some of the best parts of camp come in the aftermath as stories are shared. God is moving! 

Here's the proof...

Every summer, Jr. Sports Camp becomes much more than a place where young athletes practice new athletic skills. It is a place where lives are changed, faith is strengthened, and the love of Christ is shared by volunteers who are passionate about investing in the next generation.

For Zach and Leah K. (FCA Alumni), serving as huddle coach trainers is one of the most fruitful experiences of their year. “Giving back to FCA is the most rewarding experience,” Leah shared. “My husband Zach and I spend the week preparing huddle leaders to share Jesus with younger student athletes in our community.”

As they equip high school and college students to lead well, they witness something powerful. Young leaders step forward with confidence, eager to share the Gospel and live out their faith. Watching students embrace the mission of Christ encourages Zach and Leah to continue investing in others.

“On the day of camp, it is so encouraging to see athletes and students walking out Christ-like behavior,” Leah said. “Witnessing kids commit to following Jesus encourages and motivates us to continue giving our time to share Jesus with those around us through FCA.”

For many volunteers, Jr. Sports Camp is also a place where God deepens their own faith.

“Serving at Jr. Sports Camp has helped me understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ by giving me opportunities to share the Gospel,” dance huddle leader, Avery S. (Marshall High School), said as she pointed to Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Avery loves sharing the good news with children who are eager to learn and believes camp plays a critical role in shaping young believers.

“I think Jr. Sports Camp matters for the next generation because it gives them a firm foundation of faith to lean on for the rest of their lives,” she explained. “It’s important they know they have a God who loves them and wants a relationship with them.”

Softball huddle leader Aliyah L. (Tracy High School) has learned firsthand how God can use simple acts of service to impact young lives.

“Through serving younger campers, God has taught me the importance of leading by example,” Aliyah said. “Even small acts of encouragement can make a big difference in a child’s life, and serving others is a great way to reflect Christ’s love.”

One moment stands out as a reminder of God’s faithfulness through camp. During worship this year, every camper in Aliyah’s huddle eagerly went forward to give their lives to Christ.

“They were all very excited about the idea of growing in Christ’s love, not just today, but in the future too,” she recalled.

Moments like these are why camp matters. They reveal the lasting impact that can happen when young people encounter the Gospel in a welcoming and encouraging environment.

Baseball huddle leader Ethan W. (Marshall High School) has seen that impact from another perspective. As he shares his faith with younger campers, God continues to shape his own character.

“God has used my role as a huddle leader to help me grow by expressing my faith to other kids,” Ethan said. “Being around other huddle leaders and followers of Christ has helped shape my character in so many ways.”

He has also noticed how closely younger campers watch the older students around them.

“Younger kids love to follow the older kids,” Ethan explained. “When they hear us sharing our testimonies, see us worshiping the Lord, and are invited to pray with us throughout the day, they are inspired to try and live out their faith in similar ways.”

As we live out faith through our actions, words, and relationships, we model what it means to follow Jesus and in doing so encourage others to pursue Christ in their own lives. As campers see faith lived out authentically, they begin to understand that following Jesus is not just something for camp week, it is a way of life.

At Jr. Sports Camp our huddle leaders strive to equip every camper to continue growing in their faith through prayer, reading God’s Word, involvement in a church community, and relationships with other believers. 

Year after year, Jr. Sports Camp continues to plant seeds of faith that will impact teams, families, churches, and communities for generations to come. Through the dedication of volunteers, coaches, and student leaders, young athletes are discovering that the greatest victory is found not on the field, court, or course, but in a life transformed by Jesus Christ.