In a very cool moment toward the end of August, at a time when football players and teams are finishing camp and preparing for their upcoming season, eighteen Tennessee collegiate athletes dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ in what has been a long-standing tradition stretching back decades.
As reported by Carson-Newman University’s Baptist and Reflector, members of the college and its tight-knit community joined together to welcome its newest members into the family of Christ and His eternal salvation. “Members of the Carson-Newman University campus community gathered on the banks of Mossy Creek after 18 Eagles football players made decisions to be baptized in the historic waters,” the Baptist and Reflector wrote.
Speaking to the collegiate paper, the head coach for Carson-Newman’s football program Ashley Ingram said that guiding student-athletes toward faith is the most important calling he can undertake, more so than winning games or helping them graduate. “Our number one goal is that we want to graduate these kids, but more importantly we want to develop young men of Christian faith. This is really what it’s all about. I couldn’t be more excited for them as they start their walk with Christ.”
A powerful video was also shared of the event, showcasing the faith-bound family within the college’s football program. Players can be seen walking to the creek traditionally used for the ceremony, and Coach Ingram describes the impact on them as well as the mantle he sees himself carrying on behalf of the young men under his guidance. From former player to head coach, he has been on both sides of the monumental life decision of accepting Jesus Christ.
“As a former player, knowing the significance that we use this game as a way to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with these players, and seeing the lives that got changed when I was a player, it’s really humbling for me to be a part of this and to see these guys get baptized and follow through with the decisions they’ve made,” the coach begins.
He continues: “It’s been 30 years since Coach Park started this tradition of baptizing players during fall camp. Conservatively, we’re somewhere between five and six hundred football players that have followed through in baptism and made a public profession of their faith.
“I think this is the ultimate public profession of faith to show your teammates, and now that the whole university has bought into it and embraced it and our whole community, it just makes this a very special day for us…we believe that accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior, making that decision, is your salvation experience, but baptism is the true public profession.”
“It’s the mirror of Christ, dying on the cross, being buried and rising again. We feel the same way ourselves, buried under the water, raised to new life. And to do that in front of not just family, but I share with him, this brotherhood goes back, not just sparks, but way back, all the way to frosty hope. And to do that with that brotherhood of football, family is pretty special, because you cannot replicate what you have as a football team.”
“I’ve kind of accepted the mantle, so to speak, not that I asked for it. I’ll be honest, the fact that I could even be a part of this still blows me away, and I do, I feel a burden to carry this on because of who’s gone before me.”
Watch the incredible video below:
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video