Fellowship of Christian Athletes, one of the premier Christ-focused sports ministries in the world, was founded with the vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. A key component of that vision is the dedication to meaningful prayer, both individually and as a team.
FCA is proud to facilitate “24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer,” a 24-hour global prayer chain designed to reinvigorate coaches’ and athletes’ spiritual walk and inspire a heart for unceasing prayer. FCA’s “24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer” continued through Friday.
“Prayer is a foundational component of a Christian’s spiritual walk, yet it’s easily overlooked in today’s busy world,” said Silas Mullis, FCA’s Director of Field Operations. “FCA’s ‘24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer’ is a powerful opportunity for faculty, coaches, and athletes to gather together and pray for the future of our ministry.”
FCA’s “24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer” was founded in 2018 by Regional International Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Region Mark Stephens when he felt convicted to deepen his prayer life and found inspiration in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, where the apostle Paul famously instructs believers to “pray without ceasing.” Stephens coordinated with FCA’s East Asia region and organized 48 half-hour shifts for participants to commit to praying for themselves, their teammates, the ministry, and more. The response was more enthusiastic than Stephens could have dreamed, and now “24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer” has grown to become a global opportunity for comradery and prayer.
“I was excited to have so many people seeking the Lord for the work He wants to do in and through our people,”Stephens previously said. “But mostly, for our region, I felt the Lord’s momentum. We were doing the right thing. We were engaging in prayer together. We were crying out to God for our needs, for wisdom. For me personally, I felt a closeness to the Lord. I don’t know how else to say it. It just felt right. I felt like I was walking in the Lord’s will.”
“Our ‘24 Hours of Unbroken Prayer’ is an opportunity to recapture the concept of prayer and inspire a closer connection with Christ,” said Mullis. “Over the years, we’ve seen the Lord respond to these heartfelt moments of prayer and have witnessed miraculous things. Christ is the center of our ministry here at FCA, and we are excited to see how He will respond.”
FCA’s theme for 2024 is “24/7,” based on Romans 15:13 (CSB): “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” FCA reminds coaches and athletes that their identity and value is found in Christ rather than their sport.