As the annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., draws college football’s elite to the field, the Chick-fil-A FCA Rally brings God’s servants to share their testimonies to thousands of youth from southern Alabama.
Dennis Hayford, Southern Alabama FCA Area Director, has been partnering with the Senior Bowl for six years and loves the immediate exposure to God’s Word the event allows.
“The Senior Bowl garners a lot of media attention and builds anticipation,” he said. “For FCA to be able to leverage that for the gospel is a wonderful thing.”
“It’s a significant event in the spiritual life of Southern Alabama every year."
-Southern Alabama FCA Area Director Dennis Hayford
More than 100 people volunteer, including a prayer team covering the event before, during and after. Busloads of kids from middle and high schools around southern Alabama bustle into the Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile. This past year’s attendance was estimated at 2,300.
Sweet Water High School teacher and FCA Huddle Sponsor Jonathan Farr brought his Huddle to the rally, stirring much to talk about with the group in the days that followed. The students, from the 7th-12th grade, gained new role models as they listened to the college athletes.
“They’re engaged 100 percent,” Farr said. “To hear them and see their walk in their faith, it definitely gives them strength. We always come away knowing more players we haven’t heard of that have awesome testimonies.”
Hayford’s hunt for speakers starts in December, after the Senior Bowl committee announces the rosters. He then contacts team chaplains to inquire about the faith of their athletes as a heads up for who may be potential candidates for the rally.
When athletes arrive in mid-January, Hayford is allowed inside access all week, enabling him to meet players, distribute Competitor’s Bibles, and develop relationships.
“We’ll eat breakfast or lunch together, and as I get to hang out with them, I’ll say, ‘Tell me about your faith journey, tell me what God’s been doing in your life,’” said Hayford.
Hayford and former Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty discuss Petty's faith and football journey.
The rally’s format is like a sports show, discussing faith and sports with 31 football players from Division I schools. Hayford applauds the athletes’ willingness to give up an evening in their crammed schedule.
“They are so busy during the week with interviews with NFL teams, practice, running the playbook—for them to take two hours of their schedule to come to an FCA meeting is pretty astounding,” he said.
At the end of the event, Hayford offers a gospel presentation. Last year garnered 362 first-time commitments or recommitments to Christ.
“We’ll take those decision cards and deliver them to Huddle coaches at their schools,” he said, emphasizing the importance of follow-up. “[The Huddle coaches] will take responsibility to follow up with them, make sure they have a Bible, and make sure they have a church home.”
The rally follows Jesus’ call to make disciples, and when they make a decision to follow Jesus, it becomes the starting point of that process. Hayford is grateful to be part of such a recognizable bowl event, raising awareness for God: “It’s a significant event in the spiritual life of Southern Alabama every year. I’m just awed that I get to have a small part in it.”
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Farr and xtremefotofx.com/Bobby McDuffie