The NFL wants to showcase stories of how football fashions the lives of fans. And, in some cases, how fans teach football a thing or two about life. That’s why they created the Together We Make Football video contest, which allows one individual and one team/group winner an opportunity to fly to Phoenix for Super Bowl XLIX.
FCA Oklahoma staff Sarah Roberts knows a true tale scripted by God that is necessary to share with the sports world. She submitted a video to the contest with a powerful story of the impact of a football coach on one of his players. Turns out that coach is her husband, and that player is now a member of their family.
Christian and Chris.
Before his freshman year, Christian, now a senior on the Crossings Christian School football team, lost his father. Sarah’s husband, Chris, who is the head coach, began taking him to lunch on a weekly basis and integrating him into fellowship with their family. Then, his mother got sick. As her health declined, Christian began spending more time with the Roberts family, and it was agreed upon by all parties that should something happen, Christian would live with the Roberts.
Christian’s mother passed away on September 3, three days before his first football game.
Sarah saw a commercial for the contest days before the funeral but thought nothing of entering, until Christian spoke at the service.
“He spoke of how his mom always had to be right, and the family had an inside joke about how Christian was the only one to play and like sports, so he must have been switched at birth with a coach’s child,” Sarah said. “At the end, he kind of looked up and said, ‘Mom, you’re right once again. I am a coach’s kid.’ It was at that moment I felt like God was asking us to be part of something special.”
Sarah went home and filmed her video entry on her phone—unscripted, and in one take—submitting it without telling anyone.
A few weeks later, the NFL contacted Sarah and Chris, asking to interview them, and for game footage and family photos. Shortly thereafter, they were notified that NFL Films would be visiting to film their story. And later, at a school pep rally, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders surprised the crowd and announced the Christian's video would be one of the three individual national finalists in the competition.
“It’s been a whirlwind of ups and downs since September 3,” Sarah admitted. “But we are so thankful just to be a living example that God can use all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
Team Roberts at Senior Night.
Throughout the process, God has presented many moments that fastened faith to film, causing His fingerprints to be captured on camera.
“I love that we are in a Christian school and that we gave and showed the NFL what the body of Christ is supposed to look like,” Sarah said.
One of the more poignant moments of the story, which will most likely be aired in the film, involves a new Crossings tradition—senior fathers reading letters to their sons at the end of practice. When Christian’s turn came, on senior day no less, Chris pulled out a letter he had written and read in front of the whole team.
“It was a doozy,” Sarah said. “It was emotional, but it was good.”
To watch the Team Roberts video and vote for them, click here: https://www.togetherwemakefootball.com/stories/2645