Christians do that because God’s Word commands us to love and respect others. Jesus demonstrated reaching out to those the religious leaders avoided. The parable of the good Samaritan challenged those leaders, and still challenges Christians today, to see people differently. But is there a current example of reaching out to the unreachables and making a difference? Do kids really “get it?”

In 2008, Faith Christian School played a football game that turned into a tradition. That year their schedule included a match with Gainesville State School—a school for kids with convictions for drugs, assault and robbery. Many families of the Gainesville students had little to do with them; some had even disowned those kids. Kris Hogan, coach of the Faith Lions, began to consider the question, “What would give them the most hope?” And God gave Coach Hogan a plan.

Something special happened in November 2008. High school students who felt completely alone in the world experienced how it feels to be encouraged and loved. When parents and fans from the Faith Christian School walked across the field to cheer for them, it was life changing. It was a strange experience for boys who most people cross the street to avoid. One of their players said, “It was just that feeling we had … that God was letting us know that there are people out there who care about us, even though they don’t even know us. They wanted to love us like their own kids.”