Coach Raymond Woodie Jr. speaking at Palm Coast United Methodist on Sunday, Aug. 30. Courtesy photo
The Bethune Cookman University Concert Chorale singing during the church service at Palm Coast United Methodist on Sunday, Aug. 30. Courtesy photo
Bethune Cookman University football player, Cole Hash read a scripture at Palm Coast United Methodist during the service held on Sunday, Aug. 30. Courtesy photo
Palm Coast United Methodist Church hosted the Bethune-Cookman University football players and choir during its service on Sunday, Aug. 30, as the church celebrated its 15th annual Football Sunday Worship.
There are typically three Football Sunday Worship events that take place yearly at Palm Coast United Methodist: the Sunday before high school students return to school, the Sunday before B-CU’s first game of the season and one for Super Bowl Sunday.
Senior Pastor Kevin James says that his church has welcomed high school football players from FPC and Matanzaz High School, as well as college players from B-CU since the conception of its Football Sunday Worship.
“The Bible even talks about sports, because the apostle, Paul, if you look at his passages, you could assume he definitely enjoyed sports,” James said. “He talked about running the race; he even talked about the wrestling arena. That we wrestle not in flesh and blood, but in principalities, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Pastor James encourages church members to come to the football Sunday events wearing their favorite team jersey, which he said unites church members as they can bond over a shared team admiration.
James said he felt blessed to have the B-CU Concert Chorale during the Aug. 30 service.
“They sing what the audience, as well as the young, contemporary audience enjoy hearing,” James said. “All people who love music and different genres of music can definitely receive the flavor of Bethune Cookman University Concert Chorale.”
The football players joined in fellowship, and B-CU head football coach Raymond Woodie Jr. took to the podium.
“He (Coach Raymond Woodie Jr.) does a greeting and thanking us for welcoming the team and also for coming out during the season, and he encourages his players to continue to be student athletes and continue to, in his words, ‘keep God first,’” James said.
Woodie Jr. has been B-CU’s head football coach since 2023. He played football at B-CU prior to playing professionally for the BC Lions, a Canadian football team. During his speech at Palm Coast United Methodist, he shared the importance of growing with one another as a team.
“You’ve been through things and you overcome diversity situations, and everything else will kind of work itself out,” Woodie Jr. said. “You can’t worry about the uncontrollable things, but you have to have faith that it’s going to get better and believe that.”
Going through hardships in life is not always a bad thing, Woodie Jr. said. It’s a way to teach us how to adapt and be better in the future.
“I tell the guys all the time to not hang on one thing, then you can’t get to that next step, so live everyday the best you can,” Woodie Jr. said. “And if you fall, you have to get back up and press even harder to turn the outcome into a better outcome."
