STUDENTS IN A FOG

Operation Round Up grant supports FCA students in Fellowship, Outreach and Growth

In a time when people choose their words and actions carefully in

During a Dec. 12 HUDDLE at Horizon Middle School, students read out of their athletic Bibles and discussed specific verses. At the close of the half-hour session, a student led the group in prayer. Mark Ouradnik, state FCA director, credits this HUDDLE’s success to Baron Blanchard, a seventh grade geography teacher and strong role model for the kids.

an attempt to be politically correct and avoid offending others, it can be tough to pray or talk about God—especially for kids in school.

Mark Ouradnik is working to change that—one HUDDLE at a time. As state director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Ouradnik takes his presenting ministry on the road across North Dakota. From Garrison to Grand Forks, he gives presentations to athletes and coaches who are open to the idea of forming a HUDDLE, or student Christian ministry, within their schools.

Once a HUDDLE is formed, Ouradnik provides the supplies students will need to lead their own ministry, including coaches’ or athletes’ Bibles, statewide newsletters or national magazines. While a teacher or coach may be present, the students must lead the session.

“The kids determine what they want to study,” Ouradnik says.

Baron Blanchard, seventh grade geography instructor at Horizon Middle School in Bismarck, says his room often overflows with students during their weekly HUDDLES on Wednesday mornings. He says the students who participate seem to enjoy the fellowship and an opportunity to read the Bible together.

“Reading the Bible can be a taboo subject. When students do it by themselves, they feel like they are being looked down upon. But when they do it with friends, they feel more comfortable,” he says. “Our HUDDLE is social time, positive time, with other Christians.”

Reed Ruggles, religious studies instructor at St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, helped form the school’s huddle last year. According to Ruggles, “FCA keeps student-athletes out of the fog. Fog represents all the worldly idols that blur our vision of who Jesus Christ truly is.”

FCA provides a different FOG for teens (Fellowship, Outreach and Growth). “This acronym is who we are and what we try to do. Using these three tools, we try to work through the fog so we can see Christ clearer.”

Various FCA gatherings consist of: meetings with powerful messages, game nights at Boneshaker Coffee Company, athletic competitions and various activities reaching out to others. To pay for the Bibles and supplies, Ouradnik relies on money that is generated at special events or donated by sponsors.

"Right now, approximately 60 percent of our budget is funded through events such as banquets, festivals and golf tournaments. We have been blessed with many financial partners through our Home Team Memberships and look forward to growing that source of funding, as it reduces our reliance on events and provides us with strong relationships that keep the FCA ministry strong."

Capital Electric Cooperative recently became a Team Member, or FCA sponsor, when it awarded the North Dakota FCA chapter a grant through its Operation Round Up program. The money will be used for supplies, travel expenses and to help fund camp scholarships.

“Contributions like this are important to us because they provide us the necessary funding so we can concentrate on contacting athletes and coaches,” Ouradnik says.

Ouradnik says FCA benefits students in many ways, including:
• It welcomes all students with an open-door policy;
• It provides leadership opportunities;
• It builds the spiritual strength, confidence and teamwork of athletic teams; and
• It can be a handy college recruitment tool for parents who want to know which schools offer a spiritual outlet.

Coaches and teachers who use their faith to organize and oversee the HUDDLES are the key to the FCA’s success, Ouradnik says.

“Athletic programs are some of the most visible programs in a school, so supporting athletes and coaches provides a multiplying effect, because their influence in a school or community is really strong.”

Ouradnik, who uses his faith to influence coaches, teachers and principals, previously worked as a banker and mortgage consultant. He started working for the state FCA program seven years ago.

“I was just ready for a change and this opportunity came up. I’m from North Dakota, I like sports and I wanted to serve the Lord. It just felt right,” he says.