Promises

God made a promise to Steve Fertick at age 16 that he would pastor a church.

Steve went on to college and asked to live in the football dorm. Steve was a Christian but not a football player and he wanted to bring the football players to know Christ

He tried to meet the guys on his floor but wasn’t making any progress on building relationships with the football players.

He and his roommate decided to start buying food every week and give it free to the football players. The football players gradually started showing up at his room late at night to eat the free food.

Steve thought that the first batch of food he bought would last for a week but it only lasted a few days. Even though he didn't have much money he spent every spare dollar on buying food but still there were no converts.

He started to become discouraged and then one night one of the football players stopped by to talk. He told Steve that everyone always wanted something from the football players but Steve was the first to not ask them for anything but to give them something.

This guy came to know Jesus. He then began to bring other players to talk to Steve and they also came to know Jesus.

One night he brought a player by to meet Steve and as he headed to the refrigerator he said, “Hey Steve, tell Anton he’s gonna go to hell!” There was some laughter because of the way he told the story but we could recognize the truth as the football players were now beginning to trust Steve and they knew what he was about.

After college, Steve approached some people about starting a church. Eight families agreed. They didn’t know where they would locate but knew it would be somewhere in the Southeastern US. They continually prayed and asked God. Eventually they located in Charlotte, NC, and called the church Elevation Church.

The message that Steve, who is under 30, consistently reinforced was don’t give up on what God promises you.