What Does it Look Like When Rivals Worship Together?

In every city of every state Christian or Public schools that compete athletically against one another have rivalries.  Sometimes there are sub-rivalries for each sport.  Even the chess clubs and debate teams have been known to have a rival. The BIG RIVALRY usually transcends just one sport.  It’s in every sport!

In the state of Oklahoma the biggest rivalry is Union and Jenks.  These two schools are known as having one of the nation’s most intense rivalries.  They not only compete athletically, but academically.  In fact, from this writer’s perspective, even their school administrations and boards compete.  In the last year Jenks announced a partnership with the local Community College on site that would help their students better prepare for their college experience.  Not to be outdone, Union announced plans for a new college prep wing to be added to their Sr. High building. In fact, I am told the wing will even include a Starbucks.

Since 1996 either Union or Jenks have won the Oklahoma 6A State Championship in football. These two programs have turned out many stand out Division 1 college players and even at least one NFL player. There is nothing about this rivalry that’s not BIG. The annual game is so well attended that the game is played at Tulsa University because neither school’s home field can accommodate the crowd.

  A few months ago in the Bible Clubs of both schools it became evident that God was “moving” in a significant way in the students.  When they would come together weekly, the atmosphere was “electric” with expectancy.  They were (and still are) hungry for God!  They are kids of all denominations, joining together to go after God with all their might.

As I was talking one day to a KFCUSA team member who worked with the Jenks kids I said, “Wouldn’t it be cool to get the two clubs together to worship and pray together on one campus or the other?”  So we began working on it.  We were of the belief that God would use these amazing pure-hearted kids to be the face of God’s love to their schools. 

Last week (March 5^th, 2010) they came together to worship and press into God before school.  It was AWESOME!!!  As they were leaving one of the kids from the visiting school had the idea to invite the students from the host school to their school next month.  Kids in both schools believe God wants to use this new found fellowship to reach their schools.  Personally I think they only see the tip of the iceberg! I believe that God is stirring and raising up an army of kids (of all ages) across this land that will become a movement so powerful that for someone to be unaffected by it would be evidence of absolutely rejecting Christ. 

What does it look like when rivals worship God in absolute unity? HEAVEN!