Fields of Faith Follow Up

Shelley Pearson • November 4, 2020

“I’ve spent a lot of time around stadiums, and there’s a lot to celebrate at them. It’s awesome to take one night in the middle of a weird year to come to a stadium to celebrate something much bigger than throwing a ball around.”

Coach Geisler, Assistant Football Coach, Spring Lake Park High School

People gather in high school football stadiums all over the nation every year in September and October . . . Yes, to watch football but also to attend FCA Fields of Faith outreach events. In 2019, there were over 500 Fields of Faith events all over the nation. Like everything else in 2020, the numbers won’t be as high, but lives were still impacted with the Gospel of Christ!

Minnesota Fields of Faith events were held in Waseca, Mankato, Spring Lake Park, Marshall, and Alexandria. Students invited their friends and families to join them in the stands while athletes, coaches, pastors, and FCA staff proclaimed the gospel and challenged all who came to put Jesus first.

Let’s Go!

On a windy evening in Spring Lake Park, Coach Geisler shared with the crowd about his earlier aspirations as a young coach. When he became head coach ten years ago, he was the youngest head coach in the state and had his sights set on bigger and better things until “God got a hold of me, and I realized I was chasing success instead of significance.”

Coach Geisler left the crowd with this challenge: “Are you chasing success or are you chasing significance? The only way you will find significance is if you find Jesus.” He invited everyone to join him in following after God with final fist-pumping, “Let’s Go!”

Overcoming Fear

The Alexandria event was held at the North Star Sports Complex with 150 in attendance. A recent graduate talked about trusting in God in uncertain times as the only way to truly overcome fear. Several students also shared their faith stories with the crowd and invited those in attendance to give their lives to Jesus. John Domke, FCA Area Representative for Alexandria, is grateful that FCA is able to advance the Word of God in these difficult times.

God’s Word

Fields of Faith – Marshall brought a crowd of 250 to the football field at Southwest Minnesota State University. A pastor challenged the students to get in God’s Word and have a little bit of courage. He shared that if they were bold enough to share God's Word, it could change someone’s life. It was an encouraging and challenging evening that was almost canceled.

“I kept wondering if we should hold this event because it was so much extra work with registering every person, doing a health screening for each person, checking everyone in so we know who attended etc. I called the worship leader a couple times to see if we could just cancel because it would be ‘easier.’ He encouraged me to press on and I'm so glad we did.”

In a year when so many events have been canceled, it was so good to gather with God’s people and talk about His Word.

Encouragement

The Mankato event was held virtually this year, and those who attended were encouraged in their walks with Jesus. Four students (from Mankato State University, Mankato high schools, and Gustavus) and two FCA Area Ambassadors (Maurice and Becki Staley) shared their faith stories and encouraged the crowd to get into God’s Word by reading one chapter every day starting with the Gospel of John.

For Bob Spiegler, Southwest Minnesota Area Director, it was a highlight for more than one reason. “Any time technology works I am thankful. All of the testimonies were really exceptional, well prepared and delivered in such a way that the Holy Spirit gave the speakers and attendees peace and joy.” It was a great night of encouragement for both those who attended and those who spoke.

Get in the Game – Get in the Book!

The final event was held at Waseca High School in southwest Minnesota. Four senior athletes and John Conway, FCA Area Rep, were the speakers. The student speakers collectively cover the following sports: tennis, gymnastics, cross-country, track, football, basketball, and baseball. Three student speakers shared FCA’s THE FOUR: God Loves You, Sin Separates You, Jesus Rescues You, Will You Trust Jesus?

Another athlete challenged his peers to read the Bible for themselves, and John prayed over the group at the end. John said, “There is a great significance in the high school athletes sharing with and challenging their peers. Ministry to peers is the most effective...yet it is often the most difficult.” These athletes stepped out in faith to invite others to “Get in the Game – Get in the Book” with them.

The Common Thread

All five Fields of Faith events in Minnesota were unique, yet they had one unifying theme: Know God and Make Him Known. Every student athlete who spoke implored those in the crowd to live their lives wholeheartedly for Jesus, to grow in their relationships with Christ, to be in His Word, and to keep sharing the truth with those they meet.

At the end of the Fields of Faith event in Spring Lake Park, Coach Geisler shared a story about a famous photograph taken in 1993 during the height of a famine in Sudan. The photo, which won a Pulitzer Prize, depicted a young girl who was starving. Several feet behind her sat a vulture waiting for her to die. The photographer allegedly took the picture, shooed the vulture away, and then walked away. He never knew whether she survived. He never helped her. Coach Geisler challenged the crowd to search for ways they can make a difference in the lives of others. He encouraged them not to walk away but instead to be bold and courageous in their walks with God and to live lives of significance rather than simply chasing after worldly success.

Thank you to those who attended the events around the state and to those who support the ministry of FCA so that events like these can be possible. Pray for those whose lives were changed that night and for the FCA athletes to grow deeper in their relationships with Christ.

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