FCA Official: Facing the Giants' Message Resonates With Coaches, Players
by Allie Martin
October 20, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is helping spark a spiritual revival among high school football teams throughout northern Mississippi, with the help of a faith-themed movie about a sports team that discovers the secret to winning on the field and winning in life.Facing the Giants, an independently made film funded and produced by a Christian church in Georgia, was recently released in more than 400 theaters across the U.S. and has scored big with audiences nationwide, thanks to its meaningful, heartwarming story of faith, family and football. Scott Carter, director of the FCA of Northeast Mississippi, appreciated the movie's message and wanted to provide a way for local high school football teams to see it.
Through the FCA group, with the assistance of local businessmen and churches, at least six teams have been able to enjoy private screenings of Facing the Giants. Carter says the movie is powerful and particularly resonant for young athletes and the coaches whose job it is to teach and inspire them.
"These coaches are looking for every edge and angle they can get to motivate their players," the FCA director points out, "and there are so many messages in this movie that are so powerful. These are the messages that coaches want their kids hearing, and it's being played out right in front of them, so the coaches want their kids exposed to this movie."
Carter says since he has been involved with these high school football team screenings, more than 100 football players have accepted Christ after viewing Facing the Giants. "These kids see themselves in that movie," he contends. "That's what makes it so powerful," he adds. "It's very relevant to people."
The Northeast Mississippi FCA director says so many people are able to "see themselves in that movie, in those same roles," that they are easily able to identify with the characters as they discover how Christ's power can help them face fear, defeat, and difficult odds.
The movie's central message is a biblical message -- a gospel message, Carter suggests. "And when you can make the gospel relevant," he says, "then you can really reach people."
Facing the Giants, which is still playing in cities across the U.S. -- and which has been added at 33 new theaters starting this weekend -- had a budget of $100,000. So far, the movie has grossed more than four million dollars at the box office.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
