Students took the stage Friday night to share their love of Christ with others during the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Explosion.
The event, held in West Nassau High School’s cafeteria, brought together a variety of religious backgrounds to praise God and bring awareness to FCA. Nearly 80 people attended.
“We’d been real low in numbers in FCA so we’re trying to get the word out to the student body,” FCA president Ayden Havener said.
FCA has about 10 to 15 students who regularly attend meetings at 8:30 a.m. every Wednesday, but Havener wants to see that number grow. His own faith has strengthened further through his involvement with FCA.
“I got the feel for speaking in front of people and preparing a message,” he said, adding that he plans to further himself in the ministry one day, possibly serving as an evangelist.
The idea of hosting a large event came to the group about three months ago and FCA sponsors Bea Mitchell, Scarlette Cockrell, Jane Hicken and Meshelle Beatty worked with the students to pull it together.
WNHS alumnus and former NFL player Frank Murphy and Dan Binette of Young Life delivered the main messages.
Binette spoke to those in attendance early on, encouraging audience participation through games.
“His tactic is to break the ice and then go for your heart,” Havener said.
The Westside Band, Shelby Crews, Allen Melton and JonVonte Jones performed musical selections throughout the evening. Almariah Melton danced and the group 4:12 from Kings Road Baptist Church performed a skit about the sins people choose to make and how Jesus died for them on the cross.
Murphy’s message was directed at the need to focus on God first and sports second.
“That’s only a piece of you, not all of you,” he said about the sports athletes excel in. “I want you to understand that you have a life worth living.”
Murphy offered three main points during his speech. “Are you in the right position to receive the blessing of God?” he asked. “Make sure your passion is not under the wrong purpose. Passion gives out but purpose never will.”
He also added that you have to “put down the fake I.D.”
“When you put down the fake I.D., you get the opportunity for the real I.D. to be exposed.”
“Only you can put definition behind your own name,” he continued, telling the students they had to choose what roles would define them, such as lazy or active and honest or liar.
Murphy concluded that student athletes must surround themselves with the right people. He said celebrities may act like they’re very important people, but that God is the most important VIP.
“Fan is short for fantasy,” Murphy said, referring to those in the stands cheering on their favorite teams. “These fans were living a fantasy through me. ... Young ladies, never let a man live a fantasy through you. Young men, never let a woman live a fantasy through you.”
Havener has heard Murphy speak at football camps and was encouraged to hear him speak again.
The Rev. John Krulish, Joe Strawn and J.C. Sims also helped throughout the event, which was made possible by donations from The Journey Church, Callahan Food Discount, Lyndon Godwin, Buford Grove Baptist Church, David Hart, Matt Outler, Paul Schwend, Aisha Houston and Archie Mitchell, Jr.
Havener said FCA members appreciate the support and want to continue to do more. “Even though it was called an explosion, it didn’t explode, but I feel a little fire,” he said.
He wants to plan another event before he graduates in May.
“I’m not sure (what), but I want to see something big,” Havener added. “I feel like something bigger and better is going to come along. I know this was called explosion, but I don’t think it exploded. I want explosion 2.0.”