More than 200 make decisions of faith during Fields of Faith in Cabot

Students gather at Panther Stadium in Cabot for Fields of Faith, where 3,680 were in attendance. (Submitted/Abigail Rose Photography)

CABOT, Ark. – Fields of Faith in Cabot on Wednesday, Sept. 24, brought nearly 4,000 students together, united in the name of Jesus.  

Fields of Faith is a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) “certified ministry program where athletes gather at sport environments in their communities to challenge their peers to read the Bible daily and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.”   

Panther Stadium was flooded for the event with 3,680 individuals, representing 30 local churches, and seven school districts.  

“Our mission at FCA is to lead every coach and athlete to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ in His church. We use this as a unifying event to invite their people who don’t know Jesus … to come hear about Jesus on a public space of a football field or a baseball field or basketball arena, wherever it may be,” said Central Arkansas East Area Director Josh Adair.  

Attendees had the opportunity to worship and hear testimonies from students and coaches. Of the more than 3,000 in attendance, 202 students made decisions of faith – 113 first-time decisions to follow Jesus and 89 decisions to grow in faith with Jesus. Adair said those decisions were given straight to youth pastors to begin the follow up process, discipleship, and baptism at local churches. 

Adair said high school students are passionate about all kinds of things, and “if you can help them become passionate about Jesus and making heaven crowded then there is no greater force in the world than teenagers on fire for Jesus.”  

The Cabot Fields of Faith event was just one of many scheduled to take place throughout the state of Arkansas and nation.  

Saline County Area Representative Cason Maertens said they have multiple Fields of Faith events scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Benton, Bryant, Harmony Grove, Sheridan, and Bauxite.  

According to the Fields of Faith website, the idea for the event began to develop in 2002 when Oklahoma FCA Area Director Jeff Martin prayed about what to do with his heartfelt frustration regarding the temptations and spiritual battles facing the “spectator generation” youth. “God led him to 2 Chronicles 34 for the answer. King Josiah, an influential teenager, gathered his people and challenged them to read God’s Word. As a result, they changed their culture,” the website said. “In 2004, the Josiah-influenced dream came true when more than 6,000 students gathered on school athletic fields throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas for Fields of Faith. … Since that day, hundreds of thousands of people have attended Fields of Faith and thousands have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.”  

Maertens said Fields of Faith events are an opportunity to gather the community around for a student-led event, where the students challenge their peers to get into God’s word. These youths come together in a neutral location, like a football field, and invite, pray for, share with, and challenge their peers to read the Bible and follow Jesus Christ. Additionally, Fields of Faith is a way to get some of the local youth pastors and Bible believing churches to come together and serve in one atmosphere.   

“It is not just about students, coaches, or athletes. It is local churches all gathering from different denominations coming together on the football field,” Maertens said.

“It brings all the local churches together to serve together. What is also an impact is I’ve seen it light a fire, challenge coaches and athletes, give them a platform to testify about what God has done in their life and challenge their peers. I’ve seen a bunch of young people step up in leadership roles from this event to lead huddles and lead in local churches and in the community.”  

Maertens said they anticipate anywhere from 7,500 to 10,000 to be in attendance at the various Fields of Faith events on Oct. 8.  

“It’s so cool to see students and volunteers from all of these different denominations … all come together and just lift high the name of Jesus. It’s all about Christ,” he said.  

For more on Fields of Faith and to find an event in your area, visit fieldsoffaith.org. Maertens encouraged the whole family to come check it out.