Amazon’s ‘God. Family. Football.’ Spotlights Christian School’s Football Season

Evangel is known among football fans as a powerhouse that has produced 14 state championships, one national title, and such well-known names as Jacob Hester (LSU, San Diego Chargers), Brock Berlin (Miami, multiple NFL teams), and current Chicago Bears wide receiver Trent Taylor. In total, 14 Evangel grads have played in the NFL.

Evangel is also known for its faith-centric mission to serve Christ.

Duron told Christian Headlines the documentary was the idea of Aaron Benward, an actor, filmmaker, and a friend of Duron. Benward is a producer on the series. 

“They just so beautifully assimilated themselves into the whole culture and the fabric of who we are,” Duron told Christian Headlines. “The kids didn’t even know the cameras were there. And it was a wonderful experience and an easy thing for all of us, really.

“We also knew that we had the great joy of just getting the message of Jesus out a little further than Evangel Christian Academy.”

Despite the football program’s prominence both statewide and nationally, Duron said the school always has placed sports third in importance, behind faith and family — just as the series title indicates. Duron paraphrased Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all of these other things shall be added.”

“If we’re looking for fulfillment, if we’re looking to have a life that is everything that we dreamed that it could be, it’s got to be God first,” he said. 

Duron came out of retirement after the program went winless in 2020 for the first time ever. 

“The Lord spoke to my heart and so clearly impressed on me that He was going to give me another harvest,” Duron said. 

Meanwhile, Duron said he wants viewers to be entertained and, more importantly, transformed by the school’s mission.

“I want everyone to have it dawned on them that there is a Lord Jesus who is alive, who wants to be intricately involved in every part and facet of your life — that they can know Jesus, and they can succeed,” Duron said.

Photo Courtesy: Amazon

Video Courtesy: Amazon Freevee via YouTube

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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