Despite a last-minute venue change, the Fields of Faith gathering hosted enthusiastic students at its annual event Wednesday evening.
Fields of Faith is an annual conference for Christian students encouraging fellowship and spiritual commitment organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
This year’s event was moved from the Fred M. Morrow Stadium at the Poplar Bluff Junior High School to the E. T. Peters Gymnasium at Poplar Bluff Middle School due to the risk of rain. The change in venue had seemingly little impact on attendance.
“We were really excited about the crowd that showed up,” said Josh Mills, SEMO South FCA Area Representative. He noted this was the first time Fields of Faith was held indoors in Poplar Bluff during his four-year tenure.
The event drew in youth groups and families from around Poplar Bluff. Students said the music and the chance to worship together made Fields of Faith important to them.
“It’s always different because everyone is here and worshipping with different churches, it’s the one time of year we all worship together,” said Ella McCain, who was attending with the Palace of Praise youth group.
“It gives you a special feeling when everyone’s here … and we’re all here for God,” her friend Addie Tinsley chimed in.
There was an outdoor tailgate party with food and games before the worship service began. Fields of Faith opened with a student-led praise and worship band for the first time, introduced by Heartland Christian Family Church associate pastor and worship leader Zach McAnulty, a singer and songwriter in his own time. Students formed a mosh pit together on the gym floor and sang along to several worship songs.
“The youth band was amazing — they killed it,” said Molly Berry, a youth group helper with Midland Church student group.
Attendees heard personal testimonies from six high school students, who spoke about their relationships with Christ, the struggles of high school and God’s grace in their lives before returning to the bleachers for a message from First Baptist Church pastor Jarrod Goodhue. Goodhue related the FCA’s theme this year, “pursuit,” with the Luke 19 account of Zacchaeus, describing the ancient tax collector as someone who pursued success and found it was not enough. Zacchaeus’ immediate change of heart after his encounter with Jesus, Goodhue said, is evidence for the power of the gospel to change lives.
“This dynamite power of the gospel comes into our lives…and the hold sin has on you is destroyed,” he explained.
The message ended with an altar call and groups gathering to discuss what they had learned and felt. Goodhue’s message resonated with most attendees. Attendee Zenaye Muldrew summed up the impact of the message of forgiveness and new life by saying, “I think that’s a big deal, especially now for people who’re just getting to know Christ and stuff.”
Goodhue himself was happy with the response he saw.
“I saw a few people come forward at the invitation,” he said. “I was really encouraged to see some of the youth groups huddle up, and I actually got to meet with a lot of my own students from our church and gather up in prayer, and so I know that they definitely took to heart feeling the power of Christ in their lives and trying to recognize where he’s at work from some of the conversations I had with my own students, so I’m definitely happy with the response.”
More information on Fields of Faith can be found at www.fieldsoffaith.com. The FCA is holding more events in Missouri this month, including gatherings at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau and 501 Campanella Drive in Sikeston, both on Oct. 13.