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Story By Patrick Butler
Religion Editor

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes must have a full-time Northeast Texas representative, a Robert E. Lee High School coach said Friday. Teaching young athletes how to behave and live "on and off the field" is critical.

Mike Pirtle, 48, is head baseball coach at Lee and has been involved with the FCA for 24 years. The outlet for athletes to discuss the direction of their lives is invaluable.

"The FCA is a way for athletes to come together and talk about their issues," he said. "Issues on and off the field. It's very important because when we mess up, we can talk to each other and deal with those issues from a Christian perspective."

Athletic competition sometimes leads to attitudes that must be avoided, he said.

"I don't think people understand how hard it is to be a Christian and an athlete," he said. "Some people see athletes as those who want to win at all costs. We want to defeat our opponents, sure, but at FCA, we want to understand how to win and how to lose. God wants us to be the best we can be, but to do it in certain way."

Athletes sometimes regret actions in the heat of a game, he said.

"Even for myself, if I get on an umpire, I'll think as I walk away, 'why did I act like that? That's not the way God wants me to act, that's not what God wants me to say.' It can be tough from that aspect."

East Texas residents will have the chance to support the work at The Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Rose Garden Center. Former Dallas Cowboy safety and three-time All-Pro Everson Walls will be the keynote speaker at the event. Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, co-founder of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, will receive the Gene Stallings "Heart of a Champion" award for service to community and church.

A $100 donation to the fellowship will reserve a ticket, said Gary Smith, Northeast Texas district representative of FCA.

"The main thing we need is to keep our local representation," said Pirtle. "The big push right now is that Gary becomes stabilized in Northeast Texas and we don't have to go Dallas for help. Right now, Gary travels from Texarkana to Lufkin and points in between. The finances raised will help us to keep that going and help kids get to the summer camp programs FCA runs."

An FCA meeting was held Thursday night at Lee. Pirtle is the "Huddle Coach" for the meetings. About 25 students attended.

"We've had meetings where up to 120 athletes came," he said. "But it's not about quantity. Every athlete that comes is important."

At the meeting students led worship, coaches joined in prayers and coach Alan Johnston gave a "three-fold message," said Pirtle.

"He spoke on salvation, faith and Godly works," said Pirtle. "We usually pray for our campus or team, and we see the results. There are so many positive things going on in sports from Little League to the pros you don't hear about. Last Tuesday, after the Baylor and Dallas Baptist (baseball) game, the teams gathered on the field and prayed."

Smith said, "We're involved in about 70 campus 'huddles' throughout East Texas. There is so much good being done by coaches, athletes and students who want to come to FCA meetings who aren't athletes. It's open to anyone who wants to come and be part of the fellowship. We want people to know that FCA is here, it's going strong and we want to stabilize and grow. Our goal is to help form Christian character in young people so they can turn around be a light to the world and a server in their communities."

Call 903-530-4337 for tickets or information, or by email to gsmith@fca.org. Visit the Web at FCA.org for information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.