Leading her classmates in prayer in the school gymnasium, Grace Jaynes feels like she is participating in something bigger than herself.

“In a way, I feel like God is working through me to spread his message to more students,” she said.

The Brownstown Central High School senior is one of the 15 student huddle leaders of the newly formed chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school.

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The voluntary group meets every other Thursday in the school gymnasium an hour prior to the school day for a message and fellowship.

While the group is led by students, it was organized by coaches Jennifer Shade, Reed May and Barry Hall, who serve as advisers.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a national organization that encourages athletes at all levels to use athletics to spread the message of Jesus Christ.

More than 60 students attended the second meeting Feb. 22 at the high school for a message from Andy Schroeder, the new pastor at Seymour Christian Church.

“I think it’s really cool they decided to start it, and I’m really excited about it,” said Jaynes, who plays volleyball and participates in track and field. “This is a good way to get everyone more involved and get God into their everyday lives, and I hope it continues to grow.”

Seeing the turnout also was encouraging.

“I didn’t expect the group to be this big,” she said.

The crowd size impressed Schroeder, too.

“I think it’s awesome, and I walked in here today and saw bleachers full of kids,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting that, and I’m really pleased that kids care enough to be a part of this.”

Knowing the character of the school’s athletes, Shade said the good turnout was expected.

“Surprised? No. Proud? Yes,” she said. “We know we have athletes that already follow Jesus, and we know we have parents and families who have built great foundations. These kids want to reach others.”

Attending a public school, Jaynes said faith isn’t the center of education. The group helps bring more faith into their lives each day.

“That’s another way that we can remind everybody that God is there and he’s in your everyday life,” she said. “In sports, it’s easy to not think about that and only think about yourself and the game, but with FCA, we’re always on display as athletes and that we need to represent God through that.”

Schroeder’s message centered on readings from Proverbs about having heart as a Christian, and he applied it to being an athlete.

“There’s a difference in having heart as an athlete, and the same is with our walk with God,” he said. “We can trust the Lord with all our heart.”

Schroeder said seeing the number of students commit to the group was positive.

“In our schools today and the things that are happening, I’m encouraged to see students that are here today trying to do things right in their life,” he said.

Carrying faith while in school is important because of all of the pressures of being a teen and situations in their personal lives, Schroeder said.

“Some of them have good homes. Some of them don’t,” he said. “Some have parents that care, and some don’t, but every student has to have something they can hold onto, and they can try other things to fulfill that, but until they have that faith and foundation of their life, they will struggle.”

That faith gives them the strength to take on more than just athletics, Shade said.

“As athletes, they need guidance and support, and as role models, they need to beam with good character,” she said. “We feel students coming together as a group, in this case for Jesus Christ, will promote great things.”

Jaynes said being in similar company with her peers is something that lifts her up.

“I think it’s super-empowering that everybody shares the same faith and the same God, and that way, if anybody is ever in any trouble or in need of support, there’s support, and we’re all here together,” she said.

Shade, Hall and students Halle Hehman and Emily Koch recently attended a Brownstown Town Council meeting to share information about FCA and the group’s first project.

They have decided to create a food and hygiene drop-off station, giving people an opportunity to stop by and pick up items they need.

People also would be able to donate items. Besides food and hygiene products, that could include Bibles or other readings to share and take home.

Hall said the wooden structure would have an 8-foot-by-8-foot floor plan with a pitched roof, a door and a 3-foot porch. Hall plans to have the students help build it.

Shade asked the council’s permission to place it in the town parking lot off of West Walnut Street because it would be in a safe, high-traffic area that’s visible and accessible. She said students would check daily to ensure it is fully stocked and organized.

This project will be fun and exciting for the students and keep them engaged and also get the community and parents involved, Shade said.

“There are a lot of communities that do this, and we’ve gotten a lot of ideas off of the internet,” she said. “I know it will work. I know it will take work, but we felt like this would be something the kids could take pride in and the kids could physically be involved in, and it would be a great thing for the community.”

Students will spread the word in the community to seek donations.

“Knowing this community, I don’t think that will be a problem to keep that stocked,” Shade said. “It will probably be overstocked, but we will work out those fine details, too.”

The council unanimously approved for FCA to use the town parking lot for the station.

“It’s a great idea,” council President Sally Lawson said. “It’s a really cool initiative. I love it.”