On a warm Friday afternoon last fall, a line of high school football players wearing red-and-white uniforms sat shoulder-to-boxy-shoulder in the front row of a small church. Although they sported the same jerseys, each had a personal reason for finding themselves here, out of their usual habitat. One teen was living in a hotel, another teen’s dad had died the day before. Now, together, they stood to receive prayer in this church that describes itself as “Spirit-filled and down to Earth.”
It all started with prayer. Kevin Kiefer and his wife, Molly Kiefer, had been praying for an opportunity to share Jesus with students at the local high school.
They’re the co-lead pastors of Thrive Vineyard Church, located in a northwestern suburb of Chicago. Kevin had become friends with the high school football coach, who is also a passionate follower of Jesus. One morning in the summer of 2024, the coach approached Kevin about outreach to his team once the season started. They landed on the idea of a weekly thirty-minute chapel service for any football players who wanted to stop by for prayer on the way to the game.
That first Friday afternoon, Kevin wasn’t sure whether anyone would show up, but sure enough, a few cars pulled into the parking lot, and the red-and-white uniformed boys started shuffling in, led by a few upperclassmen who were excited about God. The players filled the front row and a half.
For the first few weeks, the chapel program consisted of sharing a brief, uplifting Gospel message and then praying over the group before dismissing them to their game. Each week, more rows filled until they began averaging 35-40 students per service.
Kevin and his church weren’t the only ones volunteering at this event; a handful of local recent graduates of the football team who were believers participated in the chapel services and joined the rotation of gospel teachers.
As time went on, and the players became a bit more comfortable and kept coming back, Kevin realized that these young men needed something more. So he took a risk.
“Hey, you guys,” he told them one afternoon after sharing the message. “Today, we want to pray for you individually. Because we know that every one of you has something going on where you need God to touch your life, whether it’s healing from an injury or stuff going on at home. So before you go, come on up and get prayer.”
Nobody budged.
Kevin decided to wait. “I have all the time in the world,” he said. “So I’m just going to stand here until somebody steps up.” After a long minute, one brave kid stepped forward toward the football alumni who were standing ready to pray for the teens. Soon, the front of the church was full of teens coming forward for prayer. And then, suddenly, the Holy Spirit fell on the entire team.
“These football players were in tears. Guys were sobbing and holding each other, and we were praying over them. And the Spirit just fell on these young men,” Kevin recalled. “It was completely amazing to see how God was healing their hearts. And they shared stories about really major personal issues that they had come with, and it was amazing to see that God was bringing them healing and encouragement.”
A few weeks later, Kevin and the other leaders asked the players if any of them would like to receive Jesus into their hearts, and more than 20 players came forward. For a second time, the Holy Spirit fell on the whole group, and the place was again awash in hugs and tears.
“It’s out-of-the-box,” Kevin explained of this ministry. “It’s not something that came from our own youth group; it’s something that God is doing in our community, and we’ve been blessed to respond and be a part of it.”
The football players have found a faith community and a God who loves them and supports them unequivocally. One of Kevin’s favorite rituals that has emerged from these chapel services is standing on the first step of the stage so all of the big, burly guys can come in for hugs as they are sent off to their game.
“This is truly one of the most exciting ministries I’ve ever been a part of,” Kevin said. “I call Molly after every chapel service and say, ‘I can’t believe what God is doing over here!’”
News of how God is moving amongst the football players has spread in town. This fall, Thrive Vineyard and its partners have been asked to launch chapel services for several other high school sports teams. Kevin also received a phone call from a pastor across town, who plans to start up a parallel ministry to the town’s other high school football team.
Now in its second season, the football chapel service is going strong. Earlier this month, seven more football players gave their lives to Jesus, and the church is planning to baptize all of these new believers in October.
Kevin emphasizes all of the prayer that has gone into reaching the young people in their community. To others who hope to try an unconventional outreach to the next generation, Kevin advises, “Be aware of what God is already doing. Keep watching, keep listening–God will do it, if we continue to walk in prayer and expectation.”