Some say leading by example and through faith is an important part of being a coach. Area coaches will have a chance to display their faith next week.

“Coaches touch kids’ lives in so many ways and for them not to share Christ with them is a total [waste],” said Alonzo Stevens, West Central Area Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is gearing up for their fourth Fields of Faith event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at St. Aloysius’ Balzli Field, 1900 Grove St.

The program is scheduled to last around two hours and is open to the public. Students from all four area high schools are encouraged to attend.

Each of the high schools will have a coach and athlete give a short testimony.

Mississippi’s new state director of FCA Josh Gilreath will be the keynote speaker Wednesday night. Various local coaches and ministers including Michael Phelps, Dellie Robinson, Joe Harris, James Archer, Rudy Smith, Deborah Jones, Leonard Walker and Reggie Harris will be present to help talk to students who decide to give their life to Christ at the event.

“We’re going to have ministers in the community that’s going to be there to help the kids if they want to give their lives to Christ or just whatever they want to talk about,” Stevens said.

Stevens said the first year they had the event, 95 students took the invitation and came to Christ.

“I tell coaches, ‘I don’t care how good of kids you got, if his heart ain’t right, somewhere he going to disappoint you because he has no foundation,’” Stevens said.

In addition to the speakers, there will also be music during the event featuring Charlotte Price and Vickie Bailey with a solo from Warren County Sherriff Martin Pace.

“It’s going to be very entertaining and it’s going to be very worthwhile,” Stevens said.

The local Catholic priests will be invited as well as local governmental officials like the mayor, aldermen and county supervisors. Superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren County School District Chad Shealy will also be present.

“Having a Christian superintendent is awesome, it’s just awesome, because the genuine love, and he does it not by talk but by doing. He hasn’t missed one of them since he’s been here,” Stevens said.

Hot dogs, cookies, water and chips will be available for students during the night of fellowship.

Oftentimes athletes spend more time with their coaches than their parents, Stevens said. This makes the coaches’ influence prominent in the student’s lives, especially for those who come from a troubled family. He knows coaches are busy people, but he said taking time for students is the most important thing a coach can do.

“You have to take time. You don’t think it’s important, but it’s the most important thing you are going to do with that child. No matter how many trophies he has, at one point, going to break the arm on the trophy, the neck going to fall off the trophy, the little engraving you’re going to lose,” Stevens said.

He knows students often mimic the people they admire and if a coach shows no restraint in anger, the student will also. The coaches’ responsibility is large and the best way to connect with them is to be honest.

“Kids got to see you for what you are. What hurts them more then anything is the disappointment of you,” Stevens said.

Stevens said even though the FCA is promoted towards athletes, people do not have to be athletes to be apart of the group.

FCA is a student led organization with a vision to “see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches.” Stevens has worked with the group since 1975 and is over Warren, Claiborne, Jefferson and Adams counties. October is FCA month.

“Come see what it’s all about. Nobody is forcing anything on you,” Stevens said.