Sometimes miracles appear with a flash of light. Other times, they’re subtle and only seen in the faces and hearts of those who experience them. In the case of Birmingham, Alabama’s Woodlawn High School, it was the arrival of a chaplain to a team whose coach desired to make his own destiny. What ensued was a spiritual revival that stretched through the locker room and unified its athletes, tearing down racial barriers and shining the light of Christ.
The true story of Woodlawn’s football team, led by soft-spoken and determined running back Tony Nathan, inspired thousands of people and warmed the state of Alabama with love in a cool climate of racial segregation. The amazing tale captured the unbelievable work of God that started between goal lines and spread beyond Birmingham.
On October 16, moviegoers can experience the sweep of God across the big screen, with the movie adaption Woodlawn releasing nationwide.
Set in early 1970s Birmingham, Ala., the movie follows Woodlawn High School’s football team as they unify in love through a spiritual revival in a racially divided town.
Nathan wrestles with destiny and ability in the face of embittered segregation. Head coach Tandy Gerelds grapples with his team’s newfound religion while struggling to maintain his disciplinarian ways. And new team chaplain Hank Erwin puts his faith on the 50-yard line, for everyone in football to see the strength of God.
One evening at an after practice meeting, nearly the entire team gives their lives to Christ while listening to Hank. They connect in genuine friendship while becoming a force to be reckoned with on the field.
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes played a pivotal role in the lives of Woodlawn’s coaches and athletes. Hank hosted Huddles at his home, where many young student-athletes strengthened their faith together. And as the movement of God spread through the area, FCA expanded to other schools. It even became a sponsor of a pre-game rally, where the gospel of Jesus was clearly presented to a stadium of thousands of people before Woodlawn played its region rival, the powerhouse Banks Jets.
Nathan, who went on to have an illustrious career at Alabama and played professionally with the Miami Dolphins, reflected on the turn of events that brought his life into a motion picture.
“A lot of things that they have talked about and filmed has brought back memories, both good and bad,” he said. “It’s been a learning experience. A very good one.”
Nathan added that when he looks back on his life he sees the hand of God upon him both in and out of football. This included joining with his team as Christ moved in their lives his junior year.
“You could start to see the difference in people and we started relating to one another, hanging around and talking so God could make a difference in our lives,” he said.
Woven into the movie’s main plotline are powerful side messages: family relationships, the value of a father in the lives of his children, honoring women, the influence of a coach, and the impact of verbal affirmation.
Woodlawn is undeniably spiritual while maintaining a high entertainment value, carrying with it a powerful message Nathan hopes will awaken viewers.
“If you’re already walking in the faith, you get some more encouragement and continue to be the person that you are,” he said. “For some that don’t know Him, that lightbulb might go on to want to.”
Woodlawn brings revival and reconciliation to hearts and homes threatening to split apart, fusing entertainment with truth. And, above all, it showcases God’s interest and transformation in His people’s lives, tiny miracles that spawn into something grand.
Official Movie Trailer
***The Woodlawn film team has developed resource tools to help ministry leaders and small groups best utilize the gospel with the movie. For these resources, and ideas for outreach tailored to FCA, visit http://woodlawnmovie.com/fca.
Photos and video courtesy of woodlawnmovie.com