Who We Are: The FCC Athletics Culture

We are, first and foremost, an Athletics Program that is honoring and beneficial to the Kingdom of God and the overall purpose of the institution, namely “to educate and train men and women for life long service to God.” Whether that service is in the Church or another profession, our Student-Athletes know that God has a plan for their life, that He has, as Paul writes, prepared in advance for us good works to do (Ephesians 2:10). We are a program whose athletes are known for more than their excellence and high level of success on the playing field and court, but rather who they are away from the arena of competition, who embrace the words in 1st Timothy that say “physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Young men and women who compete for FCC realize that we can win awards, gain recognition and honors, and bring home banners, but if we miss out on the “big thing”, if we miss out on the most important thing in this life, then we haven’t actually accomplished much. This life is bigger than sports, and our education should be too….FCC student-athletes know this and embrace it. This is evident in our athlete’s godly actions and reputation within the classroom, the local community, and within our campus community.

Student-athletes at Florida Christian College are leaders in the classroom, engaging in classroom discussion, answering questions, turning quality work in, and really standing out, in a good way. The pride and seriousness we take about our academic success is reflected in the numerous NCCAA Scholar-Athletes we produce every year and by our coaches consistently being honored at the NCCAA National Convention with NCCAA Scholar-Team Awards (Team GPA of 3.4 or higher).

FCC student-athletes are servant-leaders in the local community, often being seen at local elementary schools reading to students, speaking truth and positivity into their lives, interacting with them, and showing them that they matter, not only to us, but to God. FCC Teams are frequently engaged in other service projects around the community, whether it be helping clean up a local park, serving at a local food bank, or putting on a free sports clinic for kids, we regularly live out Christ command for us to “let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Our athletics culture that’s established prevents “cliques” and separation, be it from team to team or from athletes to other students. Our student-athletes embrace and celebrate diversity and differences as a direct reflection of the global church, one in which each worker has unique gifts and personalities (Romans 12: 6-8), one in which each member realizes that the other is simply wired differently, and that God wants that person to be treated with the same love and compassion that He has shone each of us. FCC student-athletes are from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, from different cities, states, and countries. All, however, are seen as a valued and important piece to the campus community, and are not only treated as so by faculty, staff, and other students, but act as so.

And lastly, The Suns Athletic Program flat out gets after on the court or playing field. Our teams are led by excellent coaches who, apart from fostering the culture described in the paragraphs above, are master motivators and highly respected in their craft. Team Captains on each team act like extensions of the coaching staff on the court and in the apartments, complimenting the leadership of the staff and administrators to ensure the holistic success of each team. Teams will practice and compete knowing that God finds great pleasure in them maximizing their gifts and abilities. They work, as Paul writes, as if they are doing it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24), knowing that He delights in their commitment to do so. Certificates, plaques, trophies, rings, and yes, banners, are the year in and year out natural outworking of teams that embrace the culture of excellence that has been established within the Suns Athletic Program. FCC teams are expected to win. Each athlete and coach work to develop his or her talent year round. They work harder, plan better, and want the competitive wins more. Excellence is just what they do. It’s simply part of the culture.