Numerous believers of God filed into Statesboro High School’s football stadium on Wednesday evening, October 22, to participate in the 2025 Fields of Faith event.
Every year, Coastal Plains FCA puts together an event on school football fields to gather coaches, athletes, students, and parents to share the word of God. A total of 712 people from Screven, Bulloch, Jenkins, Candler, and Evans counties showed up and participated in the event.
The gates opened at 6:45 p.m., but the actual event started at 7:30 p.m. While the students who got there early waited for the event to start, there were games that they participated in like pickle ball, football, cornhole, and more.
Along with the activities, there were also food trucks open just outside the stadium. The food trucks served things from funnel cakes to cheese fries.
When 7:30 p.m. struck, the FCA staff started with live music along with a big board so the students could sing along. After the songs, they had students of different ages and from different schools come to the stage where they shared their testimony.
Fields of Faith is mainly student-led, which is based off the passage in 2 Kings in the Bible where a young Josiah found the word in the temple and made sure all of the people heard it, according to Karen Carr, the event director.
“Most of the speaking comes from our students, and the purpose is to challenge their peers,” Carr said.
Carr also mentioned that they use football fields as places to convene since people are already comfortable with them. She also spoke on the fact that some may have never walked into a church building, but they’re coming to football games every Friday, so it is easier for them.
While the students were on stage, they shared the troubles that they used to face. The problems they shared were things that every student could relate to since it ranged from sports to school to spiritual problems. Afterwards, they shared how deepening their relationship with God had changed their lives for the better.
After the students shared their testimony, David Neville, a coach and pastor, went on to share his story. He spoke about his track and field career and how it aligned with his growth as a Christian. Neville noted that it is important to share his testimony with the younger generation and wanted students to know that he was in the same position that they are in now.
“I want my story and message to touch them right where they are and hopefully help them grow and develop their own personal relationships with God,” Neville said.
Afterwards, there were prayer leaders that filed onto the field and encouraged the students to speak with them about giving their lives to God. While they did that, the FCA staff finished off with a couple more songs.