CUMBERLAND — A long-established leadership development organization for youth, driven by the Christian spirit, is being rejuvenated in Western Maryland and the West Virginia Panhandle by new leadership.

Scott Myers, of Clear Spring, said he’s long known that “coaching coaches” would be the perfect job for him. Today, it’s more a calling than a career path.

“God has really answered that prayer,” said Myers, son of Delegate LeRoy Myers and area director for the Western Maryland/Panhandle West Virginia chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The organization seeks to combine the camaraderie developed on the athletic fields with Christian leaders. Myers’ charge includes Maryland’s three westernmost counties as well as the West Virginia counties of Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson.

FCA has had an on-again, off-again local presence for more than two decades. Just recently, however, Myers replaced Kevin Smoot, who still serves the ministry in a part-time capacity. Since May, attendance at morning prayer “huddles” at Frostburg State University, Allegany, Fort Hill and Paw Paw (W.Va.) high schools have been steady — even growing.

Myers said the relationship between a coach and athlete is similar to Jesus and the 12 disciples. There’s a “direct parallel,” he said.

The FCA model is to build student leaders. Myers said while adult volunteers supervise each prayer huddle, the lessons are crafted and taught by the students themselves. Putting students in those positions, Myers said, “inspires purpose to their Christian walk. It’s going to make their faith real.”

Paul Haberlein sees that parallel on a regular basis. Just as the disciples were, the Allegany High School health and physical education teacher has seen high school students, athletes and nonathletes alike, searching for a place to belong, fit in and share common beliefs.

Haberlein’s volunteer position as a huddle coach oversees a Wednesday morning gathering of up to 20 students. Once a month, Haberlein supervises an activity period that serves the same purpose for students who can’t make it to the 7:15 a.m. weekly meetings.

“That group has been as high as 55 (students),” Haberlein said.

Haberlein’s classroom has 30 desks. Turnout at a recent activity group was “awesome,” he said, “because every desk was taken, kids sitting on the floor, standing all around the room.”

“It may even have been higher,” Haberlein said. “We do have a core of kids that are very Christian-oriented. I think the reason it’s starting to grow is other kids are kind of coming out and not worrying about what other people think. They want to be a part of something.”

Haberlein said the students he shares the teachings of God with run the gamut of having grown up in Sunday school to “students trying to figure out what this is all about.”

“We kind of have a mix, really,” he said. “We have those kids who have probably been plugged into the church through their lives. We also got kids who are just seeing what this Christianity thing’s all about for the first time. They’ve never been exposed to the faith-based community.”

Myers said the program, self-supported through donations from the faith and business communities, is built upon the four tenets of integrity, service, teamwork and excellence. Each pillar complements the other, he said. While a competitive person himself, Myers said he knows the value of providing the door of opportunity and being available when someone walks through is better than “pulling arms.”

“We let God lead,” Myers said. “I could get overzealous (but) what I’ve learned to do is let God lead me.”

His biggest obstacle? “Luxury.”

“We don’t feel like we need God,” Myers said, but “if God’s not at the center of it, it’s not going to last.”

For more information on the local FCA chapter, contact Myers at (301) 331-9174, visit www.westernmdfca.org or e-mail him at smyers@fca.org.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.