Thousands of years ago, Noah warned people that a flood was on its way and they needed to be prepared.

Local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) officials are following his example, alerting Cherokee County residents to be ready for a deluge of rain to fall from the skies. No need to run and grab umbrellas though, this is the type of precipitation one would like to soak in.

“Without rain, there is not the chance for growth or development,” said Pierre Salmon, local FCA director. “Without rain we lose things, the grass gets brown and crops don’t grow. We often look at it in a negative standpoint, but without it we would not have a lot of things necessary to us.”

Taking a brief look at the forecast for March 30, FCA representatives and supporters are “Preparing for Rain” in the form of blessings as the days wind down to the organization’s development dinner at the Broad River Electric Co- Op Auditorium.

“We’re praying for and needing an outpouring of financial support as well as praying for God’s favor and guidance to pour out,” said Claudia Butler, area representative for FCA and the Cherokee County Ministry to Female Coaches and Athletes. “We’re looking for God to send rain in the form of new salvations and recommitments to Christ; not necessarily the type of rain and weather we’ve been receiving. We are wanting to expand this ministry to a fresh, greater level of involvement for our county.”

Throughout the year, members of FCA are present at county schools and recreation activities holding huddles and events meant to minister to the hearts of students. Being seen on a regular basis allows representatives of the organization to paint a picture of the ministry and its mission.

“(FCA) is one of the few avenues available for the Word to be present in schools,” Salmon said. “FCA is a vessel for people of all ages to see what the Lord has done and can do in their lives.”

The program has gained momentum in recent years, recently starting huddles for little league baseball and football leagues, the first FCA chapter in the U.S. to do so.

“We’re so blessed to serve such a small area because we can go deeper and spend time with a lot of the kids,” Butler said. “Instead of going an inch wide, we’re able to go a mile deep and reach kids on a personal level.”

“It’s a grassroots ministry that enables us to get to the kids at the lowest level and be able to build relationships with them and coaches,” Salmon said.

However, as with everything, it takes money to keep things rolling. Butler said she hopes the Lord plants it on the hearts of those attending the dinner to plant a seed into the ministry.

“The purpose of the dinner is to raise funds for the ministry; but we’re not forcing people to give us money,” Butler said. “If you capture a heart, a donor, a coach, whoever it is, you don’t have to push or beg as they simply want to be a part of what God is doing.”

To help usher in a season

of blessings and new beginnings, the organization

is turning its pages and bringing in some old faces instrumental to the program’s development locally. Former area directors Fouad Farris, currently the New England Regional Manager for FCA, and Northwest Atlanta FCA Director Shane Williamson, will be speakers for the event.

“They are former FCA directors of Cherokee County who put us in a ‘league’ of our own according to state and national stats,” Butler said. “Many people have maintained close ties with them and their families.”

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Salmon at (864) 490-4926, or Butler at (864) 490-4355.