re rae InS W~en most people heard the words "church family," they pictured well-dressed people coming together on Sunday mornings to sit in pews and listen to a minister preach from behind a podium. Forfreshman Andrew Brackins, however, "church family" came to mean something entirely different. After moving to Prattville, Ala. his freshman year of high school, Brackins arrived just in time to play for Prattvi lie Christian Academy's f1 rst year of football. The small private academy had a rough start, with only three wins 1n its first three years, and the future did not look much better. Then the school hired Grey Powell as head coach during Brackins' senior year. "Coach Powell knew he was not coming into a successful program," Brackins said. "But his goal was not to turn us into a team that won a whole lot. His goal was for us to glorify God." Powell was a Harding alumnus who had played forthe Bisons.After graduating in 1996, he coached at several different schools, including Harding Academy. "I completely reorganized everything on the team," Powell said. "I opened up the offense, changed the game play and even re-branded the team. I wanted the words 'Honor God' to be on everything from their helmets to their shirts to the walls in their weight room." And Powell's new strategy seemed to work: in his first season as head coach, the team scored seven wins and went to the playoffs. After the Prattville Panthers' strong season, the academy began accepting several transfer students from public schools and inner cities, many of whom did not know Christ. "Christ was foreign to most of these guys," Brackins said. "And they suddenly found themselves on a team where 'Honor God' was everywhere." With all the new players came an opportunity to share Christ's love and to change lives. Their chance came on a hot July day during summer practice, when Powell felt led by the Holy Spirit to incorporate worship into their practice routine. "I did not want us to simply honor God with our lips," Powell said. "I wanted to praise Him fully. So after the players finished weight-lifting, I loaded them all up on a bus and drove them to a nearby church where we sang praises together." As soon as the service ended and they left tiJe church, Powell turned to Brackins and asked if hi'l, . pool was still open. "\ "It was like the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch," Brackins said. "We were not going to wait.~ -·"' to baptize them.We were going to do it as soon as-,. possible, which meant going to my pool." The football team traveled to Brackins' house, where Brackins baptized s1x players and one coach in his own swimming pool. "I remember after I baptized one guy, Itold him 'Welcometothefamily,"' Brackins said. "He did not say much, but Icould tel l he knew what I meant. He knew he had become a part of something great." Despite his attachment to his new brothers in Christ, Brackins said he felt good about leaving the football team behind and starting a new chapter. "God had my family move to Prattville for a purpose," Brackins said. "And now Ifeel that purpose has been finished and the team is in good hands." john Mark Adkison was like tKe story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. We were not going to wait to oa tize th m. freshmen 113
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