Every Friday morning at 7:30, long before the first bell rings, more than a hundred Herrin High School students gather in Gym C. They aren’t there for practice or a game—they’ve come for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, better known as FCA. Despite its name, this group is open to all students, whether or not they play a sport, and its message of encouragement, faith, and belonging has quickly made it one of the most influential organizations on campus.

The club is led by special education teacher and boys’ golf coach Chris Roberts, along with basketball coach Sayler Shurtz. Roberts has taught for nearly two decades and has been part of Herrin High for about ten years. He and Shurtz both grew up in Benton, where FCA was part of their own high school experience.

FCA at Herrin began just four years ago with fewer than thirty students crowding into Roberts’ classroom. The next week, nearly sixty came, spilling into the hallway, and soon the group had to move into the wrestling gym. Now, attendance tops one hundred on most Fridays. “We’re even running out of room again,” Roberts said. “Out of a student body of roughly 635, that means about one in six students chooses to start their Friday mornings here.

What makes the club thrive, participants say, is that it is student-led. Students sign up to share their testimony, read Scripture, or give a short lesson on something meaningful from their lives. “It’s the students, and ultimately it’s Jesus Christ who makes this grow,” says Roberts.

Senior Braden Davis serves as this year’s leader. For him, being part of FCA since it began has been deeply meaningful. “It’s been a big part of my life to see it grow every year,” he said. “I started in Mr. Roberts’ room, and now the gym is getting full. For me, it’s about being there from the beginning and passing it on even after I leave.” Braden hopes to study journalism at the University of Tennessee after graduation, but for now, he’s focused on making sure FCA stays strong for the next generation.

Junior Abby Hosmon, whose sister Emily helped lead the group in its early years, has found her own voice through FCA. She admitted she was once “petrified” to speak in front of so many people, but the club gave her courage. “My sophomore year, I got up and spoke,” Abby said. “I was very nervous, but I faced my fears. This year I spoke again, and it was awesome.” She says the best part is watching her classmates step out of their comfort zones. “It’s hard to get up in front of that many people, but to see how many people are coming out of their shells is amazing.”

The growth of FCA has sparked other student-led faith groups. A Bible study called P7 now meets weekly during lunch. Another organization, Tigers for Life, focuses on service projects supporting young and expectant mothers in the community. “Having FCA has spurred other clubs to come off of this,” Roberts said. “It’s all about students wanting to make a difference.”

Events outside of school have also become part of the experience. Herrin High will host Fields of Faith this fall, a regional gathering where students from across Southern Illinois come together at the football stadium for music, testimonies, and worship. In September, FCA members also join in the national “See You at the Pole” day of prayer. For students, these events are a reminder that their club is part of something larger than themselves.

Roberts credits Williamson County FCA director Austin Dixon with supporting Herrin’s program, providing Bibles and resources, and encouraging students in their leadership. Both Braden and Abby agree that FCA is about encouragement. Braden explained, “When people hear your story, it encourages them. If God did this in someone else’s life, maybe He can do it in mine too.” Abby echoed the thought, saying FCA feels like a community where everyone is welcome. “You don’t have to be an athlete, and you don’t even have to go to church. If this is the only church someone hears in a week, that’s okay. They’re welcome here.”

That spirit of openness is what makes FCA so important at Herrin High. Students gather from different churches and backgrounds, but on Friday mornings, they are one family. As Roberts put it, “Everybody’s welcome. We don’t care who you are. We just want to spread the word, from the school to the community, and beyond.”