Fellowship Of Christian Athletes Has New Local Leader

    The Fellowship of Christian Athletes movement continues to grow in Lake County, and the organization this week is announcing the addition of its newest director, Bobby Rowe.
    Rowe, who lives in Mount Dora, will oversee the FCA’s North Lake unit, which includes the Golden Triangle high schools, Umatilla High School, and the Leesburg area.
    Rowe comes to the position after volunteering at Mount Dora High School in recent years.
    "We want to expand, increase disciples," Rowe said this week of the organization's faith-based efforts to teach the Gospel through sporting activities. "We want every school, every community to be impacted by FCA."
    Rowe is a Mount Dora native and moved back to the area in 2016. He serves as minister at the Saving Faith Baptist Church in Mount Dora, and has enjoyed reviving his long history with FCA.
    “I was part of FCA while in high school,” he said, “So I have a long history with its work.”
    FCA representatives are allowed on public school campuses to do the organization's work, a rarity among faith-based organizations, to support campus-based 'huddle' leaders and students. While the COVID era has impacted the organization as it has so many others, Rowe said FCA is starting the new school year in a strong position.
    “For the most part, we have huddles on all of our high school campuses,” Rowe said of the group’s footprint in the area. Additionally, two middle schools, Eustis and Umatilla, have groups that meet. In fact, Umatilla Middle is the largest FCA group in the area.
    “Umatilla middle is my biggest huddle. There are over 100 students there.”
    Overall, an estimated 500 students in the North Lake County area participate in FCA.
    FCA groups meet regularly on campus, either before or after school, to offer support to members in their Christian walk and encourage those around them on campus to grow in their faith. Over the last five years, FCA has grown exponentially in the county, with its leadership two years ago splitting to form North and South Lake County executive boards. Additionally, former Lake County FCA stalwart Virginia Scuderi, has shifted to Sumter County to oversee the FCA’s growth there.
    “I’ve been floored by it,” Rowe said of the interest in FCA this fall. “It used to be we would have to search on campuses to find someone to lead. Now they are calling us and telling us they want FCA on campus.”
    FCA is supported by a large, nationwide donor network, but local leaders are also supported by local donations. To learn more about both options and how you can support bringing Christian beliefs to area school campuses, visit www.fcalakecountyfl.org, www.my.fca.org/bobbyrowe, or email Rowe at browe@fca.org.