My God, My Stories

One Red Shirt
Recently I attended a Fellowship of Christian Athletes football camp closing assembly. It is a three-day camp and each night they have song and worship time at the Rack, at Ga. Southern University. By the last night of the camp, all of the kids have loosened up and really get into the praise and worship songs. Let me paint you a picture. There are 750 high school players and coaches in this huge room. These are kids from all walks of life, some from inner-city Savannah, some from Warner Robbins, Bacon and Putnam Co., and some from Pinewood Christian Academy. Many of these kids do not have a Bible, but they are given one at this event. Many have never graced the doors of a church. Some may be hearing God’s word for the first time.
When the singing starts, 735 kids and coaches rise to their feet, but the remaining 15 are sitting right in front of me. Sitting with arms crossed with no emotion. It was obvious to me that they wanted no part of this Jesus thing, but in the middle of the group there was one kid, wearing a red shirt, and he was standing up singing and praising God. I marveled at the courage this must have taken to stand in the middle of these doubters and say, I Believe! Now the guys sitting around him were not strangers; they were his teammates. I watch intently, and his decision never faltered. After about 20 minutes another stood up, and then another, and by the end of the singing period, ALL were standing.
Well, the preacher came out and delivered a fabulous sermon. At the end, during his prayer, he asked if anyone wanted to dedicate their life to Christ for the first time, raise your hand, all but 4 of this group of 15 raised their hand (yes, I was peaking). At the end of the prayer, all those that raised their hands were asked to get up and leave the room so they could be prayed for and also they were told what it meant to make the decision that they had just made. The red shirt sat firmly in his seat. Obviously, he had made his decision in the past, but 11 young men that were previously sitting--stood up and left the room. All together 177 young football players gave their life or rededicated their life to Christ that night. This was a very powerful thing to watch, the power of one. We often underestimate the power we have as an individual Christian. God talks of seeds in several parables. It all starts with one seed. This young man was the Sower. He was not verbally sowing seeds; he was sowing with his actions. Just maybe several of these young men will sow seeds later in life. Just maybe one becomes a preacher. It is our job to sow. It is God’s job to nurture and reap the harvest.
Luke 9, 26; “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
This young man was not ashamed. He impressed the heck out of me. Are you willing to stand up for Jesus among your peer’s? Let me ask it differently, are you willing to stop the conversation at a business luncheon of 20 people, and insist that you say the blessing aloud, or do you say it quietly to yourself as not to offend anyone? Think about it, standing for Jesus comes in all shapes and forms are you ready?
God’s Blessings
Greg
Philippians 4, 11-12