By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) returned to New York Mills after last year’s initial school year was a success. The chapter of FCA’s Central Lakes area is a held in Will Grieger’s classroom in the NY Mills School prior to the school day.

The FCA organization began in 1954 and has since spread with chapters across the nation. Students are given an “Athlete’s Bible” with a Christian Standard Bible text in which they participate in a Bible study under the direction of Grieger along with visiting mentors such as faithful community members and local ministers.

“We have some students that have come back and we have a bunch of seventh graders,” said Grieger. “A bunch of students go to their Wednesday morning workout and then come here, so the start time is kind of flexible based on what time you get done with that workout. Usually there’s 15-20 kids working out here every morning, so some of them choose to get here extra early and workout, shower and come here.

“So I just feel blessed that they can come and take that time and extra effort,” he continued. “Come use this space and check out some scripture.”

The NY Mills chapter, though in it’s second year, has consistently had students show up for the event. According to Grieger, some days there are a handful of students and others they fill their circle with around 20 students.

“Some will come throughout the week and talk a little about it at lunch or before school if they don’t get a chance to come,” said Grieger. “So it’s changed some student relationships I’ve had, just by those who have come once or those who’ve come 20 times.”

Though Grieger has been the de facto group leader for the Bible study, he has opened up opportunities for not only community members and local ministers to lead devotions, but also for students to lead their peers in the large group study.

“Their interpretation of the scripture is what’s fun,” said Grieger. “Instead of seeing the common adult interpretations, sometimes it gives myself and other leaders a new look at the Bible, or maybe what God is saying or what Jesus is trying to portray in His life for us.”

One recent student leader was seventh grade student Greysen Saewert. He is a new member this year and recently lead a session in late March. He joined FCA after his upperclassmen urged him to join along with a personal invitation from Grieger.

“I was like, ‘sure, why not?’” said Saewert. “And I’ve been coming here ever since. I like our conversations, like Mr. Greiger said, they are kid-based. We draw from each other and whatever someone else says, we build off of each other.”

While Saewert said that he looks forward to watching the chapter grow throughout the years to come, he also mentioned that he has grown in faith over the past several months while participating in the organization.

“It’s affected me a lot,” he said. “It’s making it so that I can find friends here that are like, ‘hey, I want to go to church,’ but they don’t go very often. I can always be like, ‘hey, come with me, you can always come with me!’ It’s also made me want to go to church more because it’s like, ‘what can I also draw from that?’ If I’m drawing so much from here, what else can I draw from?”

High school students in the NY Mills school system are invited to participate in the local FCA chapter by joining the group in their weekly devotions each Wednesday at 7:40 a.m. in Mr. Grieger’s room.