A college ministry is celebrating after thirteen athletes publicly declared their faith by getting baptized. Joshua McKenzie serves as part of Purdue University’s Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s (FCA) and had been receiving a lot of questions about baptism since teaching about it to a group of athletes. “A couple weeks ago, we were looking at the baptism of Jesus and there were some questions around what does baptism look like in your own life. One athlete said they were interested in getting baptized, and honestly, that just kind of spurred in me that we should just give an invitation for any of our athletes to get baptized,” McKenzie told Sports Spectrum. After extending the invitation to other students, thirteen students asked to be baptized, and thus “Baptism Night” was scheduled for October 22.

FCA leaders spoke with those getting baptized about what it means for believers. Demeco Kennedy, a Purdue football player who described himself previously as a “lukewarm believer,” discussed his decision to be baptized. “Since giving my life to Christ, it definitely hasn’t been easy. However, God’s love has shown me that this is the way I want to live my life, glorifying Him in all I do,” Kennedy wrote in his testimony. “Christ changed me in so many ways and made me such a better person. I truly am blessed and highly favored and couldn’t have made a better decision.”

There have been other baptism nights organized by the FCA, but McKenzie said this one was special because of how organically it came about. “It’s really cool to see the fruit already and the interest from other athletes,” he said. He also noted that there is something different about the responses he’s been receiving from students seeking more. “These students on campus, if they’re professing Christ, that’s more unique than previously was before, especially in the Midwest and the South where seemingly everyone was a Christian. Now, it’s not a given,” he said. “Those who are professing Christ are maybe more faithfully following Christ. There’s just more of a dividing line where you’re either in or you’re out. I don’t see as many college students on the fence.”

Purdue FCA celebrated the baptisms, calling it “nothing short of incredible” on Instagram. “Each story reflected courage, transformation, and the beauty of surrendering to Christ. We are continuing to pray for everyone who took that step, and that God would strengthen them, guide them, and surround them with community as they continue walking in faith,” the group added. “God is moving here, and we’re grateful to be part of it.”