Event to spotlight life transformation among junior high, high school, and college athletes across Piney Woods West
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Piney Woods West is preparing to celebrate the life-changing work of its ministry at the annual Victory Banquet on Monday, May 5, at Carolina Creek Christian Camp.
The event will feature powerful student testimonies, ministry updates, and opportunities for the community to invest in the growing movement among junior high, high school, and college athletes across the Huntsville region.
Banquet Highlights Ministry Impact
FCA Area Representative Leah Leroux described the Victory Banquet as a night “to just glorify the Lord.”
“This year our theme is ‘glory’ — just giving God all the glory for everything that we do, whether we eat or drink,” Leroux said.
The evening will include testimonies from junior high, high school, and college students whose lives have been transformed through FCA’s discipleship and outreach efforts.
Smith explained that the event also gives supporters a look at the bigger picture. “It’s just a day to really reflect on all the work, all the prayer, all the ministry, all the discipleship that’s been going on,” he said.
Ministry Expanding Across Huntsville and Beyond
While FCA has been active for many years at Sam Houston State University and Huntsville High School, the ministry’s reach is expanding.
“We’ve begun to expand out into New Waverly and Onalaska,” Smith said.
At New Waverly Junior High alone, FCA now reaches a remarkable percentage of the student body. “There’s about 120 to 160 students, and 95% of them are attending FCA,” Smith said, adding, “That’s incredible fruit.”
Leroux noted that while she and Smith are heavily involved at the college level, they are also committed to Huntsville High School, where they minister to students on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Discipling Athletes on and off the Field
Both representatives emphasized that the heart of FCA’s work is relational discipleship.
“My heart is truly for college,” Leroux said. “That’s where the Lord captured my heart. I’ve seen my teammates saved just through discipleship and through the Holy Spirit.”
Leroux and her husband host members of the SHSU golf team weekly, offering meals and Bible studies. “We try to cultivate that relationship so they know they’re loved on and off the golf course. Their worth isn’t in their golf score,” she said.
Smith, who walked on to the Sam Houston track team after transferring from Michigan, credited FCA with deepening his personal faith.
“I just wanted to do it,” Smith said of stepping into full-time ministry. “FCA played a huge part in my spiritual growth, and I wanted people to experience what I experienced.”
Opportunities to Sponsor and Support
Funds raised through the Victory Banquet will support ongoing FCA initiatives, including student scholarships, camp sponsorships, Bibles, and leadership training.
Individual seats for the banquet are $125, while table sponsorships are available for $500. Additional opportunities are available to sponsor students for camp or to help distribute Bibles across campuses.
“When you give, your dollar is not being wasted,” Smith said. “It’s all going toward discipling kids from the junior high level up through the college level. It’s a whole pipeline.”
In addition to sponsoring the banquet, community members can directly support staff members like Leroux and Smith, who are responsible for raising their own salaries.
“Supporting us helps us live but also be generous to those around us,” Leroux said. “It’s not only to keep doing what we’re doing, but also to be generous like the Lord calls us to.”
A Ministry Fueled by Faithfulness
Both Leroux and Smith emphasized that FCA’s impact is fueled by prayer, discipleship, and the faithfulness of supporters.
“We’re just trying to be led by the Lord,” Smith said. “We’re trying to love people, love these students, and have a heart for the lost.”
Reflecting on the journey, Leroux added, “God is always with you. No matter how far you feel from Him, all you have to do is turn back to Him. He never left us.”
The Victory Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 5, at Carolina Creek Christian Camp. To reserve seats, sponsor a table, or support FCA’s ministry, visit fcapww.org.
