PRESS RELEASE
Free Lutheran Bible College to Host 2024-2026 ACCA Basketball Tournaments
For immediate release, March 3, 2023
Joplin, MO

The Board of the Association of Christian College Athletics (ACCA) announces significant organizational changes that will result in the annual spring basketball tournaments being moved to Minneapolis, MN for the 2024 through 2026 seasons. 

The tournaments will be hosted by Free Lutheran Bible College in Plymouth, MN, with the 2024 dates of March 12-15, aligning with the date and Minneapolis-area location for the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) basketball tournaments. Fall sports tournaments, including men’s soccer and women’s volleyball, will continue to be held by Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO. 

Additionally, member schools will no longer pay dues, but will pay a per-tournament entry fee. Schools participating in the tournaments must meet ACCA guidelines, including teams comprised of full time students and programs that require at least 20 credits of Bible. ACCA Board members made these changes in order to serve more colleges and to emphasize the Christian character of participating institutions: “The goal of this decision is to serve more like-mission institutions that perhaps have run out of year-end options for their athletes,” said Dan Hovestol, ACCA Board Vice Chairman. “Strategically moving our dates and location to align with our friends at the NCCAA will provide a secondary championship alternative for those schools who have no national affiliation or fail to qualify for the NCCAA national tournament.”

FLBC President Wade Mobley, who also serves on the ACCA, noted the anticipation of the campus for such an event. “We opened the Student Life Center in 2021 and have enjoyed the venue very much. Our conference tournament is a highlight every year, and we are thrilled to serve as the new home for the spring ACCA basketball tournaments for the next three years.”

Further inquiries may be addressed to ACCA Board Chair Chris Lahm at (417) 626-1262, or lahm.chris@occ.edu.

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Founded in 1964 by the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (www.aflc.org), the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary (www.FLBC.edu) includes a two-year post-secondary program (FLBC) and a four-year Master of Divinity pastoral training program Level (FLS). The Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary gained accreditation from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS, www.tracs.org) in 2018. For further information or clarification, please contact Director of Recruiting and Communications Mr. Josh Johnson at (763) 544-9501, or josh.johnson@flbc.edu.  

Established in 1983 as the National Bible College Athletic Association (NBCAA), the Association for Christian College Athletics (ACCA) exists to provide a national organization to hold championships, name All-Americans and scholar athletes, and promote member colleges. For more information contact ACCA Board Chair Chris Lahm at (417) 626-1262, or Lahm.chris@occ.edu.