MORGANTOWN, WV – Andy Schmelzer led the AppalachiaCry Ministries team for our first WVU game as part of the Sports Fan Outreach 1,000 (SFOI 1,000) effort. ACM teams up with SFOI in an effort to reach the tens of thousands of college and pro football fans across the country each year.
In 2016, Andy and I went it alone. However, by God’s grace it looks like that may change this year. During the ACM Fall College Tour, we met brother Joseph Graves who regularly evangelizes outside the Mountainlair at WVU. After rejoicing in finding one another, we are looking to labor with him and his friends as much as possible, both on campus and at the games. He joined Andy for this game.
As they ministered, another brother named Jared who claimed to know me dropped by and handed out tracts with the team for about an hour.
While Andy and Joseph took turns preaching, Andrew and Cheyenne handed out tracts. There were a few conversations and the usual drive-by hecklers. A pleasant surprise was the encouragement given by many Christians as they passed by. This went on for a couple hours.
Andy did have an extended conversation with a couple Roman Catholics who asked about transubstantiation. Andy spent time in the Scriptures exposing the 
false teachings of the Roman Catholic church. Though one of the men appeared very intelligent, his thoughts escaped him because of his drunkenness.
Perhaps the most encouraging moment was when a young girl walked up and handed Andy a note that read:
“Thank you for having the courage to stand up in front of everyone and preach the gospel and way of salvation. It is encouraging to other believers like me. Keep doing what you are doing. You are reaching people whether they react when they first hear it or the thought comes back in their mind later. Continue to keep planting seeds especially to those who need it the most on game day in Morgantown. God bless”
Our next game will be on 10/28 as WVU takes on Oklahoma State University. A big crowd is expected and we’ll have another brother who is learning how to open-air preach with us. God is faithful!
Soli Deo Gloria!
JS
