WOODLAWN--One Hope, One Dream, One Way: A Review

The true story of high school football coach Tandy Gerelds, a star running back, and the healing of a city.

Gloried Be They Who Strive for the Equality of All Mankind. The mural on the old Woodlawn schoolhouse proclaimed equality, but in the 1960s Birmingham, there was nothing equal about the student body of Woodlawn High School,

When the Jesus Movement hit the scene in the tumultuous seventies, a new chaplain came to Woodlawn High. Hank Erwin challenged Tony Nathan-the football team’s star running back-“to run with a purpose” and help bring his divided team together.

In the 1974 football game of the season, Coach Tandy Gerelds led the Woodlawn Colonels as they played the Banks Jets. Two football heroes faced each other: African American running back Tony Nathan and Caucasian quarterback Jeff Rutledge, Forty-two thousand fans crammed into the stadium for the big game. In the end, Banks won the game, but the bigger win was for the city of Birmingham and for the coaches, players and families who witnessed what teamwork and fighting for a greater cause can do to heal a city.

When you read this true story you will become acquainted actually with two Chaplains that worked with the Woodlawn football team.  Wales Goebel, a new Christian who came to the coach and asked to be able to speak to the football team. He told his story of becoming a Christian and how it changed his life. Then he gave an altar call to the 48 football players and that evening 44 of them gave their hearts to the Lord.  The Coach did not.

However soon as he watched how now his players black and white were happy and got along with each other and played better, he told God I want what my kids have, and he gave his heart to the Lord.

I was inspired to learn that when they went to play the Jets, they invited the Jets team to a church so they could share their experience with Jesus and how that had made them the team that they had become.

Click here to read more about this amazing story and then be sure and get the book as well as the DVD and  read and watch and be inspired.