A small group of students trickle into the Aux Gym at the beginning of Mustang Block. They gather around a box of Dunkin Donuts and Cheese-it’s, ready to talk about school… and God.

FCA, or the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a global organization whose purpose is to bring together athletes who train, practice, and play for the glory of God. Their mission to encourage student-athletes to demonstrate positive behavior on their teams, spread the Word, and love their neighbors as themselves, has spread to at least 47 countries and many schools across the US.

“I think it’s really important to have a group of devoted people at school and give people a place to come every week to unwind and talk about their personal growth,” said CT Dodge, one of the senior FCA leaders. “I think it’s really impactful on Mason here because it gives people a community where they know they can fit in and be accepted, and I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

Here at Mason, four seniors lead the small troop of Christian Athletes with the support of teacher sponsor Amanda Crider and FCA representative, Laura Bowers. The seniors are in charge of welcoming everybody, providing snacks, a fun game, and a talk. Crider participated in FCA when she attended high school, which inspired her to lead FCA meetings here at Mason.

“I found [FCA] encouraging in high school and fun,” said Crider. “ I love working with the students in FCA, and I find it encouraging in my own walk.”

Though FCA stands for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, it is not restricted to athletes or even to Christians. It is open to whoever wants to spend a Mustang Block on Friday eating donuts and hearing about the life experiences of their classmates, which they might not otherwise share outside of the safe space.