Revival Service at Ohio State University Sees Players, Ministries Partner

Tears filled the eyes of Kenji Kuriyama as Ohio State University (OSU) football players stood before a crowd of an estimated 1,500 students and gave their testimonies of how Jesus Christ had transformed their lives.

Kuriyama and his wife, Sierra, who are U.S. missionaries serving with Chi Alpha, says the event, held on Aug. 25, was put together in a relatively short time. However, God has used it to impact the campus on multiple levels and far beyond as the video has gone viral on social media outlets and Fox News has given coverage to the event.

“These football players, they were sharing legitimate testimonies,” Kuriyama says. “They were talking about how football had become their idol, and how they were trapped in anxiety, questions about their self-worth, and deepening depression — and then how Jesus came in and totally saved them from all these things. Now they put their identity in Jesus!”

Kuriyama confirms that the event originated with current and former players from the OSU football team who then involved numerous campus ministries. The intent of the outreach was to see students won to Christ; one of the unplanned side effects was that it brought campus ministry leaders together in a shared cause.

Some of the other ministries partnering to make the event possible included CRU, Revive, H20, Salt Company and 614 Church among others. Kuriyama says that he has now become good friends with several of the leaders of these groups, with plans to possibly do joint activities in the future.

“The event really birthed a unity among us,” Kuriyama says. “When we focus on our commonalities and work together to further the gospel message and lead students into a relationship with Jesus Christ, great things like this take place!”

As players gave different tasks to different ministry groups, Kuriyama says that Chi Alpha was assigned to promote the event through social media and on campus.

“Then when one of the players asked about having someone there if the Holy Spirit moved and people wanted to be filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues,” shares Kuriyama, who didn’t expect to hear a request like that. “Well, that was right down our alley, so we volunteered for that right away!”

In all, 62 students responded to the altar call and were baptized in large tanks the players use to take ice baths in following practices and the crowd clapped and cheered, tears flowing freely and baptized students hugging each other in celebration.

IT BEGAN WITH AN UBER DRIVER

Although the idea for the event only originated during a retreat a few weeks ago, Kuriyama provides a more historic context to how God has been at work.

“Several years ago, Kam Babb, a receiver for OSU, took an Uber to the airport,” Kuriyama recalls, “and during that ride, the Uber driver led Kam to the Lord . . . that Uber driver, who was connected to a campus ministry, decided to disciple Kam and he became a powerful, on-fire Christian, reaching out to his teammates with the gospel and leading some to Christ.”

Connecting with other Christians on the team, Babb helped form a Bible study, which helped players keep their eyes on Christ. As more players matured in their relationships with Christ, the recognition of the importance of serving God in word and action grew, which ultimately resulted in the campus outreach. In fact, the players were able to secure 2,000 Bibles — and every person at the event was offered a free Bible.

Babb, who suffered five ACL injuries during his career at OSU yet lived out his testimony before the team, played a lead role in seeing the evangelistic event come to life. He was also one of the speakers who gave his testimony. Other speakers included current wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running back TreVeyon Henderson, tight end Gee Scott Jr., defensive end Jaylahn “JT” Tuimoloau, and former OSU running back Master Teague III.

THE HIGHLIGHT

Although the testimonies, the singing, and the growing crowd of students certainly were incredible parts of the experience, one moment stands out among everything else that took place — for without that moment, few would even be talking about the outreach.

“After all the testimonies, Gee was up there on the stage,” says Teague III, “and he was giving a powerful salvation message.”

Kuriyama says as Gee concluded, he asked for a show of hands of those who would like to accept Christ as their Savior — scores of hands were lifted.

However, what happened next was a pivotal moment. When Gee asked those students who raised their hands to take a step of faith and come forward and be prayed with, no one moved — not a single person responded.

“Then Gee says, ‘All it takes is one — one person who wants to accept the Lord — to come forward . . .,’” Teague III recalls.

And that’s when it happened. A solitary student stood and started making his way forward and the crowd exploded in cheers and clapping . . . and then another student started coming forward, and another, and another and soon dozens of students were headed toward the platform to give their lives to Christ!

“That one student who walked up — that gave everybody else the courage to do the same thing,” Teague III states. “People were making the greatest decision of their lives to follow Christ . . . and then I had the opportunity to baptize some of the students. I’m not a super-emotional guy, but seeing the crowd worshipping and people coming forward, I was emotional. It was a really powerful moment, and it was amazing to be a part of that.”

Teague III, who’s 24 and still hoping to be picked up by an NFL team, says those who made a commitment to Christ that day have been followed up with and given the opportunity to be discipled through the ministry of their choosing.

“We also want to be sure to check-in with them to see how they’re doing in their continued journey with Jesus and try to help connect them with a campus ministry,” Teague III says. “It’s not over when you get saved, the Bible says we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and connection and community — that’s what God created us for.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Kuriyama, reflecting on the Sunday evening and the genuine move of God that took place on the campus, says that later that evening, as they were cleaning up the grounds, he saw the football players get together in their own time of praise and worship.

“They were bawling their eyes out — they were so excited how the Lord had used them,” Kuriyama says. “They have a genuine heart to see people know the Lord and be discipled. They don't have the time with football to disciple people, so they asked the ministries to take care of the people who came to the Lord that evening.”

As a result, the ministries are connecting with the students, but also allowing them to choose the group they want to be discipled by — whether that be Chi Alpha, CRU, or any of the other campus ministries.

“We feel the buzz and the energy this has created on campus — especially as it’s gone viral,” says Kuriyama, who is looking forward to the campus ministries continuing to work together and with the players to reach students for Christ.

And although players are currently consumed with games, practices, film, and studies, Teague III says there could still be another event this semester — with the campus ministries being included.

“We’re open to whatever the Lord wants to do,” Teague III says. “If it’s during the season, it may not be with a stage, but a gathering with some fellowship and prayer . . . this is not about growing any specific ministry but lifting up Christ!”

Dan Van Veen

Dan Van Veen is news editor of AG News. Prior to transitioning to AG News in 2001, Van Veen served as managing editor of AG U.S. Missions American Horizon magazine for five years. He attends Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, where he and his wife, Lori, teach preschool Sunday School and 4- and 5-year-old Rainbows boys and girls on Wednesdays.