A FIELD OF FAITH — Students throughout the Ohio Valley showed up at Harding Stadium, leading an evening of testimonies, prayer, inspirational music and Christian messages during the area’s first Faith on the Field event. Sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the student-initiated event included more than 250 students inspired by faith. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Harding Stadium was home to approximately 250 Ohio Valley residents last week. However, this was not a typical Friday night football game, nor a Steubenville City Schools’ activity.

This was something more.

Yes, it involved students — as a matter of fact, it was student-led and student-initiated. This was an event which has not been held for the last six years and something that was needed by the hundreds of young people in attendance.

The Faith on the Field gathering, sponsored by members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, featured the sharing of heartfelt testimonies, inspiring music and youth performances.

The evening began with organizer Bobbyjon Bauman offering the welcome and opening prayer. Student testimonies were given by FCA members JoJo Rea, Steubenville High; Noah Flesher, Indian Creek; Gabe Keener, Brooke High; G.G. Zimmerman, Edison; and Aaron Ashby, Harding Middle School.

Music and worship were led by Dance Force Elite, Cooper Crowe, Gene “Minister of Truth” Shelby, Jasmine Wooden, Elisha Fletcher, Camden Greiner of SHS and the Impact Youth Praise Team.

The keynote message was delivered by the Rev. Raul Diaz of Toronto’s Cornerstone Church, who challenged his audience to carry their faith with them in every part of life. The night concluded with adults joining students on the field in prayer.

Bauman, who serves as adult FCA huddle leader, reflected on the significance of the evening, saying, “What made this night so special was that it was entirely student-led. To see young people step forward to share their faith and lead their community in worship was incredibly powerful.”

The evening concluded with attendees leaving the stadium having a sense of unity and encouragement, as Faith on the Field was a reminder that possessing faith brings about strength and hope within the next generation.