God has PROVEN to be FAITHFUL - Summer 2026

Jay Cathey • July 30, 2026

Hello Friends and FCA Ministry Partners!

  • Leadership Camp 2026

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I wanted to provide you with an update from what has been the most memorable summer of FCA ministry that I have yet to be a part of. God has once again proven Himself faithful and exceeded our expectations. Thanks to all of our generous ministry partners, hundreds of coaches and athletes have attended camps and team retreats where they were able to encounter Jesus and experience true life change. Here is a quick list of FCA camps and team retreats since school let out in May:


  • Captains Camp
  • Wrestling Camp
  • Basketball Camp
  • Cheerleading Camp
  • Softball Camp
  • Coaches and Family Camp
  • Leadership Camp-Saint Simons Island
  • Team Football Camp
  • Team Retreats @ Coach Bobby Dodd Property in Dallas


While I wish I could share stories from each one, I am going to stick to the last three on the list where I had the distinct pleasure of personally serving.

LEADERSHIP CAMP 2026

HIRAM HORNETS AT PIEDMONT

This was my third year getting to serve as the director of our Georgia Region FCA Leadership Camp on Saint Simons Island. I was blessed with an amazing team of 27 FCA staff and 38 college huddle leaders who came together to lead 350 male and female student athlete leaders in a week-long, fully-immersive experience in how to become disciples who make disciples. Our campers were given the knowledge, resources, and practical application experiences needed to go back to their campuses and communities with a bold confidence to lead for God’s glory! Yes, it was crazy hot and humid with plenty of hard work involved, and at the same time it was ridiculously fun and rewarding!

Hiram Football had their second year being blessed to attend The North Georgia Team Football Camp at Piedmont University. For three days and two nights these coaches and athletes competed at a high level against 5 other full football teams. In addition to being housed in college dorms and fed extremely well, every coach and athlete received a camp shirt, lanyard, and FCA Athlete’s Bible. More importantly, they encountered the Love of Christ! We saw 10 young men surrender their lives to Jesus and 27 who told their character coach that they wanted to be discipled and grow in their faith walk.

TEAM RETREATS AT COACH BOBBY DODD PROPERTY

This year we were blessed with a unique local opportunity for two of our football programs. You may or may not know that college football legend, Coach Bobby Dodd who the Georgia Tech stadium was named after lived right here in Paulding County for years! An extremely generous ministry partner owns and lives with his family on this breathtaking 500-acre property that includes horses, basketball, tennis, a golf course, a lake, and the highest point of elevation in Paulding County(Elsberry Mountain)!


The property owner and his family agreed to host both South Paulding and Paulding County Football for their own private FCA Team Retreats. Thanks to the love and generosity of one of our local church partners in Mount Zion Baptist in Dallas, the players and coaches were provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a day that was jam-packed with fun activities and team sessions revealing who God is and who they are called to be in Christ! After dinner, we finished with a silent team hike to the top of Elsberry Mountain where they were given an opportunity to respond to The Gospel. That Monday night we saw 10 Spartans put their faith and trust in Christ, and then on Thursday it was 17 Patriots who made the same decision! We also had many players and coaches who expressed a desire to grow in their faith. Everyone received their own custom shirt to commemorate the day along with an Athlete’s Bible!


The way that God lined up so many people, resources, and circumstances to make these two team retreats happen made it abundantly clear that He wanted this even more than we did! Next year we hope and pray to be able to offer this same incredible opportunity to all 5 of our Paulding County football teams!

YOU MATTER TO OUR MISSION

Now with camps behind us and a brand-new school year ahead, we are asking God to continue to exceed our expectations through The Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Paulding County and beyond. As this ministry grows in our community and on our elementary, middle, and high school campuses, please know that your prayers and financial support are truly transformational and not simply transactional. As we like to say, “The returns on your investment are out of this world!”


From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting our local mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Please let me know how I can specifically be praying for you and always know that you and yours are welcome at any of our FCA events. This fall, we will be hosting our Fields of Faith at Paulding County High School on October 21st. Save the date and join us!


"May The Lord bless you and keep you; May The Lord make His Face shine upon you and be gracious to you; May The Lord turn His Face toward you and give you Peace!" -Amen

Numbers 6:24-26

Sincerely,


Jay Cathey

Full-Time Missionary

Fellowship of Christian Athletes