AG News reports on the powerful testimony of how a young American teen had a profound impact at his high school in Gresham, Oregon.
After years of application, in 2023 the high school finally allowed a Christian youth group, Youth Alive, to be formed at the school. Even with its acceptance, members of the original 18 who started the group faced pressure, with one girl being told to kill herself because of her Christian faith.
One of the members of this Youth Alive group happened to be the quarterback on the school’s football team. David believed that God wanted him to kneel before the start of each football game and pray.
“Many coaches were upset, saying that what David was doing was offensive,” Samara Smyer reports in her article for AG News.
But despite this pressure, David bravely stood his ground and kneeled and prayed before each game.
Over the next few games, other players started joining David. By the last game of the season, every one of the team’s 50 players was participating in the pregame prayer. Even some coaches were showing their support by standing behind the group as they prayed.
What was taking place caught people’s attention.
“I have been a ref for 22 years, but I’ve never seen an entire team take a knee and actually pray,” one game referee said. “You have no idea how inspiring that is.”
During pregame prayer, David also encouraged his teammates to come to church, leading to the team’s entire offensive and defensive lines, along with others attending the Family Worship Center, where during one service several gave their lives to Christ.
“Thirty athletes gave their lives to Christ that night, with 13 being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues shortly after,” Smyer wrote.
“Many players have continued to attend Family Worship Center, becoming sold out for Christ both on and off the field,” Smyer added.
All it took for the Holy Spirit to move was for one teen not to be intimidated and to take a bold stand for Christ.
