Les Steckel, national president and CEO for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, along with wife Chris, joined students and coaches at an FCA event at Gardner-Webb Universtiy last week. BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - “It’s been a great week,” said Les Steckel, the national president and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). “We’ve literally seen lives changed. We believe as Christians that they’re lives have been changed for eternity.”

Steckel’s comments refer to the FCA’s weeklong summer camp that takes place on the campus of Gardner-Webb University each year. The camp at Gardner-Webb marks Steckel’s first camp visit since he was named president of the FCA in March. He and his wife, Chris, joined students and coaches for the entire week. “I’ve been a lot of places, and I’ve never been at a more friendly, hospitable, comforting and convenient campus,” Steckel said. “Everything is just perfect. It’s an ideal atmosphere.”

The camp is open to students from 6th to 12th grades and features training in basketball, football, cross country and wrestling. This year, approximately 400 students attended. Tony Russo, a 16-year-old point guard from Largo, Fla., came to the camp for the second time this year. “It’s good,” Russo said. “It’s a good environment. All the people are nice, and all the kids are friendly. You meet a lot of new people. It’s a Christian atmosphere, too.”

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is the largest interdenominational, school-based Christian sports organization in the United States. According to the organization’s Web site, the FCA has been serving athletes on the youth, junior high, high school, college and professional levels since 1954. “Its very meaningful,” Les Steckel said. “I really believe the athletic world today is out of control. I believe it’s out of balance. What we try to do is get it back in balance.”

Steckel will release his first book, “One Yard Short,” next summer. The book highlights his career as a professional football coach, as well as his work with the FCA. “For me, I really believe life is a team sport,” he said. “If you’re going to walk through this life, play the game of life, the best support you can get is knowing Jesus Christ personally.”

Gardner-Webb has hosted the FCA camps for six years. Located in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb University is home to nearly 4,000 students from 30 states and 30 foreign countries. This year, Gardner-Webb celebrates 100 years of advanced education in a Christian environment.