Building Champions for Christ: Brent Slade’s Mission Through FCA Sports

FCA "In the City" Blog Feature - Part 2: Brent Slade, Director of FCA Atlanta Sports

When Brent Slade first stepped into the world of FCA in 2010, he was already deeply embedded in the Atlanta sports scene. Having spent ten years as a teacher and baseball coach in Atlanta Public Schools, he had seen firsthand the impact of sports on young lives. But something more was stirring within him—a call to ministry that had been planted years earlier during a mission trip in college.

"I always knew I wanted to do ministry in the city," Brent recalls. "I just didn’t know which city. But over time, God made it clear that Atlanta was where He was leading me."

Brent’s journey with FCA began when an FCA staff member visited his school and invited him and his baseball team to participate in an FCA baseball mission trip. That initial encounter opened the door to conversations, prayer, and ultimately a calling that led Brent to join FCA full-time as the middle school baseball league representative.

The Birth of FCA Sports in Atlanta

Brent saw a glaring need in the city’s middle school sports programs, particularly in baseball. "The ninth graders coming into my high school baseball team had never played before—some didn’t even know which hand to put the glove on," he shares. "That made it clear that if we wanted to change the trajectory of inner-city baseball, we had to start earlier."

So, in 2011, FCA launched its middle school baseball league with five schools, 75 players, and ten coaches. The goal was twofold: to develop athletes and to minister to their hearts. What started with baseball has since expanded into basketball and soccer, offering a holistic ministry to the city’s youth and their families.

Beyond the Game: Holistic Ministry in the City

FCA Sports isn’t just about wins and losses; it’s about changing lives. "A lot of these kids come from single-parent homes. They face anger management issues, financial struggles, and educational challenges," Brent explains. "We’re not just serving the youth; we’re serving their families. Our ministry meets physical, emotional, and spiritual needs."

One story that encapsulates the heart of FCA Sports is that of Tremont "Trey" Gaither. Brent met Trey as a sixth grader playing in FCA’s middle school baseball league. Though Trey changed schools, FCA remained a constant in his life. By high school, he was volunteering at FCA summer camps. Later, after giving his life to Christ, he became a part-time FCA staff member. Today, Trey is a full-time FCA middle school baseball representative, mentoring the next generation of players just as Brent once mentored him.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for FCA Atlanta Sports

As FCA Sports continues to grow, Brent envisions an even greater future. "We’ve run our leagues in various locations over the years—some have been great, others not so much," he says. "Our vision is to have an FCA Sports Complex, a home base for our programs where we can expand into new sports and serve even more families."

Beyond the local leagues, FCA offers club teams, summer camps, and domestic and international mission trips. "Whether it’s taking kids on college visits, to the Dominican Republic, or Brazil, we want to give them experiences they might never have had otherwise," Brent shares. "But ultimately, our mission remains the same: to lead coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church."

As FCA Sports in Atlanta continues to impact lives, Brent Slade remains at the forefront, guiding, mentoring, and living out his passion for sports, the city, and the gospel. His journey is a testament to how God uses ordinary moments—like a baseball flyer handed out in a high school—to spark extraordinary change.