FCA has end of the school year Unite event
A group of friends enjoyed a taco supper at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Unite event on Sunday, May 5 at the Coshocton Tabernacle.
COSHOCTON – To celebrate the end of the school year, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Unite event had a Cinco de Mayo theme. A taco bar was available for supper and the evening was planned for fun and relaxation.
The event was held on Sunday, May 5 at the Coshocton Tabernacle. Outdoor games were planned, along with a bonfire. After supper, the group shared personal stories around the fire and prayed for each other and the pastors that give their time to help with all of the events both at local schools and for the special events.
The FCA sponsored a speaker, Jon Pritikin, at several county schools. He used his strength exhibition to talk to students about bullying. Charles Rinkes, principal of River View High School, said Pritikin rolled a frying pan up and also took a long piece of rebar and had a girl hold onto each end. He then lifted the girls then slowly spun in a circle. After this, he used a mouthpiece, put the rebar in his mouth and bent it into a horseshoe. Both the frying pan and the rebar are in the school office.
“He did a very good job,” said Rinkes. “The strength exhibition got the students’ attention and his story was personal and got to them. He shared about being bullied and how students can help prevent it from happening.”
He also said that Pritikin had two points. One was to be nice to others and number two was you never know what someone else is going through until you get to know them.
“We brought our junior high kids over to the high school,” said Rinkes. “It was packed, but the message was very good.”
Gracee Robertson is a junior at the Coshocton County Career Center. She joined FCA while at Ridgewood and joined at the CCCC as soon as it was available. They don’t have a large group yet, but it is growing.
“I think it’s very cool to bring kids together and show them how great our God is,” said Robertson. “I’ve brought friends to the meetings, too.”
Robertson listened to Pritikin at the CCCC and said it was amazing and powerful.
“He showed me how to forgive people and it touched me a lot,” said Robertson. “He shared how God had helped him through some tough times and if God can do that for him, He will help me, too.”
Dalton Robertson is an eighth grader at Ridgewood and is excited about being part of FCA.
“I like learning more about God and bringing friends to meetings,” said Dalton.
Gracee and Dalton’s mom, Mary Robertson, said she was so excited to find out FCA was going to be in the schools.
“I’m so happy to see God back in schools,” said Mary. “I think taking God out of schools is the reason there is so much bullying and kids being pushed away because they are different. They will be transferring to a new school this summer and I was so excited to see FCA is in that school, too.”
Deb Strasser said the FCA will be having a huge event on Sunday, July 28 at 10 a.m. at the Ridgewood High School football field.
“Last year’s event had more than 800 people,” said Strasser. “The students will be doing the music, the messages. Keith Leindecker will be the speaker.”
“We want to thank the Coshocton Foundation for paying for Jon Pritikin and for all of their support for our events,” said John Strasser.
Category: Faith
