A brief history of FOCAS

FOCAS was founded in 1983 by a handful of Christian
fishermen who desired to worship and serve as
disciples of Christ. Among this group was Jimmy Houston,
Chris Houston, Hank Parker, Homer Circle, Al Lindner,
Ray Scott and others. They wanted the ministry to serve
as a bond between all fishermen. A ministry that would use
the sport of fishing as a tool to make sport fishermen into
"...fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19)

Since that beginning, FOCAS has grown to a membership
of over 2500 with 40 chapters nationwide.
The board of directors includes Jimmy Houston... ESPN tv host.
Joe Hall... president of Blakemore Lures.
Elle Shimer... NATCOM advertising manager.
Cary Summers... pr director for Silver Dollar City.
Rocky Marshall...president of NSI, and Kathy Taylor... T's Lures founder.
A great management team!

The early vision of the charter members was to use the
sport of fishing as common ground to witness to the
unchurched and strengthen the Christian walk and
witness of the churched. To maintain and communicate
this vision, the mission statement of FOCAS was adopted;
"Teaching kids and parents to fish emphasizing Christian values."
Homer Circle, fishing editor of Sports Afield magazine,
developed the name,
Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society, and coined the acronym FOCAS.

Headquarters were first established in Alabama then
were moved to Oklahoma, then to California, and to Ohio,
returning to Oklahoma in late 1994 with Ken Conlee
as the newly elected national president. Since this time,
Ken Conlee has retired as president and taken a position on the board of directors.
In March of 2003 the National office of FOCAS moved to Arkansas..
The current national staff members are, Richard Irvin National President,
Betty-Ann Symonds News Director & Administration assistant,
Ted Cantor Web Master and Site Administrator.
The Board of Directors for FOCAS Ministries include Jimmy Houston, Ken Conlee, 
Joe Hall, Elle Shimer and Rocky Marshall

Chapters and individuals affiliated with our ministry have
performed various outreach programs which include:

Evangelistic services and fellowships at various fishing tournaments. 

Grass Roots ministering and evangelism at boat and outdoor shows. 

Local area pastor's fishing days. 

Outreach at children's rodeos, clinics and kid's fishing days. 

Family conferences and retreats in the western region. 

Educational fishing programs for churches and schools. 

FOCAS sponsored fishing tournaments. 

 

In taking a close look at what we feel the Lord's purpose
for FOCAS is; we have concluded that we must involve as
many people as possible if we are to be effective. Thus, an
integral part of FOCAS is the various chapters that have
been birthed in different parts of the country. The chapter
format provides an environment for Christian fellowship that
is mutually strengthening for individuals participating.
It creates a non threatening environment conducive to both
discipleship and evangelism.

FOCAS and its various chapters provide a ministry platform
for individuals wanting to serve the Lord who might not
otherwise have one. FOCAS itself is a realization of unity
within the body of Christ as we demonstrate teamwork
in presenting the gospel. We are made up of evangelical
Christians from many denominations banding together
to tell others of our Saviour and Lord,
Jesus Christ

All of these are the product of teamwork as an effort
to do the Lord's calling. Fellowship becomes a motivator
and a means to accomplish the Lord's work. It is an example
of what the bible teaches in 1 Cor. 12:12 - 27, that we are
one body made up of many different parts with many
different functions. In a true team effort, personal
identities take back seat to a common goal. We pray that
FOCAS will be the platform or catalyst you can use to share
with others or come to know more about
our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Convictions:
To introduce men, women, and children to God's Plan for
Mankind; that they might come into a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
To see today's fisherman being used to minister and spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit directs.
To serve, encourage, and unite members under a common
vision, using fishing as a tool to accomplish that vision.
To teach men, women, and children fishing skills that will
strengthen the family and further
fellowship and unity among Christians.

To become "...fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19)
To teach children and parents to fish emphasizing Christian values. (Proverbs 22:6)
To further teamwork, fellowship and unity among Christians. (1 Cor. 12:12 - 26)
To be positive role models serving all with the "...LOVE OF GOD" (1 Cor. 13:1 - 13)
To be good stewards of God's creation. (Psalms 24:1 - 2)

Our statement of faith
We believe
that there is one eternal God, existing in three
persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe
the Bible to be the inspired, authoritative
Word of God.

We believe
in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His
virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His
atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily
resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the
Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

We believe
that for the salvation of lost and sinful men,
acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and
regeneration by the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential.

We believe
in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by
Whose in-dwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.

We believe
in the resurrection of both the saved and the
lost; either they are saved unto the resurrection of life or
they are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe
in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ

We believe
that God ordained the family as the basic unit of our society and
that through the spiritual church family
we can actively demonstrate the love of God to one another.

This doctrinal statement is the basic spiritual foundation
for this corporation, and the same shall not be amended
or deleted, except by vote or written consent of the
board of directors of FOCAS, Inc.

Won't you join us in using
"Fishing as our mission in sharing God's vision?"
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INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
The Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society was form in 1983 by Jimmy    Houston, Chris Houston, Al Linder, Homer Circle, Ray Scott and a handful of professional tournament fishermen who wanted to form a ministry that would serve as a bond between fishermen everywhere. A ministry that would use the sport of fishing as a tool to make sport fishermen, fishers of men.... The center point of any organization is the fulfillment of its mission.  To maintain the vision,  FOCAS adopted the following mission statement. Teaching kids and parents to fish, emphasizing Christian values. with this vision,  FOCAS has developed a national image of being an organization that functions principally around the theme of A teaching@. Using fishing tournaments as fund raisers, the chapter and even small groups of FOCAS members conduct A teaching@ events for children, adults, pastors, campers and church groups.
 Join Now!

HOW TO START A FOCAS CHAPTER
The first basic ingredient of a FOCAS Chapter is the willingness to serve God as a fisher of men. The admonition has been given to all mankind by Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. The mission statement of FOCAS is A teaching kids and parents to fish, emphasizing Christian values.This means literally the desire to bring kids or parents into the sport of fishing and utilizing the sport of fishing as a tool to witness for Jesus Christ. Collectively, more can be accomplished by a group than by a single individual. Jesus knew that same fact, so he called his apostles to help him. FOCAS calls the disciples of Jesus Christ today, to go and teach the sport of fishing to all ages while spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ

TO FORM A CHAPTER
You must have 5 members minimum. A president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and a chaplain. Each chapter must pay a 1 time charter fee of $40.00 to establish your chapter. The charter fee will include 5 patches and certificates for the charter members and a non profit tax I.D. number for your checking account. Chapter members that would like a patch and certificate of membership may pay a 15.00 fee to the National Chapter   Directors office. This can be paid individually or through a chapter. Each chapter may set their own chapter membership fee. Some chapters set a 25.00 chapter fee in which 10.00 stays in the chapter and 15.00 is sent to National Chapter Directors office for patches and certificates for all members. As with the church, each chapter is expected but not physically obligated to tithe to the National FOCAS Office to lend funds for the administration of FOCAS. These funds promote FOCAS, pay for patches, printing cost, magazine advertising, postage and web site expenses. FOCAS provides a web site for our chapters to post their news items, photos, chapter events and any ministry they are involved in. FOCAS staff is made up of all volunteers that include Board of Directors, National President, National Chapter Director, National News Director and Web Master. The staffs addresses can be found on our web site at www.focas.org. If you have a web site for your chapter, we will put a link on our site to yours

GETTING STARTED
Pray for the formation of your chapter and that it will be Gods will that you undertake such a project. There is no salary. There is no advancement. Theres just the reward of knowing you have done something nice for someone else. God will, in His own way, see that you are rewarded. One of the greatest rewards is to see people won to Christ and to see lives changed for the glory of God.  Send your list of officers along with $40.00 charter fee and we will get your FOCAS chapter logged on and underway.  Your chapter will be post on the web site and you'll receive patches and membership certificates for the 5 charter members.

IDEAS FOR CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

WHO ARE THE BEST PROSPECTS
Members of your church make good FOCAS chapter members.  Good close Christian friends at work or guys or women you socialize with. FOCAS is not just for men. It is for men and women alike and the activities that are conducted by FOCAS involve both men and women. One of the most successful FOCAS activities in the country is maintained and organized by a small handful of Christian ladies who through their spiritual gifts assemble some of the most productive FOCAS activities in the country raising thousands of dollars and spending those dollars likewise in a solid Christian manner.

WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES OF A FOCAS CHAPTER
Let your imagination run wild....but, FOCAS is NOT a Christian bass fishing club.
Many chapters do use the club environment as a tool to bring men and women together to open the door of opportunity to witness for Jesus Christ. Some of our chapters do host their own tournament trail but the key is to use tournaments and fishing as a tool to lead people to Christ. One of the more popular events is the Lost Man, Found Man Fishing Tournament. This is where a FOCAS chapter has each member take an unsaved person fishing. During the course of the day on the water, Jesus Christ will be talked about and the difference he can make in that unsaved persons life. A seed is planted....

KIDS DAY
A gathering of the area children to teach them the sport of fishing. This includes multiple teaching stations of each element of fishing, knot tying, casting, rods and reels, lure selection, rules and regulations, actual fishing, wildlife education, water safety, fish biology, fish behavior, locating fish, ect. Each child receives a rod and reel to use and in some cases to keep, a fishing hat, a sack of fishing goodies, a T-shirt, a lunch and a little time with Jesus as area pastors teach objects lessons to the kids. One of our chapters had 15 kids at their first kids day. In 1996 they had 535 kids. And they did the whole thing, right down to the fried chicken lunch, for free.

 CHRISTMAS DAY
On Christmas Day, some FOCAS chapters take care of those people who make Christmas possible for a lot of people. We're talking about the firemen, the policemen, the nurses and doctors on duty, the sheriff's office and the EMT drivers and technicians. FOCAS chapters prepare a full Christmas lunch composed of turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, english peas, fruit salad, hot pies, hot bread and a beverage. These hot meals are hand delivered to each individual. The group when finished delivering, sit down and eat the leftovers for their Christmas Day meal knowing very well a good thing has been done.

CHRISTMAS NURSING HOME MINISTRY
Many FOCAS chapters have started Anursing home@ ministries. This is a visitation to an area nursing home. Each person is contacted and their desires for Christmas are made known. The chapter then in turn buys exactly what that person wants in the color and size required. Each present is wrapped and delivered along with fruit, candy and Christmas cheer. For hundreds of persons who live in nursing homes across America, these efforts of unselfish FOCAS workers brings uncountable joy.

PASTORS DAY
Several chapters have started this event. An individual or maybe two or three chapters go together and invite statewide pastors, denomination makes no difference, to come for a feast and fishing day. The festivities begin with a barbecue on Thursday and is followed by a day of fishing the next day. All pastor has to do is just show up and be in attendance. The local chapter furnishes all the food and fellowship. The local chapter arranges for boats and boat drivers.  The score is kept by the number of inches of fish caught. The pastor-driver team with the most points wins. Carp and drum are forbidden. Bass count as three points per inch, white bass and crappie as two points per inch and all others as one point per inch. The team with the most points wins. Plaques and prizes are given.

FUNDING THE EVENTS
To raise funds for these events, FOCAS chapters conduct bass tournaments. The cash is paid in and the prizes are awarded. Part of the cash entry fee is retained and the value is replaced with prizes usually of greater value. A chapter can take in $10,000 in cash, pay out $3,000 in prize cash and give out $12,000 in prizes that have been donated, giving the chapter a net income of $7,000 to conduct their activities
Thank You and may God Bless your work with FOCAS Ministries
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