Christian gathering set for teens
Fields of Faith, an evening of prayer and fun activities, will be hosted by McMinnville High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Saturday, Oct. 15. The sixth-annual event will run from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Wortman Stadium.
Fields of Faith is open to anyone of high school age, provided they have a signed insurance waiver from their parents. Admission is $5.
Parents and spectators are welcome as well.
Students attending the event will be organized into teams of 12 to 16. They will compete in various games, including dodgeball and link soccer.
Mac High students Drew Rubado and McKenna Carlson will give testimonies, and fellow student Keith Anderson will emcee. The band from the Nazarene Church on the Hill will perform.
Mac High’s FCA group joins others from around the nation in sponsoring a Fields of Faith event. More than 500 venues will host versions this month.
The program started in 2004 as “a student-to-student ministry ... to hear fellow students share their testimonies, be challenged to read the Word of God and follow Jesus Christ,” according to founder Jeff Martin, FCA’s executive vice president of Ministry Programs and Resources.
As a result, Martin said, “entire communities unite.” He said, “Lives are changed for eternity right there on athletic fields.”
Joe Miglioretto, Mac High FCA adviser, said students are hosting the event in partnership with Baker Creek Community Church, Calvary Chapel, Carlton Community Church, the Nazarene Church on the Hill, McMinnville Covenant Church and Praise Assembly.
Student athletes and FCA members from Linfield College and George Fox University will take part as well. Last year, the event drew about 250 high school students and about 100 college and adult volunteers.
For more information, e-mail jmiglioretto@msd.k12.or.us or visit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at McMinnville HS Facebook page.
Comments
Horse with no name
"As a result, Martin said, “entire communities unite.” He said, “Lives are changed for eternity right there on athletic fields.”"
Same ol' bull from a snake oil salesman. If you follow Jesus Christ all problems will be solved, really. Look for some evidence for all the wonderful claims and you find a failed hypothesis instead. Look around at how religion divides you and your friends by believing in superstition. It's the same for all religions.
You can actually be a good person and live a good life without having to delude yourself.
There's a project for students that will actually improve their lives, investigate the claims of religion. Use the brain you have to learn, not just follow what the latest huckster is selling. Yes it's selling my dears, 10% tithe off the top of your gross with the disclaimer that even after that and all the praying you might not get what you want because JC didn't like you enough.
kona
Horse with no name, you seem a little disgruntled. I have not ever heard that "If you follow Jesus Christ all problems will be solved". I do agree with your statement, "You can actually be a good person and live a good life without having to delude yourself". I also agree that "...even after that and all the praying you might not get what you want...".
It sounds like you could make the same claims about politics and government(s). Are you a Democrat, Republican or independent persuasion? Surely you must believe that belonging to any of these groups would fulfill your thirst for such a pessimistic outlook.
Let me see if this fits for your attitude, ... "As a result, Martin said, “entire communities unite.” He said, “Lives are changed for eternity right there on athletic fields.”"
Same ol' bull from a snake oil salesman. If you follow Democrats (or Republicans) all problems will be solved, really. Look for some evidence for all the wonderful claims and you find a failed hypothesis instead. Look around at how politics divide you and your friends by believing in superstition. It's the same for all politicians.
You can actually be a good person and live a good life without having to delude yourself.
There's a project for students that will actually improve their lives, investigate the claims of politicians. Use the brain you have to learn, not just follow what the latest huckster is selling. Yes it's selling my dears, 10% tithe off the top of your gross with the disclaimer that even after that and all the protesting you might not get what you want because Democrats (or Republicans) didn't like you enough.
Have a great day.
Lulu
Does this mean if I'm Jewish, automatic exclusion is my fate? Or will they try to pressure me to change my life and come to Jesus in front of a crowd on an athletic field?
Secondly, I resent any allocation of my property taxes for a religious event on school property.
kona
Lulu, you asked, "Does this mean if I'm Jewish, automatic exclusion is my fate? Or will they try to pressure me to change my life and come to Jesus in front of a crowd on an athletic field?" The article said, "Fields of Faith is open to anyone of high school age .... ".
Then you stated, "Secondly, I resent any allocation of my property taxes for a religious event on school property". Would you also resent "any allocation of my property taxes for an LGBT event on school property"? Or, a Black Student Union event? How about a White Student Union event?
kona
Additionally, I doubt that "any allocation of my (your) property taxes" will be provided for this event. I would be interested if taxpayer dollars were involved in any way.
Lulu
Kona, Kona, Kona--the article states one purpose of this event is encouraging others to "follow Jesus Christ." If I am Jewish, Jesus figures not a whit in my religion. Is their philosophy Jesus or the Highway?
kona
Lulu, I don't think this event is a mandatory event for anyone. If you don't want to attend because of your Jewish faith or that you love goldfish, I'm sure no one could make you go. Do religious events bother you?
Joel2828
Good grief horse, why so angry and mean? It's kinda scary to read these comments and see that religious bigotry is alive and well right here in little 'ol McMinnville.
Horse with no name
Joel2828 - my mood is not the subject. I say the claims of religion are bogus, based on ignorance and fear. I say religion, contrary to the claims of Martin, acts to divide people not unite. Lulu gave an excellent example and it goes on to anyone in this case that is not Christian. How about everybody separates into their worship group of Christians, Muslims, Pagans, whatever, you see what's happening... no coming together but rather division. The division in sports used to be between teams, religion divides the team themselves. I say you can be a good person and live a good life without being deluded. I encourage students to exercise critical thinking and problem solving not just follow to be part of a group. Why don't you want intelligent children to grow into intelligent adults, so we reduce ignorance, division and hate. I don't hate religious people; I just think they are afraid of the unknown so they pick a happy story then they don't have to think too much.
kona
Horse with no name, what is the relevance of your comments as they pertain to the above article about an optional event? We get that you are not appreciative of the positive aspects of any religion, but you seem to suggest that others should not have the opportunity to practice in the religion of their choice. Is that a correct inference?
Horse with no name
Kona - The relevance of my comments are this is a public event, published in a public paper that allows readers to comment. I feel it is important young people get a good education and contribute to society. When I see the promotion of ignorance and the recruiting of youth to then sell to their peers the same old bill of goods; I feel the need, as a responsible adult, to suggest the claims be critically evaluated before buying in to the scheme being promoted. I want them to know they can be exceptional people living wonderful lives without deluding themselves with fairy tales. Life is so much more than fairy tales. A personal involvement with other living human beings is much more satisfying than invisible protectors and demons dancing in your head.
"you seem to suggest that others should not have the opportunity to practice in the religion of their choice"
I'm not suggesting that, you can be as crazy as you want to be. When you promote the crazy to young adults and children, why are you afraid to have them hear another viewpoint?
kona
1) You said, "The relevance of my comments are this is a public event, published in a public paper that allows readers to comment". I agree.
2) You said, "I feel it is important young people get a good education and contribute to society". Hard to disagree about that.
3) You said, "When I see the promotion of ignorance and the recruiting of youth to then sell to their peers the same old bill of goods; I feel the need, as a responsible adult, to suggest the claims be critically evaluated before buying in to the scheme being promoted". This is where your logic gets a little fuzzy. I agree that religion should be "critically evaluated". The same could be said for the Democratic (or Republican) Party. Especially Hillary Clinton and to a lesser degree Donald Trump (he has other problems), "the promotion of ignorance and the recruiting of youth to then sell to their peers the same old bill of goods". As an atheist (I assume and correct me if I am mistaken) you are discouraging the right to assemble for religious (or any legal) purposes. Why would you want to discourage that in the United States because you personally do not appear to acknowledge the existence of a higher power?
4) You said, "I want them to know they can be exceptional people living wonderful lives without deluding themselves with fairy tales". I completely agree. But, your personal opinion about what is a "fairy tale" carries zero significance and shouldn't be a suppressant for the right to legally assemble.
5) You said, "Life is so much more than fairy tales". I agree.
6) You said, "A personal involvement with other living human beings is much more satisfying than invisible protectors and demons dancing in your head." I agree except for your narrow/distorted (in your mind) definition of religion.
kona
7) You said, "When you promote the crazy to young adults and children, why are you afraid to have them hear another viewpoint"? Not "afraid" at all. This is all about the right to legally assemble, whether for religion, comic books, video games or politics. I would guess that you would probably have the legal right to crash this assembly and carry a sign telling these youth that in your opinion religion of any kind is "crazy", only "fairy tales" and "invisible protectors and demons dancing in your head". Go for it and then go carry that sign at a Hillary Clinton rally.
Horse with no name
Kona you're hilarious, everything is either Democrat or Republican dancing in your head :) I'll leave the self-victimization for the self-righteous. I said you're free to be as crazy as you want. How about I suggest a book for you to read and you suggest one for me. I suggest you read "GOD The Failed Hypothesis by Victor J. Stenger". Don't disappoint me now, let's have a good one back from you.
kona
Horse with no name, you don't seem to get it. This whole article is about the legal right to assemble whether it is politics, religion or comic books. Because you have a distorted view of religion or "fairy tales" your opinion on this assembly (unless the assembly is illegal) has zero significance. As I said previously, go protest this assembly and persuade someone to your non-belief in religion. You could do the same thing every time there is a religious assembly. Every Sunday is readily available for you "as a responsible adult".
I have read many of Stenger's books and have followed his writings for more than a decade. He was a brilliant person before his death and his writings very well document his opinions and live on. He never did advocate (at least to my understanding) that people should not have the freedom to peacefully/legally assemble. I can't even remember him calling everyone who associated with religion as "crazy" but admittedly I might have missed it if he did.
As far as a book, I really don't have any interest in recommending any book for you. Perhaps reading the U.S. Constitution might help you. Article [I] (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion) - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
So go for it, get your little sign out and try to persuade those attending this voluntary assembly that they are "crazy" and you don't think they should be involved. Then you could go after the other billions of people who adhere to a religion. Have a great day.
Lulu
Kona--this rally presumes Jesus Christ stars in the one legitimate faith, an assumption which rings false for millions of people. Teenagers don't need additional pressure to conform to a religion alien to them simply because a group of athletes stir up the crowd.
And please quit quoting extensively from response letters.
kona
Lulu, the event is totally optional for anyone who wants to attend. I would completely agree with you if it were somehow be made mandatory.
As far as the quotes, feel free to not read them. I think it makes much more sense than throwing out a meaningless statement of "I don't agree with you". Almost always there are parts of a person's comments I agree and parts that I disagree. I will not change that approach when appropriate. It is optional for you to read the quotes just like it would be optional for you to attend the event in the article (if you are in the age group).
And for your entertainment, you said, "this rally presumes Jesus Christ stars in the one legitimate faith, an assumption which rings false for millions of people". I agree, not much differently than any advertisement that a person might see. That's life. No one makes you eat McDonald's hamburgers, it is purely optional as is the event in the article.
Lulu
You lack rationality with such a free-wheeling, exhausting enthusiasm.
I'm going home to speak in tongues and quiet the jaws of serpents; maybe sample an apple from the tree of knowledge.
kona
Lulu, my "enthusiasm" is not in defending any religion. The "enthusiasm" is defending the right to optionally/freely assemble. Nothing irrational about that. You might feel well to freely assemble with other atheists ... go for it.
Lulu
Well, what's certain is a boatload more authentic humor during our "optional/free" assembly. We will keep you in our thoughts [no pressure to pray].