by RTF Staff Writer Jamin Goecker

Last month about 1900 students from local high schools and youth groups listened to fellow students give their testimonies and challenge them to live for Christ at an event known as Fields of Faith. About 200 teens accepted Jesus as their Savior, 200 rededicated their lives, and 100 requested prayer.

Sally Higgins, 18, is a senior in high school, and she shared her testimony in front of everyone who came.

Jamin: What made you step out of your comfort-zone tonight?
Sally: It was something that was so much bigger than me and while it might have been a little uncomfortable speaking in front of a lot of people and a lot of kids, it was for a much bigger cause than me. I was asked to speak and I knew it would be much bigger than my minor inconvenience.

If people get only one thing out of this event, what would you want that to be?
I would want them just to see the hope they have in Christ and that we would rebel against being a near-sighted culture and see that there’s something so much bigger than the here and the now. They have eternity, and if they put their hope in Christ, that that will bring them ultimate peace that will be with them forever. They will be able to have hope in that and joy in that for the rest of their lives.

What challenge do you have for teens?
My challenge would be to just surrender whatever it is that’s holding you back from pursuing Christ above all else. Surrender whatever is keeping you from coming to know him as your King and let go of whatever is holding you down to this Earth. You will never find true joy until you come to know the Lord.

Clayton Kafer, 17, is the captain of his high school’s football team. He also spoke at Fields of Faith.

Jamin: What made you step out of your comfort-zone tonight?
Clayton: It’s a great opportunity. We don’t get many chances to share our faith with however many people were here tonight. If Jesus can go up on a cross and die for us, the least I can do is get out of my comfort-zone a little bit and step out in front of some people and share my testimony.

If people get only one thing out of this, what would you want that to be?
I just want everyone to know the compassion that God has for every single person. Not only Christians. He loves everybody. If they didn’t get anything else from tonight, I want them to know that God wants a personal relationship with every single human being. It’s not just for a certain type of people. Anyone can come. It doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been or what you’ve done. He accepts anybody. When He died on the cross 2000 years ago, He covered everybody’s sins. All you have to do is accept the gift that He’s brought to us.

What challenge do you have for teens?
Open up your heart, open up your mind. If you’re having trouble with what God wants for you in your life, open up your Bible and see what He has for you. This is our roadmap and He gave this to us for a reason, so use it. See what He has planned for you, because He has great plans.

Jamin Goecker is a college student who enjoys hanging out with teens. He’s taking general classes right now but plans to be a missionary someday. He enjoys songwriting, guitar, lifting weights, skydiving, paintballing, ultimate frisbee, running, hiking, and fishing. You can check out his blog at scribe-jamin.blogspot.com