Thursday Night Light
IN TEXAS, FEW THINGS SHINE BRIGHTER than the lights on a football field. From a young age, children fight for the chance to put on pads and represent their school in the battle to be the best. This year at Goliad Middle School, however, one light shone brighter than all the others. It was the light of Christ shining through an eighth-grade student named Damien.
In 2022, Damien’s mother, Kisha, moved with her four children to STCH Ministries Bluebonnet Campus in Yoakum. Even though change was a common occurrence for Damien, who was in fifth grade at the time, he felt hesitant and nervous about making such a big move. Inside, though, he knew this was different. He knew this was the start of something wonderful.
From the beginning of their time on the Bluebonnet Campus, Damien experienced a hunger for a relationship with the Lord. He witnessed his mom’s transformation and wanted the same in his life. He started asking questions and learning from those around him. “Seeing his hunger and wanting to know more and read more in the Bible was really awesome, especially when we were first starting in Yoakum,” Kisha shared. In January 2023, he surrendered his life to Christ and was baptized, with his three younger siblings following his example. After his baptism, he felt God calling him to minister to the children at school, and with his mom’s encouragement, he did.
In June 2023, another change came for Damien and his family as they moved to the Marshall Campus in Goliad. This move proved to be a catalyst in his story, opening a door for Damien that his mom could never have imagined. Shortly after moving, Damien started sixth grade at Goliad Middle School. He began playing sports, including football and track. The family started attending First Baptist Church in Goliad, and Damien’s love for the Lord deepened. He sought mentorship from staff on the Marshall Campus and from leaders at church. He wanted to learn more about how to lead as a Christian and be a positive example in his school.
Damien loved playing football and putting his whole heart into the game. His team lost the first game of his eighth-grade year, and instead of being disheartened, he decided to act. “When we had returned home, I fed myself and went straight into our bedroom to lie on my bed and asked God what I could do on my end to help the team play better and how we could also grow closer to him,” Damien shared.
He did not have to wait long for an answer, because the next week his coach approached him to ask if he would be interested in becoming the team chaplain. Unsure of what being a chaplain entailed, he asked his coach for clarification. His coach explained he would pray with the team and give them words of encouragement before the games. Damien initially struggled to say yes, as nerves and shyness often set in before big events. He sought guidance from his mother and staff members at Marshall Campus and ultimately told his coach he would love to be the team chaplain.
Before the third game of the season, Damien started his chaplaincy. The team gathered around him in their football uniforms, ready for the game, and took a knee. After his prayer, his teammate pulled everyone into the center for one last breakout before game time. The team would go out to win this game and all but one of the games after, finishing the season winning six of their eight games. Damien loved being in this position for his team and reflected on what it meant for his coach to see Christ in him, “The fact that my coach, who doesn’t really see what goes on outside of the classroom, or at home or at church, the fact that he saw God in me, is really amazing.”
Damien plans on taking every opportunity to chaplain for the sports teams at his school and wishes he could have started his seventh-grade year. “I want to bring everyone on our sports teams closer to God and to bring Him glory when we play, whether it be on a football field, a track or a tennis court,” Damien shared. Being asked to fulfill this role was one of the most influential moments in Damien’s life, and he did not take it lightly. In the future, he plans to be a pastor, a chaplain and a pastry chef, using what he has learned through this experience to help guide him.
Kisha and Damien described how God has brought healing and growth into their lives since they first moved to the Bluebonnet Campus in 2022. There has been restoration throughout their whole family. Damien and his siblings do not fight like they used to. Now, they listen and respect each other. Kisha learned healthier ways to communicate with her children, where anger had previously been her natural response. Kisha is amazed to see how far Damien has come since the move, “I’m very proud to see him go from not knowing a whole lot about God other than ‘oh yeah, my mom prays, ok’ and not being able to really share anything about God, to now wanting to be a chaplain. It’s just such a big difference.”
As an eighth grader, Damien exhibited a level of wisdom far beyond his years. He recognized his need for God every day. “Of course, like all others, I am not perfect, so I do ask God every day for guidance on how I can set a future example for the school and how I can be better at the thing I’m doing,” Damien explained. Kisha shared a heartfelt message about her son, “I would tell him that I am proud of him and to never, ever take his eyes off God, because as long as he keeps his eyes on God, then he is going to do amazing things.”
Our Bluebonnet and Marshall campuses are designed to be a resource for mothers and their children. The beauty of these campuses is seen through stories like Damien and Kisha’s. Impacting multiple generations at once and igniting a beautiful light in a life that otherwise may not have had such an opportunity. Damien wanted to end his story in his own words:
“During my time being the sports chaplain for my school, I’ve had support from my mother, one of my closest friends, my teachers, my coaches and most importantly, all the families and staff members on Marshall Campus. Thank you all for being a supportive part of my journey, and thank YOU for reading my story! Stay firm in the faith and stay determined!”
For more information about the Marshall and Bluebonnet campuses, visit www.STCHM.org/campus-ministries.
