Ray Hildebrand joined FCA’s national staff in 1967 and blessed the organization with his musical style and talents. Prior to Hildebrand’s time at FCA, familiar hymns and choruses were sung at FCA Conferences and Camps including “The Old Rugged Cross” and “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name.” Hildebrand used his gift of song-writing and singing to change the musical focus at FCA events to more effectively reach the hearts of athletes and coaches wherever he appeared.

Hildebrand wrote the first of eight FCA Camp theme songs in 1967 — “Courage To Conquer,” matching the camp’s theme taken from Romans 8:37. He went on to write camp songs including “The Life That Wins” (1968), “A Special Kind of Man” (1972) and “We Really Do Need Each Other” (1975). Hildebrand also wrote numerous other familiar FCA songs including “Say I Do” and “Turn It Over To Jesus.”