Thousands of youth from across the nation gathered this past Wednesday to challenge each other to read and live out the Scriptures in their everyday lives in an annual event known as “Fields of Faith.”
The event, organized by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is held every second Wednesday in October. Its mission is to see students across America challenge each other to read the Bible. The hour-long gathering, held on school athletic fields and in gymnasiums nationwide, is filled with Scripture reading and personal testimonies.
“The reality is we are losing the spiritual war in America,” the Fields of Faith website states. “There is a movement in our country to remove God from the public square. It is rapidly taking ground and grows more emboldened every day.”
Fellowship of Christian Athletes states that part of the problem today is that youth are not reading their Bibles.
“Christian teens are being assaulted by a highly organized pagan culture. Christian teens are not reading the Scriptures; they have no way of fighting back,” it explains. “They are depending on their churches to make them feel good about their faith. Meanwhile, our culture is descending into the same abyss that Josiah had to face.”
But even then, the organization states, youth groups are often filled with multitudes of hip and high-tech resources that distract from the basics: simply seeking God and His righteousness.
“American youth programs are guilty of depending on complex resources for ministry. We have neglected emphasizing the fundamentals of our faith!” it explained. “As one prominent youth pastor said, ‘We are guilty of pursuing an experience for our kids, instead of a growing relationship with a holy God.'”
Fellowship of Christian Athletes told reporters that groups had registered in 37 states this year, and turnout varied from thousands in a city to just a handful of faithful students in some towns. Photographs from across the nation have been posted on the event’s Facebook page.
“190+ in Burlington, KS last night!” wrote Doug and Michelle Vander Linden. “A great night and powerful presence of God in our midst!”
“The Josiah Challenge was held 24 hours prior to our Fields of Faith,” Robert Green of the Ocoee region event posted. “Youth pastors would oversee 4 hour sections with students coming in and reading in 1/2 hour and 1 hour watches. They read all the way through the N.T. and through Leviticus 7:9 in the O.T.”
“3rd year for Fields of Faith in Campbell County, TN,” reported Alayna Carney. “We have grown in attendance from 700 our 1st year to over 2,300 last night! Awesome worship by Calling Glory and great message by Inky Johnson and many lives changed by the power of God!”
“This year, Gainesville/Hall County FCA in Georgia held their Fields of Faith at a local farm market called Jaemor Farm,” another wrote. “We had over 600 students and adults in attendance. It was a wonderful night of worship and challenging messages from our students!”
Although the event is initiated by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, each gathering is independently organized by local leadership, whether a youth pastor or other adult overseer.
Photo: Facebook/Gainesville/Hall County FCA
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