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An athletic feld provides a neutral, interdenominational rally point where a community can come together. The idea to sponsor the frst “Fields of Faith” event in Midland came from several of the high school football players. ”They about worried me to death,” Ken said. “After attending FCA camp, these guys got it in their heads that they wanted to have ‘Fields of Faith’ at the Grande Communications Stadium.” The students combined with a leadership team and partnerships were formed with local churches.

All of the hard work and prayers

paid off. More than 2,000 young people attended that frst event. Spike Dykes, then head football coach at Texas Tech, gave his testimony and highlighted local students in the program which created a powerful connection. Nationally, more than two hundred “Fields of Faith” events were held, and an estimated 400,000 teenagers gathered to worship. The following years were equally special. Baylor’s legendary head coach, Grant Teaff, spoke the second year and numerous NFL heroes were to follow. Yet, year after year, the true success of “Fields of Faith” is rooted in its

simplicity: bring many people together at one time, read Scripture and share personal testimonies and be challenged to read the Word of God and follow Jesus Christ.

In June 1983, Ken and Mary Lea along with Eddie and Nadine McHugh took sixteen kids for the frst time to FCA Camp in Estes Park, Colorado. More than twenty fve road trips and hundreds of relationships later, the couple still make the annual pilgrimage to FCA camp, now held at Lake Texoma. Camps are a time of “inspiration and perspiration” for