Bismarck High School wrestling coach and gospel educator Scott Knowlen invites students from different BHS sports teams to come and participate in a club where they can improve their relationship with God. He explains how the focus of developing and growing your faith in Jesus can help you deal with several issues that young people may be facing.
“Students have many challenges facing them on a consistent basis,” Knowlen said. “Besides the time, effort and stress that being involved in athletics can entail, other factors such as maintaining good grades, family situations, navigating peer pressure, sharing solid friendships and a myriad of other high school concerns can be overwhelming.”
The club is open to anyone and has helped many people.
“Many current and former students have found for themselves that a loving relationship with Jesus Christ has helped them through several of their high school challenges,” Knowlen said. “And it’s fun!”
There are Huddle sessions every week on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m., and all students can join even if they are not an athlete.
“It is an interdenominational Christian sports ministry to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes,” Knowlen said.
BHS has had the huddle various times over the years. FCA started in the 1970’s and ‘80’s and it came back in 2008 but ended again in 2017. It was not until 2023 that Knowlen would take charge and rekindle the meetings.
“North Dakota has seen a large growth of FCA Huddles, Huddle Leaders and an FCA ND Staff,” Knowlen said.
Last year, Scott Knowlen led most of the weekly huddles but this year they have been led by the student leadership team.
“I am part of the student leadership team,” BHS senior Lucy Wisthoff said. “I’m almost always the one leading Tuesday morning.”
Looking back, Wisthoff talks about all her experiences at FCA, experiences that have not only done things for her but other students.
“FCA has been so good! It has been awesome to see God work. “We’ve had so many new people this year,” Wisthoff said. “Lives are being changed and it’s so exciting.”
The goal of FCA is not only to strengthen a student’s faith but to also have fun along the way.
“The actual mission of the FCA organization is to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church,” Knowlen said.
FCA covers several things such as the Gospel Message and they always make it a priority to play a game.
“At various points we share the Gospel Message…that God loves you, sin separates you from God,” Wisthoff said. “Jesus died for you in order to reconcile you with God and that you will need to make a decision if you’d like Christ to be your Savior.”