Fields of Faith: Youth event set for Oct. 14 at EHS
By T&D STAFF Friday, October 09, 2009CORDOVA -- For the fourth consecutive year, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other local ministries will sponsor a youth-based event at an area high school.
Fields of Faith will be held 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Edisto High School's football field. Musical performances will be by The Undivided and Cross Fade, and featured speaker is Jose Rivera, a local doctor and acupuncturist who is a member of the Clemson University chaplain's support staff.
FCA Midlands 4 board member Lee Wiles says the event gives students an opportunity to come together and express their faith. He says more than 500 students turned out for last year's Fields of Faith at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School despite a steady rain.
"Each year, Compassion In Action outreach ministry works alongside Fellowship of Christian Athletes to make this event possible," Wiles said.
Compassion In Action founder and director Jodi Bates says her ministry, which coordinates volunteers for the local Fields of Faith, will also help provide free food for the youth.
"Everyone will get to hear student-led testimony and contemporary Christian music," Bates said. "We bring in every middle school and high school in the area. Every church is invited, too."
The first local Fields of Faith event was held in October 2006 over two days at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds. Orangeburg Preparatory School's football field was the event site in 2007.
St. George Baptist Church youth pastor Ike Kittrell is also assisting with coordination. He says Fields of Faith utilizes a unique setting to spread the Word of God.
"I enjoy being able to host things for our community that are positive," Kittrell said. "Sometimes, we get caught up in the four-walls concept, and this takes you out of that. It's not a church building setting, and people share the Gospel at the same time. It takes you out of your comfort zone and puts you in someone else's."
In the event of rain, Fields of Faith will be moved to the Edisto High School gymnasium.
To subscribe to the print edition of The Times and Democrat, click here.
