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Fellowship of Christian Athletes | FCA Timeline 60 Years and Counting… Menu FCA Magazine FCA.org Video Gallery Back to Start of TimelineMenu FCA Magazine FCA.org Video Gallery Back to Start of Timeline May 1947 Presentation Video…65 Years and Counting This video presents FCA’s history and culture, since its inception in 1954 until now. And, while FCA was first incorporated in 1954, that date came seven… View Post Add Comment March 1954 "For some time, I have had the idea of forming an organization of athletes and coaches in this hero-worshiping nation of ours. If athletes can endorse shaving cream, razor blades and cigarettes, surely they can endorse the Lord, too. So my idea is to form an organization that would project you as Christian men before the youth and athletes of our nation." Don McClanen Don McClanen invitation letter quote In a letter to 19 athletes, Don McClanen laid out his desire to form an organization that would eventually become the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The letters… View Post 2 Comments September 1954 The name ’Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ just came naturally. This was a Christian movement totally. We would not be ashamed of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. So we decided on ’Fellowship of Christian Athletes.’ At last, this idea and dream had a name." FCA founder Don McClanen The Dream Gets a Name FCA founder Don McClanen shares how FCA’s official name was decided upon. One of the first names considered was Athletes for Christ. This was so close… View Post Add Comment November 1954 Read Post FCA Founded The official chartering date of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes was November 10, 1954. On that day, in Norman, Okla., the organization’s first set of bylaws… View Post 1 Comment November 1954 Read Post Founding Fathers Four of the founding fathers of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. From left to right: Dr. Louis R. Evans, Dr. Roe Johnston, Don McClanen and Branch… View Post 1 Comment June 1955 Read Post FCA Gains Solid Footing, Thanks to Branch Rickey On June 7, 1955, Pittsburgh Pirates executive Branch Rickey (at podium) hosted a banquet in Pittsburgh to introduce FCA to the region and help gain financial… View Post Add Comment February 1956 Hero Worship Harnessed Sports Illustrated featured the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in its Feb. 6, 1956 issue. Less than 15 months after its founding, FCA hit the pages of… View Post Add Comment June 1956 Camp Theme 1956: I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1956 was I Am The Way, The Truth, And The Life.” View Post Add Comment August 1956 Read Post Robin Roberts Pitching for Tomorrow View Post Add Comment August 1956 Read Post First National Conference (Camp) at Estes Park, Colo. FCA’s first National Conference in 1956 has been called by many the most important event in FCA’s history. However, there was some doubt as to whether… View Post Add Comment August 1956 "This Fellowship of Christian Athletes is not a namby-pamby thing; it is a courageous organization." Branch Rickey Click View Post” to hear Branch Rickey’s address at the first FCA National Conference. (Two parts) Click the arrows below to start the clips. … View Post 2 Comments September 1956 FCA Relocates Headquarters to Kansas City FCA moves its offices from Norman, Oklahoma to Kansas City, Missouri. View Post Add Comment December 1957 Read Post The Founder, the Football Legend and the Preacher FCA founder Don McClanen (left), football legend Otto Graham (center) and Dr. Robert Jack” Robinson (right), a former basketball star at Baylor University and the pastor… View Post Add Comment June 1958 Read Post It was only natural that I become involved in FCA.” View Post Add Comment August 1958 Read Post Batting Champ George Kell at Estes Park, 1958 George Kell, who won a batting title in 1949 as a member of the Detroit Tigers and would go on to be enshrined in baseball’s Hall… View Post Add Comment March 1959 The Christian Athlete debuts The Christian Athlete, the precursor to Sharing the Victory and FCA Magazine, debuts as a one-page, one-fold publication in March, 1959. View Post Add Comment March 1959 Here and There…With F.C.A. The following roundup column appeared in the inaugural issue of The Christian Athlete, which was delivered in March, 1959. That first issue was a four-page, digest… View Post Add Comment April 1959 For Christ and His Church” Shall Ever Be Our Central Theme From the very beginning, FCA has emphasized its role in calling athletes and coaches into the Church, including the phrase …in the fellowship of the Church”… View Post Add Comment June 1959 1959: Let Us Run The Race The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1959 was Let Us Run The Race.” View Post Add Comment August 1959 Read Post Hoops Legend Bob Pettit an FCA Legend, Too In this 1959 photo, NBA legend Bob Pettit teaches basketball skills at FCA’s National Convention at Estes Park, Colo. Over the years, Pettit was a part… View Post Add Comment April 1960 A Yankee Looks at Life The following article, written by Gary Demarest, appeared in the April, 1960 issue of The Christian Athlete, FCA’s flagship publication at the time. Although the snow… View Post Add Comment June 1960 1960: You Shall Be My Witnesses The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1960 was You Shall Be My Witnesses.” View Post Add Comment June 1961 1961: Your Body Is A Temple The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1961 was Your Body Is A Temple.” View Post Add Comment August 1961 Read Post Lessons from Boo” Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dave Boo” Ferriss has been a part of FCA from the very beginning. In this photo, Boo is showing student-athletes at… View Post Add Comment August 1961 Read Post Paul Dietzel View Post Add Comment June 1962 1962: A Faith That Works The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1962 was A Faith That Works.” View Post Add Comment September 1962 Read Post Training to Win by Rafer Johnson It is sometimes said that winning is not important, that the important thing is competing. But when we have to go to a… View Post 1 Comment September 1962 Read Post Bob Stoddard named FCA’s second executive director View Post Add Comment August 1963 Read Post Deacon Dan Towler Deacon” Dan Towler, a running back with the Los Angeles Rams from 1950-55, was a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from its inception until… View Post Add Comment August 1963 Read Post Rapid Robert’s Biggest Victory? Bob Feller showed off his Hall of Fame arm to participants of FCA’s National Conference in Estes Park, Colo., in 1963. The former Cleveland Indians flamethrower… View Post Add Comment September 1963 Three Summer Conferences Climax FCA Year The following article appeared in the September, 1963 issue of The Christian Athlete, then the flagship publication of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. THREE SUMMER CONFERENCES… View Post Add Comment November 1963 Read Post FCA Footprint in Land of Tar Heels North Carolina basketball legend Dean Smith was in his third year as the Tar Heels’ head coach when this photo was snapped in November, 1963. Smith… View Post Add Comment December 1963 Read Post James Jeffrey named FCA’s third executive director View Post Add Comment February 1964 Read Post The Wizard and His Protege John Wooden would go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of basketball, or any other sport, leading his UCLA Bruins to 10… View Post Add Comment June 1965 Read Post Isn’t That Just Like The Lord… View Post Add Comment June 1965 1965: The Goal And The Glory The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1965 was The Goal And The Glory.” View Post Add Comment January 1966 Huddle Program established View Post Add Comment June 1966 1966: A Still More Excellent Way The FCA Camp theme for the year of 1966 was A Still More Excellent Way.” View Post Add Comment February 1967 First Weekend of Champions held In February, 1967, the first Weekend of Champions was held in Kansas City. The FCA staff teamed up with college and professional...