Starting from Scratch: Building FCA Culture on a New Campus
The fear is real, the progress is slow, and the foundation you're laying matters more than you know.
5-minute read
Gospel Imperative
Every thriving ministry started with someone taking the first uncertain step into unfamiliar territory. Kingdom work rarely begins with momentum—it begins with faithfulness in the face of fear, persistence when doors don't open immediately, and trust that God is working even when results aren't visible yet.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." — Galatians 6:9
I'll be honest, starting FCA at new campuses usually comes with a little bit of fear. Walking onto a campus where you don't know anybody is intimidating. It’s showing up to football practice as a stranger, hoping to build relationships from nothing.
Right now, I'm working with five high schools in San Antonio. Three of them have no FCA presence on campus. Veterans Memorial High School is a newer school that does not have an FCA presence. Cole High School is a military school on Fort Sam Houston ISD, where I haven't even gotten in yet.
This is the reality of pioneering work that nobody talks about in ministry highlight reels.
I keep reaching out to Cole with no response. It might be the school that comes much later—God knows the timeline. In the meantime, I'm focusing my energy on the four schools where doors are at least slightly open.
My job is to support the Huddle Leader at each school I serve. I tell the Huddle Leader, "Whatever your time schedule is—once a week, every two weeks, or once a month—you let me know how I can help get it started." The goal isn't immediate perfection; it's sustainable launch. We're going to get an FCA huddle on the campus, either in the morning, afternoon, or evening rhythm, and build from there.
Meanwhile, at MacArthur High School, the head coach came up to me and said, "Hey, we want FCA on campus. We just don't know who's going to lead it." That's the dream scenario—administrative support before you even ask—but even then, it requires patience. I found a volunteer who's completed everything. She is planning to launch the FCA Huddle. Where this could begin to wear, I keep my mind focused on God’s timeline. He is faithful to finish the good work He has started on this campus.
1. Ministry of Presence I show up to football practices or other athletic events regularly, even before programs launch. Coaches need to see that I’m invested in their students, not just interested in starting another campus activity.
2. Relationship Before Results At Roosevelt, I had an advantage—I'd heard the head coach speak about his faith at a clinic, and he remembered me. That small prior connection opened doors. Every conversation, every hallway interaction, every brief exchange is building relational equity.
3. Flexible Timeline Expectations MacArthur might launch next month. Veterans Memorial might take until spring. Cole might not happen this year. Each school operates is ultimately operating on God’s timeline—not mine.
4. Celebrate Small Wins Administrative interest, a volunteer stepping forward, a returned email—these aren't full launches, but they're momentum. Acknowledge progress even when it feels incremental.
Heart Check
Where in your life have you avoided starting something because the beginning looked too hard? What fear keeps you from taking the first uncertain step?
How do you respond when doors don't open immediately? Do you pivot to easier opportunities, or do you persist with patient faithfulness?
If you were planting something that wouldn't bear visible fruit for months or even years, would you have the endurance to keep investing? What sustains you when results are delayed?
Invest in the Beginning
Thriving FCA programs don't appear overnight—they're built by people willing to show up before crowds gather, persist when calls aren't returned, and celebrate small wins that others might overlook. Your support of FCA allows me to invest in schools that I serve, like Roosevelt, MacArthur, Madison, Veterans Memorial, and Cole, building foundations even when launches are delayed and progress feels slow.