Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA, is a Christian-based organization providing students with an opportunity to share the Gospel on their campuses.
FCA was founded in 1954 in Oklahoma by Eastern Oklahoma A&M basketball coach Don McClanen. After founding the organization and seeing it flourish, McClanen resigned from coaching to become the full time FCA director.
Today, there are 19,431 certified FCA chapters, and one of those is on the Jones College campus.
The 2023-2024 school year brought a new face to Jones FCA. Patrick Noblitt has been named director of Jones College’s FCA.
Noblitt is a native of Greene County. He graduated from William Carey University in 2020 with degrees in Christian Ministries and Intercultural Studies. Noblitt and his wife, Olivia, have a 2-year old daughter named Rosemarie.
Noblitt has been involved with FCA since high school and continued to serve its mission after he graduated from college.
“God led me to FCA while I was in high school,” said Noblitt. “I began praying and looking for different ministry opportunities, and God led me here. I was supported during the application process, and our ministry has been sustained since.”
Noblitt was first brought to Jones as a mentor for the soccer team. Noblitt said his love for Jones has grown since being placed here on his mission.
Jones FCA has had a successful semester so far under Noblitt’s direction. The chapter has hosted many campus events which include ping-pong tournaments and a collaboration service with the Jones Baptist Student Union. The group also participated in the Maroon and Gold Meetup and Treats in the Streets.
In addition to Jones College, Noblitt is the FCA director of high schools in the Pine Belt North region.
This year on the college campus, Noblitt is assisted by 29 lead team members, who are Jones students. Sophomore students Adrian Roberts and Peyton Williams serve as the Jones College FCA interns.
Roberts said, “Jones FCA was an answered prayer. I’ve never felt more confident in knowing this is where I needed to be.”
FCA meets every Monday at 8 p.m. in the football meeting room above the cafeteria. These meetings are open to all Jones College students.
by Haidyn Houston
