The Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ annual Fields of Faith event returns to Gordon Wood Stadium Wednesday, Oct. 15. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., the event begins at 7 p.m., and seating will be on the visitors’ side of the stadium this year.

“We’re expecting in the neighborhood of 2,500 students to be there,” said FCA Area Director Kurt Newton.

Fields of Faith is an FCA certified ministry program where athletes gather at sport environments in their communities to challenge their peers to read the Bible daily and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His church.

Austin Ridge Bible Church College Pastor Tyler Heidelberg, a Howard Payne University graduate, will be the guest speaker while Austin-based Flourish Creative Music, which features another HPU graduate in Jaime Dodson, will be the musical act.

“What we do is have worship with our band, then students share scripture and pray and some share testimonies with the scripture,” Newton said. “Then Tyler will get up and share the Gospel and give an invitation, and we generally have 100-plus students come down and in some form make a decision.”

There will also be Fields of Faith events at HPU Monday at 7 p.m. at the outdoor stage behind Mims Auditorium, and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Goldthwaite. Heidelberg will be the speaker at those events as well

“We hope to reach a lot of kids,” Newton said. “It’s always a good time. Everybody’s invited, you don’t have to be an athlete or even a student. If you’re an adult you can come and sit in the stands. It’s a pretty awesome event to see 2,000-plus students in the stands at Gordon Wood Stadium worshiping God.”