​The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) aims to build a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church in every coach and athlete. This goal matches the mission of Lancaster Bible College (LBC). While sports can energize and divide, LBC’s Scripture-based athletic curriculum encourages student-athletes, athletic staff, and spectators to demonstrate fair play and ethical behavior as part of a Christ-centered sportsmanship.

LBC’s FCA chapter brings together all 20 of the college’s Division II sports teams to move forward “as one.” FCA meetings encourage athletes to sit with teammates they don’t know well or those from other teams. This helps them form meaningful connections across sports. The group also invites non-athletes to join FCA and explore a deeper relationship with Christ through shared community and fellowship.

Each FCA meeting begins with prayer and includes weekly announcements, which cover game schedules and details about upcoming events. A student-athlete then shares a personal testimony about their experience with God. After a brief sermon led by a coach or fellow athlete, attendees break into small groups of three or four to reflect on the message and discuss what God has done in their lives over the past week. This section, titled “Prayer and praise,” enables participants to explore practical ways to deepen their faith.

​From humble beginnings in 1954 to its current status as a global sports ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) has woven together faith and athletics in a unique and powerful way. Founded by Don McClanen, a passionate basketball coach from Oklahoma, FCA has grown into an organization that touches millions of lives through its commitment to engaging coaches and athletes with the transformative power of Jesus Christ.

At its core, FCA's vision remains clear and ambitious: to see the world transformed through the influence of coaches and athletes who embrace their faith. FCA aims to guide coaches and athletes to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The organization's approach is built on four fundamental values: integrity, serving, teamwork, and excellence – principles that mirror both athletic discipline and Christian teachings.

The organization's growth over seven decades tells a remarkable story of persistence and impact. What began as one coach's dream has evolved into a ministry that spans the globe, reaching professional, college, high school, and youth levels. FCA's strategy revolves around three key elements: engaging through authentic relationships, equipping through biblical teaching, and empowering others to continue this cycle of discipleship.

In 2024, celebrating its 70th anniversary, FCA demonstrated the continuing vitality of its mission with remarkable results. The organization facilitated over 53,000 faith decisions during the fiscal year, with more than 43,000 in the United States and over 10,000 internationally. This achievement speaks to the organization's effectiveness in using sports as a platform for spiritual growth and transformation.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Shane Williamson, FCA has maintained its commitment to distributing Bibles as a cornerstone of its ministry. In 2024 alone, the organization distributed nearly 220,000 Bibles, contributing to a total of almost three million Bibles distributed over the past fifteen years. This emphasis on scripture underscores FCA's dedication to equipping athletes and coaches with foundational spiritual resources.

The organization's theme for 2024, "24/7," based on Romans 15:13, emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith beyond the playing field. This message resonates with FCA's longstanding belief that an athlete's identity and worth extend far beyond their athletic achievements, finding their true foundation in their relationship with Christ.

Through various programs, including Camps, Huddles, and Fields of Faith events, FCA continues to create environments where sports and faith naturally intersect. For example, Fields of Faith is a student-led FCA initiative that transforms athletic fields into gathering places for spiritual growth and community connection. The program's unique approach empowers students to take leadership roles by inviting, praying for, and sharing their faith with peers while using the universal appeal of sports facilities as neutral rally points for community gatherings.

As FCA moves forward, its impact continues to grow through its strategy of engaging, equipping, and empowering. The organization's success in blending athletic excellence with spiritual growth demonstrates the enduring relevance of its mission. From its inception to the present day, FCA has remained committed to using the universal language of sports to share a message of faith, hope, and purpose with athletes and coaches around the world.

​Backspin refers to the reverse rotation of a tennis ball in the air. Tennis players execute it when they strike the top of the ball to exert downward pressure on it. They use backspin when hitting defensive strokes.

Historically, tennis racquet heads were small with heavy frames, so players could not hit the tennis balls as hard as they wanted. Therefore, they developed the backspin technique to help them maneuver the ball better.

Backspins have three major effects on the tennis ball. They cause the ball to move slower and exhibit a lower bounce, giving the tennis player better control over it. When a tennis player hits a ball with a backspin, the ball moves more slowly than if the player had hit it with a topspin shot. Likewise, backspin causes the ball to bounce and skid slower. Combining the two effects gives the player better control over the ball.

Next, backspin has become useful when making a drop shot. To make a drop shot, the player attempts to hit the ball lightly over the net, causing the ball to bounce near the net. Tennis players use backspin to make their opponents leave their position deep in the court and move closer to the net. Moving quickly from a deep position to the net makes hitting a powerful return stroke difficult.

Shooting the ball over an opponent's head is part of an efficient strategy to buy time or push offensive playback from the net, known as a lob surprise. In a lob surprise with a backspin, the ball rotates in the air and then takes a steep dive after it crosses the net. The lob catches the opponent by surprise, while the backspin makes the ball drop too fast for the opponent to reach. While the opponent tries to swing at the ball, the other player can position himself for their next shot or move closer to the net.

Tennis players usually use backspin shots to help them hide their intentions from opponents. At times, a backspin can look like a topspin, making it difficult for the opponent to predict the direction or destination of the ball. It may cause the opponent to yield to a counterattack or overplay their shot.

Backspin shots also help players force their opponents to commit errors. Players often use this slow and low shot as a defensive measure or to disturb the opponent’s rhythm. Each approach aims to throw off the opponent's rhythm. Also, the backspin's lower bounce and slow speed ensure that players can get back in position to defend incoming shots.

The tennis player should maintain a continental grip or hold on to the racquet to execute various backspin shots. A continental grip requires right-handed tennis players to position their index knuckle and heel pad on the second level of the tennis racquet handle or the seventh bevel for left-handed players. It angles the racquet correctly at the point of impact, generating a backspin.

Precision is also key to executing a perfect backspin. Players should practice the shot often while keeping their eyes on the ball and directing the follow-through.

​Church mission trips often serve as a bridge between communities, connecting congregations with regions needing support and understanding. These trips create outreach opportunities, offering aid while fostering relationships that leave an impression on both the host communities and the participants.

The benefits that communities receive from mission teams can be tangible and immediate. Medical assistance, educational programs, and construction projects bring resources and skills that might otherwise be unavailable. Temporary clinics set up by mission teams can address unmet health care needs, while teaching initiatives can empower individuals with new knowledge and tools. These acts of service often fill gaps in infrastructure, offering temporary relief or a foundation for longer-term improvements.

Local economies can also benefit from these efforts. Supplies and services purchased locally by mission teams infuse money into businesses, supporting livelihoods and enhancing economic resilience. When executed thoughtfully, this type of engagement avoids creating dependence and empowers local stakeholders, ensuring that progress is meaningful and sustainable.

Cultural exchange is another dimension where mission trips leave a mark. As visitors and residents interact, mutual understanding often deepens. For those who travel, encountering unfamiliar traditions can prompt reflection, challenge assumptions, and foster a greater sense of empathy. Meanwhile, host communities benefit from exposure to new ideas and the knowledge that their challenges and contributions matter to others.

However, the impact of mission trips is not always uniformly positive. Without adequate planning and respect for the cultural and social fabric of the host community, mission trips can unintentionally create challenges. Instances have occurred where efforts, though well-meaning, disrupted local industries or fostered dependency by prioritizing short-term relief over long-term solutions. Critics argue that these outcomes are often the result of inadequate preparation or a failure to involve local voices in the planning process.

For those who participate, mission trips are often transformative experiences. Facing unfamiliar challenges can cultivate adaptability, resilience, and a more profound sense of purpose. Many return home with an expanded worldview, motivated to serve within their communities. Donating time and effort to others can cultivate a sense of gratitude and inspire an ongoing commitment to addressing societal needs.

Mission trips also build connections within the participating group. Working together in new environments strengthens bonds and encourages teamwork. Overcoming challenges as a group often leads to lasting relationships, and shared experiences can enhance unity within the church community. The sense of purpose derived from collaborating on meaningful projects often translates into increased involvement and dedication among members long after the trip.

From a more general standpoint, mission trips show how action and introspection interact. They provide an opportunity to witness the diversity of human experiences, highlighting shared struggles and aspirations. These trips can reinforce a collective sense of responsibility and interconnectedness, reminding participants and observers alike of the importance of collaboratively addressing challenges. When approached with humility and a willingness to listen, mission trips can transcend their logistical efforts, leaving a legacy of trust, understanding, and hope.

Church mission trips have the potential to uplift communities and transform lives. Their success depends on an intentional commitment to mutual respect and collaboration. Sharing rather than giving makes these visits beneficial to both the giver and the receiver in unexpected and lasting ways.

​Doubles tennis is highly competitive and social, as teammates closely coordinate strategies on-court. Doubles is not simply a matter of each player covering half the court; it is fluid, dynamic, and aggressive, with partners constantly working to coordinate control of the center window, an unmarked 9-foot by 3-foot box extending on both players' sides along the net, where most shots land or pass.

Success in doubles tennis starts with proper positioning during the serve. The server must hit the ball from behind the baseline into the opponent's opposite-side service box across the net. The service box is the area within the opponent's half of the court, closest to the net. The server is behind the baseline, while the server's partner is typically closer to the net in the center of the service area. These positions allow them to dominate the front court on the return, cutting off the ball before it travels deeper in the court, bounces, and backs them up from the net.

The partners also have a staggered formation on the receiving side of the court. The serve returner stands at the service line at the back of the service box. As the rally progresses, they move deeper to run and cover balls on either side of the court. Meanwhile, the returner stands in the center of the service box, ready to cover any short balls.

Players sometimes change position to go after outlying balls. As one partner is pulled off the court or pushed back, the other takes up the slack in the middle, ensuring coverage of the entire court. Keep in mind that after the serve, the court's internal lines are not important. The aim is to move positionally, being where the partner is not, regardless of lines.

For proper doubles positioning, players should not simply follow the ball. Instead, they must learn to read their partner's body language. In cases where the partner appears balanced, stable, and in control, it is fine to react mostly to the ball. However, when they are jammed, reaching, falling, or off-balance, they have likely been driven out of position. This makes moving to the center to cover the court a must, at least until they regain their position.

One tactic is using a lob to force opponents to change positions. A lob is a high-arcing shot that hits near the baseline. The key is to ensure that the lob hits on the side of the court opposite the baseline receiver. This forces the back-positioned player to run to cover the shot. At the same time, it forces the net player to shift back, covering the area the baseline player just vacated. This translates into opportunities for slamming the ball into an area with no coverage on the next return.

Conversely, successful doubles teams often take over the net toward the end of rallies, with both partners holding positions just a few feet from the net. This forces opponents to try high-risk, outside passing shots or lobs. At the same time, the net-positioned players have more chances for easy, high-speed volleys that win points. When an opponent is about to connect on a groundstroke, a player can pressure them by moving laterally toward them along the net. The opponent may change the shot at the last moment to avoid hitting a player coming directly at the net.