FCA Iron Bowl Prayer Breakfast to be held Friday
MADISON – One of the highly anticipated events on the schedule of the North Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is set for Friday, Nov. 21 and will be held on the UAH Campus at Spragins Hall. The 2025 Iron Bowl Kick-Off Prayer Breakfast, catered by Chickfil- A and presented by Bentley Buick-GMC, will be held 6:45 a.m.-7:45 a.m. for students of all ages and will feature two guest speakers.
This year’s special guests are Dr. Gary Cramer, the University of Alabama FCA Chaplain, and Mayo Sowell, current pastor of LIIV Atlanta Church and former linebacker at Auburn University.
Cramer has been the Director of FCA at Alabama since 2005. He also teaches a three-credit hour course that freshman athletes are required to take titled “Life Transitions.” He began his work as a “Life Coach” in 2003. He has a PhD from Anderson University of South Carolina and a Doctorate of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary.
For Sowell, who played linebacker for the Auburn Tigers from 2001-2004 after being recruited as one of the top linebackers in the nation while playing high school football in Louisiana, was part of the undefeated and SEC Champion 2004 team. He pursued a career in the National Football League only to see his dream cut short due to injuries. He soon settled into the world of drugs where he was soon part of a federal investigation that landed him behind bars for five years. Upon his release from prison, he chose to follow his faith, purpose and calling to become a pastor and, with his wife, launched LIIV Atlanta Church.
Sowell has a Master’s degree from Southeastern University and an Advance Certificate of Ministry and Leadership from Highlands College, which is part of Alabama’s largest church, the Church of the Highlands, which he was a part of the staff for six years.
The Kick-Off Prayer Breakfast for Madison County is actually the third of three arranged for the area. A similar event is set for Wednesday, Nov. 19 in Cullman County and a Marshall County gathering on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Tickets are available including those tickets which are setup as scholarship tickets for local students who cannot afford to attend. For all event and ticket details, visit www. northalabamafca.org.



