Over 30,000 people filled the University of Oklahoma’s (OU) stadium this past weekend (April 29) for “Fill The Stadium” (FTS). The event is believed to be the largest student-led evangelistic event the U.S. has ever witnessed. FTS featured Grammy award-winning artists Chance the Rapper, Chandler Moore, and Kari Jobe.
The outreach event came about after a group of OU students reached out to Pulse founder and evangelist Nick Hall last year and shared the vision they had to reach their friends with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hall exclusively told ChurchLeaders that FTS is the result of a dream those college students had to fill their campus’ iconic stadium with people so they could hear the Good News. “Their hearts are seeing their friends come to Jesus,” he said.
Hall said the students’ request to use the stadium was denied multiple times, but that it didn’t stop them from doing what God placed on their hearts, eventually leading to the university granting their request. Due to the students’ persistence, over 3,200 people gave responses to the gospel at FTS on Saturday after Hall’s message.
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Hall said the FTS ran out of the 65,000-plus tickets available for the event—all of which were free. An additional 6,000 people signed up to be on a waitlist. Event organizers only allowed 2 tickets per registrant. It appears not everyone who registered for tickets showed up, leaving some waiting outside with no chance of getting in.
OU alum, 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Baker Mayfield said, “God is moving in great, great ways in Oklahoma” during a FTS promotional video he posted on Instagram. Hall said Baker appeared virtually at the event.
@elishawoodard80 #chancetherapper #gaylordfamilyoklahomamemorialstadium #normanoklahoma #ftsou #FILLTHESTADIUM ♬ original sound – ElishaWoodard80
Another OU alum and 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, Sam Bradford, who played nine seasons in the NFL and has spoken openly about his faith, also appeared virtually during the event.
