University of Kentucky baseball coach Nick Mingione, who led the Wildcats to their first-ever appearance in the College World Series last season, will be the featured speaker at the Northwest Kentucky Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Victory Night next month.
The event will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on November 7 at HIS Church, located at 4810 Frederica Street.
“FCA has an annual event, but this particular event is new. Our Victory Night is about celebrating the victories that God has allowed FCA to have this past year,” said Shannon Raines of FCA. “We want the community to know what God is doing through the ministry of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We hear a lot in the news about the shootings, drug abuse, violence, arrests, and fighting that happen in our schools and community among teens and college students. There are athletes and coaches in our community who are living for Jesus and doing great things on their teams and schools.”
Raines said that Jeff Moran, director for FCA of Northwestern Kentucky, met Mingione at an FCA event in January and was impressed with his love for Jesus, his wife and his players.
“(Mingione) was very genuine and loved the ministry of FCA. … After his team’s success this past spring in the college playoffs and taking UK Baseball team to it’s first College World Series appearance, Jeff knew Coach Mingione was the first one he wanted to ask to speak at this event,” Raines said.
Mingione was named Kentucky’s head coach in 2016 and has racked up several accolades, also leading the team to unprecedented levels of success. In 2017, the program made a trip to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals for the first time and finished ranked in the Top 10 of every major college baseball poll. In a record-breaking 2024 season, Mingione earned his second SEC and National Coach of the awards after UK set a new school record with 46 victories and won the SEC regular season crown for just the second time.
In addition to a speech from Mingione, the FCA event will include testimonies from local athletes and coaches. There will be no dinner served at the event.
While there is no cost to attend the event, organizers ask everyone to register so they know how many people to plan for. Registration can be completed online here.
“People should come to this event to celebrate with us how God is using FCA to impact local athletes and coaches in our nine-county area,” Raines said. “God has been opening doors and we have seen the impact of FCA grow this past year. Jeff wishes people could go with him as he attends FCA huddle meetings in the school and they could see how students at every level are standing in front of their peers and sharing how God has impacted them. FCA huddles are student-led in the schools and it is incredible what God is doing through those athletes who are obedient to God. It is so encouraging and refreshing to witness.”
Sponsorship opportunities are available, with packages that include a signed jersey and a meet-and-greet with Mingione.
All money raised will go to support the ministry of FCA in Northwest KY, a nonprofit organization that relies on donors to fund the ministry.
“This event is also about our partners in our community who support this ministry through financial donations and we will be making that need known and asking those who attend to consider joining us as a partner in ministry with their time, talents, and treasures,” Raines said.
For more information about becoming a sponsor, email Jeff Moran at [email protected].
FCA of Northwest KY serves 88 in the nine-county region. Raines said over the last 4 years, the organization has gone from 280 students reached to 2,120.
