The best thing about school is the community that comes with it ― whether students find their people through art, music, robotics, or mathematics, people are what make or break the high school experience. Some West students have chosen to create connections through religious clubs, such as FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and Young Life. 

   FCA has been a prominent club at West High School for years now, and it consists of more than just free pizza and exciting games. According to FCA President Eva Brandt (12), students “don’t have to be Christian or even an athlete to join. It’s really about connecting people and just showing them God and what He’s all about.” What began as a few coaches mentoring and having fellowship with their athletes has become a nation-wide organization where students who share similar experiences and goals can come together to build relationships between themselves and with God. 

   When members come together every Thursday, they usually start with a message (or a “mini sermon,” led by their leader Tom Sheck or by another youth leader) in which they learn more about who God is. They even occasionally have students proclaim their own testimonies to the group, creating bonds and a deeper understanding of each other. Brandt remarked that her favorite part of the club is “getting to see so many people experiencing God’s love” ― even those who may not be Christian, since the attendance of so many people together “made [her] heart so full, seeing that God really provided.” 

   Compared to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life is a brand new club at West High. Ava Marsh (11), a member of both Young Life and FCA, explained that the biggest difference is that “Young Life seems to be more focused on outreach, while FCA seems to be more focused on deeper Bible topics. . . . FCA seems to have deeper biblical topics you would hear at church while Young Life wants to give you a snapshot of who this guy Jesus is.” 

   Similarly to FCA, Young Life plays games, enjoys pizza, and listens to short messages about who Jesus is. They also have the additional element of a raffle, in which students can win “gift cards, candy, or other prizes.” Marsh expressed a similar love for the clubs that Brandt did: in particular, she loved “seeing people who might not be Christian come to meetings and be open to hearing more about the faith.” 

   As time passes, both FCA and Young Life hope to continue to grow even more and enjoy fellowship with as many West students as possible. They urge everyone to join and build upon each other, creating stronger spiritual communities in West.