Community invited to Faith on the Field worship service
COSHOCTON – Coshocton County churches are invited to unite together on Sunday, July 29 for Faith on the Field.
This special youth-led service will be held at 10 a.m. at River View High School football stadium, with the rain location being the auditorium.
Faith on the Field is one of several UNITE events that have been held by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and More groups that formed at high schools in the community.
“I grew up during a time when high school rivalries were big and they are still there some but at our UNITE events that hasn’t been visible,” said Pastor Christy Bowers from Grace United Methodist Church. “These kids can set a great example for adults and help us start coming together more.”
Churches are invited and encouraged to participate by closing their doors on July 29 to attend the service at River View’s football field. The praise team will consist of worship leaders from several of the area’s churches and include both praise and hymn worship songs.
Prayer will be directed toward this year’s returning students, the graduates who are moving on and those preparing to enter into the ministry. The speakers will include River View High School senior Ryan Weaver, Coshocton High School Senior Jenna Stonebraker and Ridgewood High School graduate Keith Leindecker.
“I’m excited to be part of this and share with all of Coshocton,” Stonebraker said. “It’s going to be different and not your traditional service.”
Leindecker is looking forward to youth having the chance to hear about the word of God from younger people.
“Hopefully something we say or do that day will catch (with people) and they will want to come back (to church) week after week,” he said.
Weaver was asked by Pastors Larry Massie and Joel Mason to be the keynote speaker for the event.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about what I’m going to say when I get up there, but I know when I do that, what will be said is what needs to be,” Weaver said.
Pastor Mike Jansen said Stonebraker, Leindecker and Weaver have an amazing opportunity.
“What you share will have power,” Jansen said. “You will be able to reach people that us pastors cannot.”
The congregation will be encouraged to keep their tithe separate for their local church. Envelopes will be available for offerings which will be used to fund FCA youth events. Assistance, provision and seating will be made available for those who cannot navigate the bleachers.
“We are hoping our biggest problem that day is that we won’t have enough seats,” Bowers said.
John Strasser, area director of Fellowship for Christian Athletes, said he and his wife Debbie have seen God work in powerful ways in the lives of area pastors and students.
“We are honored that God chose Coshocton County to do this revival,” Debbie said.
Even others from outside the county are noticing the difference FCA and More is making.
“I had a meeting with my district supervisor and was talking about how we are coming together as pastors across denominational lines to meet with each other and pray for each other and the FCA groups are working together across school lines,” said Massie, who preaches at the Coshocton Foursquare Church. “He asked if I knew we were in the middle of a revival and I didn’t realize it until then. There is definitely more to come. This is not a one-time event.”
Weaver encourages people to come see firsthand on July 29 what they’ve all been experiencing.
“It’s going to be completely different than any other church service that Sunday,” he said. “People in high school will be speaking and we are going to be in the stands of the football field. When do you see that? You don’t. We are twisting the rules and coming together.”
Category: Faith
