Sylva Bay Academy in Bay Springs hosts its first “Fields of Faith” event Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the football stadium. All youth groups, etc., are invited.

The event is part of a nationally recognized special day on Oct. 8 started in 2002 by Jeff Martin, Oklahoma Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) area director. Martin prayed about what to do with his frustration of the temptations and spiritual battles facing today’s youth. He read 2 Chronicles 34, in which teenaged King Josiah gathered his people together and challenged them to read God’s Word.

In 2004, according to www.fieldsoffaith.com, more than 6,000 students gathered on school athletic fields throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas for Fields of Faith. In 2006, the event went nationwide. It is now in over 35 states, and went from 31 “fields” to over 337 and over 50,000 people attending.

Sylva Bay assistant football coach Parker Dykes is sponsor of the school’s FCA.

“I was the FCA sponsor at JC (Jones County Junior College), and was involved with FCA for a long time,” Dykes said. He said his only “title” at Sylva Bay is that he is the sponsor of the FCA. “In everything else, I’m an assistant.”

His title at JCJC, other than FCA sponsor, was head football coach for six years, where he compiled a record of 32-22-1. He graduated from Bay Springs High School, JCJC and Mississippi College.

After leaving JC, Dykes coached at Carson Newman College in Tennessee for two years. “But all my grandchildren live down here and I missed them,” he said. He and his wife live on the campus at Sylva Bay. “I’ve been gone from here for 47 years. Now I’m going to my home church.”

The Fields of Faith event will feature Scarlet, the JCJC praise band; students from Jones, Jasper and Smith counties sharing their testimonies; and a skit by the Sylva Bay FCA group. West Jones High School graduate Justin Graves will be the featured speaker. Graves is a ministerial student at Mississippi College and works for the FCA Bible ministry in Mississippi.

“He will speak about his life and his commitment to Christ,” Dykes said.

The event is free, and will feature fellowship, fun and music.