Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rotarians learn of athletic fellowship

Bro. Rick Pyron, pastor of Beech Street Baptist Church, introduced Marv Brayden, South Central Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Representative, as his guest speaker for the Gurdon Rotary Club.

Brayden has coached on the college level and worked in special teams with such names as the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Cardinals and the Denver Broncos. He has attended two Super Bowls and has been involved with FCA for several years.

"I love telling people about FCA and what it can do for them. I have always been involved in it and I have watched it change lives," said Brayden, who now lives in Hot Springs Village.

"I traveled all over and this is what I felt the Lord was leading me to do...minister to students who want to be involved."

There are more than 8,000 Huddles (groups of students involved in FCA) nationwide. When Brayden started working with South Central Arkansas last July there were only 11 huddles involved.

"I was pleased to see the huddles that were in place, but I wanted more. Since July we have gained several huddles and are proud to say we now have 29 in South Central Arkansas.

"Gurdon already had a huddle. Gurdon High School Head Coach John Pace started a huddle several years ago and has several student athletes involved," said Brayden.

Pace was commended by Brayden for showing the diligence of his job by coming to Rotary to represent FCA, but leaving in order to go back to school and work and teach.

Pace is the Huddle leader for Gurdon's FCA who meets each Thursday at the Beech Street Baptist Church.

The FCA is teacher-sponsored and student-led, which makes it legal by the United States Constitution.

"This is one of the only ways we can keep God in our schools. There are so many ways and so many people trying to keep God away from our schools," said Brayden.

"It is important to get the middle schools involved with this program also. Studies show that students in the seventh grade are the most influenced and will make life long decisions. However, students in the 12th grade are the least influenced and have already made their decisions.

"This tells me we need to start young and by the time our kids are seniors, they will have morals and know right from wrong," said Brayden.

In a survey taken, it showed that by the age of 18, 85 percent of the nation have received Christ as their Savior. Of the remaining 15 percent, 85 percent of them will never be saved.

Brayden said, the biggest Huddle he is working with at this time is in Magnet Cove and Lake Hamilton.

"Last year, we took a bus load of kids to Fayetteville where Frank Broyles gives us 3,000 tickets just for FCA kids. We had a ball. The kids listened to speeches, heard a concert and 87 of them were saved while we were there. It was wonderful," said Brayden.

In talking Brayden quoted the book of Psalms and Isaiah during his talk.

In closing Brayden encouraged the community to become involved with FCA and encourage young students and athletes to join something positive.

"Without the Lord, nothing I have done or will do would happen or matter," said Brayden.