This story appears in FCA Magazine’s September/October 2015 issue. Subscribe today!

It always happens. In fact, I’ve never seen it not happen.

In my time as a coach for the University of Nebraska, we saw hundreds and hundreds—if not thousands—of kids come through on school field trips to observe a college football practice. Hand or toss one of them a ball, and then see what they do. The result is always the same. They get that ball in their hands, secure it tightly, and then sprint as fast as their little legs will take them “to the house” (the end zone) and finish it off with a celebration dance.

And it’s not limited to kids. Even teachers and parents will do the same. From five to 65 years old (and even older), we all want to score. We all crave that feeling of crossing the goal line. God wired each of us to want to reach the end zone.

But, as any casual football fan knows, crossing that goal line only matters if you have the ball in your hands. You can’t expect any points if you don’t even have the football. There’s a reason kids don’t take off running for the end zone unless we toss them a ball.

As thrilling as that touchdown sensation can be, the process to get there is often very grueling, and there’s a spiritual parallel here. Let’s say the “ball” of life is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where is the end zone? Well, there’s many, not the least of which is school campuses all across this country. If you believe in God’s truth, then you want to take His gospel to that “end zone.”

No matter how grueling it can be.

A common denominator when I visit high school and middle school campuses is the presence of FCA established at that school. I’ve experienced so many great welcomes and met a number of friends through fellow coaches, teachers, administrators and students at these campuses. The privilege of “bringing the ball to the house” through the FCA ministry has been extremely rewarding for me. I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve been fortunate enough to bring the “ball” (the gospel) to the “end zone” (a school). Through FCA Bible studies, Huddles, events and banquets (not to mention those precious one-on-one encounters between FCA staff and coaches or athletes), it doesn’t get much better than reaching one of God’s “end zones.”

But here comes the grueling part. Many in our nation have lost track of what Jesus said, no longer viewing the school campus as an “end zone” for God. The truth is, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the one and only “ball” that matters in life, and Jesus is absolutely passionate that every child, student, athlete and coach has an authentic opportunity to hear and respond to His gospel. But, because so many in leadership positions have lost sight of this, reaching that “end zone” has become more and more arduous.

Jesus gives a warning in Matthew 18:6 (NASB) that should get everyone’s attention: “... But whoever causes one of these little ones [let’s say “student-athletes”] who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

These are tough words for our present culture of censorship, neutrality and confusion that has been permeating and growing in school environments for years. Those in favor of keeping Christ out of schools are basically telling believers, “You can come to our school, and you can teach at our school, but leave your ‘ball’ at the 1-yard line. Leave this gospel at the doorstep.”

If we are Christ-followers, God handed us His gospel and urges us to have great “ball security” while bringing Jesus to the end zone. What good is a Christian in end zones like schools, sports, families, jobs and politics without the gospel of Jesus Christ? A Christ-less, cross-less teaching of character is not God’s definition of a touchdown. The world needs the gospel of Jesus! Praise be to Him for showing FCA favor in reaching coaches and athletes on campuses for so many years.

Our campuses are littered with drugs, alcohol, greed, pornography and sexual sin of all sorts. It all thrives there! But that’s why Jesus must thrive on campuses as well. Christ-followers must be willing to boldly and lovingly bring the gospel of Jesus “to the house.” The highest thrones in our culture are in need of the only ball that truly scores. Join FCA in using the vehicle of sports to continue to get to the campus “end zone” with the gospel.

The reward? It’s like those kids on the field during practice—a celebration in the end zone of eternal life. 

–This article appears in the September/October 2015 issue of FCA Magazine. To view the issue digitally, click here: September/October 2015 FCA Mag Digital 

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