Students at Demopolis High School seeking to practice their faith outside of the church pews have an opportunity to do so with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization.

Although the name specifies the group is for athletes, the DHS chapter opens its membership to all students, both athletes and non-athletes.

“This has happened in the last 20 years in chapters across the country,” said DHS FCA sponsor Danny Wasson. “Meetings are still athletically oriented — and we still use sports figures and analogies — but realistically, it’s open to everyone.”

Founded in 1954, FCA is an organization that helps professional, high school and junior high athletes and coaches across America share their faith through athletics. As the largest Christian organization that focuses on athletics in America, FCA provides an outlet for Christians to both take a stand for their beliefs as well as grow in their own faith.

“We ended up having 15 to 20 kids at most of the meetings last year,” Wasson said. “We haven’t met yet this year, so I don’t know what to expect in terms of numbers. We have only a handful of students returning this year from last year.”

FCA has been a part of the Demopolis school system for more than 15 years.

“I’ve been sponsoring FCA since I’ve been here,” Wasson said. “Mrs. Bible sponsored it at the high school originally, and we started a group at the middle school while I was there.”

In addition to regular meetings, FCA hosts “See You at the Pole” each year at the high school.

“This is a national event where students meet at the flagpole one Wednesday morning in September,” Wasson explained. “It was originally started in the early ’80s in Texas to honor a coach who had died who had led FCA at the high school.”

“See You at the Pole” will be held on Sept. 23 at 7 a.m. this year.

“The night before, we will have a prayer walk where kids can walk around the school and pray for the different sports teams and the school,” Wasson said. “There will also be spots where they can stop and pray for teachers and school staff by name

Wasson and the high school’s FCA are also looking to incorporate an event known as “Fields of Faith,” which has been promoted by the national FCA organization.

“This is a day in October where we would meet on the football field to pray and consecrate the area,” Wasson said.

Wasson encourages any student looking to grow in their faith to attend FCA meetings.

“We are made up of kids from all denominations, churches and ethnic backgrounds,” he said. “You don’t have to be an athlete, either. FCA’s mission here is to teach the message of Christ and bring that to students and help them become lifelong servants.”

The first FCA meeting of the year at Demopolis High School is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, Aug. 27.