THE SKY blushed with shades of peach and coral above the metal bleachers of Shelbyville Central High School (SCHS). Wild honeysuckles sweetened the slight summer breeze. One by one, the stadium lights flickered overhead, casting a fluorescent glow over the soccer players and their coaches. The umpire clasped the whistle and pressed it to his lips. But before the breath escaped his lungs, he held it within his chest in silent awe. A wide circle was forming in the center of the field, stretching from the 40-yard line to the 60. It couldn’t be. Were the girls from SCHS joining hands with the team from Coffee County and bowing their heads to pray?
Then came the female voice of one of the players from SCHS. At that moment, no one — even a seasoned pastor — could have spoken the words more eloquently. Her “amen” prompted echoed responses all around the circle. Though rivals, the opposing team took note.
“When we started playing our games, several of the girls asked if we could pray with the other team before the game. I, of course, thought this was a great idea and said ‘Yes.’ This continued to happen before every game,” recalled coach Casey Curry. “Towards the end of the season, the coach from Coffee County pulled me aside and said, ‘After your girls asked if we could pray with them, my girls have started doing this.’ My heart was very full at how my girls had shared the gospel through something so simple.”
With the familiar debate regarding the separation of church and state, some might question if this should happen on a public school campus.
According to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA) website, “Students retain their First Amendment liberties while on a school campus. They have the right to share their beliefs, pray, evangelize, read scripture, and invite students to participate in such activities so long as they are voluntary, student-initiated, and not disruptive or coercive.”
Jasper Wilson started as an ambassador with the Bedford County FCA before accepting the position as the area representative two years ago. His first priority was to ensure that every sports team had a character coach (chaplain). Because of his diligence, 16 people have volunteered to fill this important role. Each one submitted to a rigorous background check and came recommended by leaders within the faith community.
Wilson grew up in a “broken home,” where he and his father didn’t have a relationship. This caused him to face numerous adversities.
Wilson said, “This disorderly nature often led me to express my emotions through anger, which became a dominant force in my formative years. Amidst this chaos, I encountered God for the first time in such a powerful way. Over the past 14 years, I have dedicated myself to ministry with a deep desire to reach others who are struggling. I am privileged to witness remarkable transformations, both in my life and in the lives of others. Working with the FCA has been a significant opportunity for me.”
After Wilson became the area representative, he attended his first “huddle,” where an encounter with a student confirmed he was right where God wanted him to be.
“He began sharing his heart about the FCA, and he said these words I will never forget: ‘FCA is the only place where I feel safe.’ Later, he publicly shared testimonies among his fellow classmates, which touched my heart deeply.”
As a high school student, Wilson played football, where he held the position of cornerback, plus he ran track for two years. These personal experiences help him better empathize with students, players, and coaches on a more personal level.
“We have a team of huddle coaches and character coaches who illustrate different team-building activities and devotions for the students and the athletes. FCA also organizes two main events: FCA Unite and 5th Quarter, which focuses on bringing every school and team together to enjoy food, games, worship, and devotions.”
Wilson continued, “I engage with these students and athletes by not only building a relationship with them but also with the schools. One of the most important things that I believe this generation lacks is relationships. There is a huge impact in showing up, being present, and being intentional about doing life with one another. There is so much passion and joy in what I do because of the relationships and divine connections that are built into the process of sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ.”
There is still a need for character coaches in Bedford County.
Wilson said, “My personal hopes and plans for the FCA are to continue to grow our staff, to increase our number of volunteers, and to add to our board leadership team. This will help increase our impact and give us a greater chance of making a difference in the schools and our community. ” GN
