An unusual dip in temperature and strong breezes didn’t deter more than 700 youth and adults who converged on Statesboro High School’s Womack Field for this area’s first Fields of Faith event.
Sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fields of Faith is an interdenominational outreach event held on campus fields across the United States. This year marks its eighth year; last year more than 160,000 participated in 400 sites across 37 states.
Though Fields of Faith is a national event, local leadership teams determine the program for each event. Boyd Green, the area FCA director spearheaded the event, but said: “It was very much a collective effort with local Christian organizations and churches.”
Sylvania, Metter and Portal students came in busloads, and each of the Bulloch County middle and high schools were represented. Some students wore their football or team jerseys; others wrapped up in blankets to stay warm on a chilly Tuesday evening.
After a welcome and opening prayer, guests heard the powerful voice of Marvin Mumford, a Christian recording artist and pastor from East Point, Ga. Mumford encouraged the youths and adults to join him in worship, and voices resonated throughout the stadium.
Metter football player Conner West, the first of four students to share testimonies, told his peers, “God always has a plan for you,” and added with an athletic slant: “With the Lord, you cannot lose. With Jesus Christ on your side, nothing can defeat you.”
Southeast Bulloch High School student Niki Floyd quoted from Proverbs 4 and told her fellow students: “Keep vigilant watch over your heart. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.”
Georgia Southern University tennis player Mary Phillips Smith and football player Manrey Saint-Amour challenged the middle- and high-school students to continue growing closer to Christ and allow God to lead and guide them.
Former Georgia Southern football player Brad Williams gave a stirring message, asking the students to think about the most important thing in their life right now and the most important thing right before they take their last breath.
The evening ended with adults and youths fanning out across the field in prayer. Some knelt, some held hands, many huddled, and a few shed tears of joy.