Nearly 100 people gathered at the Nease High School stadium Nov. 1 to attend St. Johns County’s first-ever Fields of Faith event.
Organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), the interdenominational outreach event followed a student-to-student ministry format, as peers invited their classmates and teammates to meet on the Nease athletic field to hear students share their testimonies, challenge them to read the Bible and come to faith in Jesus Christ. The event attracted students from nearly a dozen local schools ranging in age from middle school to college, including Valley Ridge Academy; Landrum and Murray middle schools; Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, Nease, Pedro Menendez and St. Augustine high schools; and Flagler College.
“It makes my heart so happy to see so many students from so many different schools coming together in the name of Jesus,” said event emcee Yaz Ingram, a freshman at St. Augustine High school.
The event began with music provided by the Christ’s Church youth band led by Nease High School student and FCA leader Bailey Pattison. Student speakers from area schools then shared a verse from the Bible and the impact it had made on their lives.
“This verse has shown me the refuge I have in God through tough times and trial,” said Nease High School student Parker Carlson.
Nease student Lacie North said she had often struggled with asking God for His help because she doesn’t feel worthy of it.
“These verses really showed me that even though I’m not worthy of God’s love, God has chosen to love and help me,” she said.
Hearing their peers share their faith was both uplifting and encouraging, participants said.“It was uplifting to see all the young, bold teenagers show how much they’ve been impacted by Jesus,” St. Augustine High senior Jacob Swindle said.
Rebirth Church Pastor Anthony Guadalupe finished the speaking program by sharing the gospel with gathered students. “God sent his only son, Jesus, to accomplish what you and I never could,” he said. “You’re not only forgiven in Christ, you’re made righteous in Christ. Simply trust in faith what He has done for each and every one of you.”
The evening concluded with all attendees gathering on the field to pray for their schools.
“I have been to many Fields of Faith events and the Holy Spirit is always so evident at each,” said Scott Adams, metro director for Northeast Florida FCA. “Tonight felt like the beginning of a great work that God wants to do. I’m excited to see what that is.”
