Take Heart!

Earlier this month, students from all across the Dalton/Whitfield community gathered at Coahulla Creek High School for our annual Fields of Faith event.  This is an event that FCA chapters across the country participate in during the month of October.  Locally, we do this event every year, rotating locations from high school to high school.  Of all of the events we do, this may be my favorite!  It's a time for our community to come together with one purpose, to worship our Lord and Savior!  If you go to the Fields of Faith website you will read its' purpose, "Fields of Faith is an 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."  Our FCA Impact Team, a group of high school student leaders from all different high schools in our community, gather together and organize this event every year.  This year we even have one of our Dalton State FCA leaders helping lead this group.  This is why it's my favorite event of the year.  I get the pleasure of watching these students plan and organize a community wide worship service, and they amaze me every year!  On the night of the event, they stand up and boldly profess their faith and challenge their classmates to dig into the Word of God!  What a refreshing sight it was to see 700 people come and take part in such a great community event. It truly shows the heart of the people in Dalton and Whitfield County.  It's a night where we all come together as one.  Church youth groups and students from all schools convene as one united group of believers on this night.  Churches came together and participated in a tailgate party before the event, setting up tents filled with games and free food!  Barbecue sliders, sausage balls, Kona Ice and salvation were all handed out freely at Fields of Faith this year!

John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Jesus says this just after explaining to His followers things to come.  He wants them to know that He will be gone for a while, but He will return to them.  He reminds them that there will be trouble in this world, but the Holy Spirit will be with them while He is away.  Then He encourages them with verse 33.  Just like his Disciples back then, we can find peace in Him, we can be encouraged knowing that Jesus has overcome the world!

Fields of Faith is a great reminder to me every year that, although there may be trouble in the world, although it may seem like the days are getting darker and darker, Jesus Christ is still on the throne!  We can still find peace in Him and we can take heart, because He has overcome this world.  These high school students are living proof that in our community Jesus is still alive in our schools and in the lives of young people today!  Thanks be to God!