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TOUCHDOWN JESUS: Hundreds fill stadium stands to renew spirit post-storm

Hundreds of worshipers fill the stands of Hendersonville High School's stadium for a worship service.

By Bill Moss, Published: October 6, 2024

Miranda Dubney overcame plenty of obstacles to join hundreds of other worshipers from across the storm-ravaged area to ask for God's blessing in a communitywide service at Hendersonville High School's football field.

Dubney, who uses a wheelchair and has four special-needs children, pushed past the hurdles to make it to Dietz Field for a Sunday service put on by First Baptist Church, which sits in a large area west of Church Street that still had no power, 10 days after Hurricane Helene roared through the city.

“I was late because the devil kept getting in my way, between oversleeping, four children, a roadblock," she said. "I was 30 minutes late but we made it.” Her home in Horse Shoe survived the storm, though high winds damaged the roof. She lost power for a week and was relieved to have it back.

Justin Alexander, the senior minister of First Baptist since July, exhorted the crowd to join in hymns and prayer, and ended with an invitation to get lunch at a food truck or take home supplies from aid tables and to join in food aid for others this week.

“We are running our distribution center this week — Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday," he said. "If you know people in need, come by on those days. We will load your vehicle and take it to that community. Join us as we care for our community today. And then finally, if you're here — and maybe it was nerve-wracking for you to come and respond to Jesus —  here's what I ask. When we're done and everybody moves on, go and find those people. Do not wait.”

The crowd filled the home stands of the Bearcat stadium, and dozens more — singles, couples, families, small packs of teenagers — sat on the turf on either side of the 50-yard line. If Jesus was the star, the worshipers were all devoted fans.

“We knew people were hurting and we needed to gather," Alexander said after the service. "And so we looked at this. I've had dreams about us doing something in a stadium for years. And I looked at Dave and I said, ‘What if we gathered this Sunday in the high school football stadium and invited the whole community? We can fill it up.’”

They nearly did. News got out via church emails, social media, word of mouth. In the sun-drenched stands, Baptists sat next to Methodists who sat next to Presbyterians who fraternized with Catholics. No one talked denomination, doctrine or the Book of Order. Instead, topics ranged to the basics — getting power back on, surviving the storm, the chainsaw war. They sat and listened and prayed and sang, girding their soul with the power of the spirit in order to handle what comes next.