Our speakers Rick Haydon and Luke Llamas represented the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Rick, an Arroyo Grande resident and a member of the Santa Maria Noontime Rotary Club, is on the FCA Board of Directors, and Luke, a nationally-recognized track and cross-country athlete and Cal Poly graduate, is the area director for the Central Coast Chapter of the CFA.

Rick that FCA is been a national organization since 1954. They go into middle school and high school campuses promoting fellowship. Their focus is integrity, service, teamwork and excellence and fostering those qualities in the student athletes they come into contact with. They work with 14 high schools and 2 middle schools, and hereon the CentralCoast they work with Arroyo Grande and NipomoHigh Schools.

High School has changed drastically in the past 30 years: 21% of Seniors used pot in the last 30 days; 41% have engaged in drinking in the last 30 days; 23% have engaged in binge drinking in the last 2 weeks; and 46% engaged in sex in the last 30 days. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes are on campuses trying to counter balance outside influences. All of their funding is "listener funded", meaning if you listen to the presentation, like what you hear - you can get involved in sponsorship.

Luke showed a short video and did a power point presentation. He has been working with FCA for five years. Athletes have influence on campuses, as do the Coaches. FCA provides Campus Ministry, which trains students on how to become leaders through "campus huddles." One Way to Play Free is a program that focuses on positive peer pressure, instead of falling prey to the negatives. They have Sports Camps where college and pro coaches come to participate and lead. They also have International Camps and Community programs where $20,000 outreach was given. Luke participated in an International Camp this past Summer in Egypt to coach Soccer.

This Sunday, they are having a Campus Kick-Off at Robin Ventura's home where 70 students will train on how to be leaders, servant leaders, Christian leaders. Also scheduled are two Fields of Faith (October 12, AG High School and October 19,AtascaderoHigh School), where coaches hold workshops and a massive school assembly will fill the two football fields with over 6000 students. Last June the FCA sponsored a high school all-star football game, and raised $132,000 that went back to local high schools. They give out competitors' bibles and coaches' bibles. Anyone can get involved by participating in the "Adopt a School," "Huddle" or "Local Area" CFA programs, or by joining their Board of Directors.