On Wednesday night, October 4, 2023, around 500 people filled the stands at Raider Stadium in Mt. Airy, Georgia, but it wasn’t for a game. They were there for an inspirational rally called Fields of Faith. This annual ministry is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Part of a national movement, the event focuses on fellowship and spiritual renewal among today’s youth.
Fields of Faith is a student-led initiative that encourages young people to share their faith and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. According to the FCA website, more than 200,000 students have participated in Fields of Faith since it began in 2004.
The local FCA has hosted Fields of Faith for over a decade. FCA Area Director Thomas Burnett says he’s grateful to the community and church for supporting students in this movement.
“FCA Fields of Faith could not have been any better. More students attended this year than ever before,” Burnett tells Now Habersham. “I am amazed by how passionate this generation is to see God. They are hungry for a move of God. Lives were changed last night as God moved through lives.”
A message of hope and challenge
The rally featured several college students who shared their testimonies and experiences with God. Local musicians stirred the crowd with praise and worship songs. Camilo Buchanan, the young adult ministry leader at Passion City Church in Atlanta, delivered the main address. He spoke of salvation and the challenges of living in a spiritually broken world.
Buchanan held up a Habersham Central High Raider football helmet as he addressed the crowd at Raider Stadium. He used it as an illustration of how God protects his children from the enemy’s attacks. He also challenged the students to be bold and courageous in their faith, and to live out their purpose in God’s kingdom.
“God has a plan for your life. He has a purpose for your life. He has a destiny for your life,” Buchanan said. “But you have to make a decision. You have to choose to follow him. You have to choose to surrender your life to him.”
Buchanan invited the students who wanted to make that decision to come forward and pray with him and other leaders. Many responded to his call and came down to the field.
A display of unity and love
Near the end of the evening, attendees stepped onto John Larry Black Field. Standing hand in hand, they encircled the football field in a captivating display of unity. They prayed together for their schools, their families, their friends, and their nation.
They also expressed their love and appreciation for each other, regardless of their differences or backgrounds. They hugged, high-fived, and cheered each other on.
One of the students who attended the rally was Hannah Smith, a senior at Habersham Central High School. She says she was moved by the atmosphere of joy and peace at the event.
“It was amazing to see so many people come together for one purpose: to worship God and grow closer to him,” Smith says. “I felt his presence so strongly and I was encouraged by the testimonies and the message. I think this event really impacted a lot of lives and brought hope to our generation.”
Smith says she plans to attend Fields of Faith again next year, and hopes that more students will join her.
“I think Fields of Faith is a great opportunity for students to connect with God and with each other,” she says. “It’s not about what school you go to or what team you play for. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s about being part of God’s family.”