ADAMS TWP — A group of Mars High School varsity lacrosse players want other athletes to feel comfortable sharing and expressing their faith, whether on or off the field.

Zac Sicher, Alex Malin and Blake Thompson recently asked social studies teacher Dave Goodworth if he would serve as the faculty sponsor of a Christian athletes club. Goodworth agreed, and suggested the group become affiliated with a national organization known as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Eventually, they’re going to graduate and move on, and if they want to see (a club) become permanent, I think it’s best to join the FCA,” Goodworth said.

He spoke with the FCA’s regional representative last week, and was given suggestions on getting the club going.

The school board approved the club in April.

“We’re still in the infancy stage,” Goodworth said. “We’re strategizing for next year.”

Goodworth explained that the club’s student leaders will look for male and female Christian athletes from each varsity sport to meet a few times a month. The leaders from each sport will then conduct devotionals and fellowship activities before and after their teams’ games and practices.

He said the FCA advocates bringing speakers in for students. In other FCA clubs, those speakers have included professional athletes, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, as well as college coaches from various sports.

Goodworth is excited about the club, which will begin in the 2014-15 school year.

“Anything that allows you to get out a positive message is, I think, very valuable,” he said.

Sicher credited Malin with coming up with the idea to start the club.

“We really just wanted to reach out to athletes and share the love of Christ with them,” he said.

Sicher said high school athletes can easily fall prey to arrogance, which he hopes the club will prevent.

“In athletics, it’s important to have something bigger than yourself,” he said. “It brings more meaning to the game when you can play for the Lord instead of just your team.”

He said the club also will provide Christian athletes a venue for comfortably expressing their faith with other students.

Sicher, a sophomore who plays the attack position in lacrosse, said the group is looking for Christian athletes in the varsity teams at Mars.

“The more the better,” he said of potential club members, “so we can reach more people.”

Sicher is a small group leader for the middle school youth group at the New Community Church in Wexford.

His father, John Sicher, said he is excited to see what is in store for the new club.

“It’s great seeing kids step out in their faith and want to do things to expose other kids to the Gospel,” he said.

John Sicher called Zac and his friends a group of young people who are trying their best to do the right thing in their lives.

“We’re excited about what God has planned for them,” Sicher said.