BIG TIME VICTORY

C-N football team sees 18 new believers baptized in Mossy Creek

JEFFERSON CITY — 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.

Officiating the Aug. 20 event was Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA) area director Marty Blakely and FCA’s Lakeway Ambassador Alan Duncan, as well as Drew Eudy, congregation pastor at Mossy Creek Fellowship.

A host of C-N football players, and other members of the university’s community, lined the waterway in support of the new believers.

The event, though unusual on a college campus, is embraced by Carson-Newman and its athletics program.

“Our number one goal is that we want to graduate these kids, but more importantly we want to develop young men of Christian faith,” said head football coach Ashley Ingram, who begins his second year at the program’s helm.

“This is really what it’s all about,” he said looking around at those gathered. “I couldn’t be more excited for them as they start their walk with Christ.”

For over a decade now, the gathering has become a campus tradition as student-athletes follow Jesus Christ in believer’s baptism.

The previous week, three women of C-N’s volleyball team were baptized in Mossy Creek.

The Eagles football team opens the season on Aug. 30, hosting West Virginia State at  11 a.m. The following week, Carson-Newman visits South Carolina Central for a Thursday night game on Sept. 4. B&R