Harding football team hosts church service

Harding University’s football program hosted a church service at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House on Sunday, Aug. 10. This annual tradition that takes place the first week players are back on campus allows members from the Searcy community to worship with and support the team. Head coach Paul Simmons wanted the players to recognize the high level of support from the community and the unity that the team rekindles every fall.

“When I took the job, a huge focus of mine was that our program would be something that created a lot of unity,” Simmons said. “I’ve never wanted to look in the stands and see a Harding crowd. I’ve always wanted to be a Searcy crowd. I wanted Harding to be Searcy’s team and White County’s team. And so this began as just an effort toward unity.”

Simmons estimated that around 1,200 people were at the event, which included the members of Kennect City Church, a Baptist church in Kensett. Simmons said that seeing new people being brought into the Harding Church of Christ community made a strong impact on him.

“They closed their doors that day and sent everybody over here to worship with us,” Simmons said. “I think that does send a giant message of unity. Lots of them were on campus for the first time, and certainly worshipping with us for the first time, and it was just amazing to see all of them here with us.”

Junior Jacob Nashold was uplifted by the singing and the camaraderie of the room. Nashold said that it was encouraging to see so many people from the community support Harding.

“It was a really incredible experience,” Nashold said. “I really enjoyed having that relationship with all those people.”

For many years, Harding’s football team has had more wins than any football team in the state of Arkansas, and that continuous powerhouse of success also creates more opportunities for the community to show support. Nashold said that he hopes the community continues to show out throughout this year so that the players can be encouraged by Searcy’s support for them.

“Harding’s football team is like a major part of our community,” Nashold said. “So they really wanted to be there so that the players can feel the love and support from all of us.”

Team members led the service and Dr. Monte Cox, dean of the College of Bible and Ministry, gave a sermon on the importance of the future. Cox said he wanted the players to remain humble despite the team’s on-field success, and be more focused on their off- the-field walk with Jesus.

“It’s not really about the glory of a national championship so much as it is building a culture of football that is second to none and about the team,” Cox said. “It’s about brotherhood. It’s about loving each other. It’s about giving your all, playing your best and fulfilling your role.”

Cox said that the culture surrounding the football team gives the community something to root for, and while winning football games might pique further interest in the community, the biggest victory is when the players set their sights on God.

“Those players form a bond that they don’t want to leave, and that’s great,” Cox said. I hope for every one of those players that that bond is grounded in their bonds to Christ and therefore their bonds as brothers in Christ.”