More than 30 football players at the University of Pittsburgh have recently made a personal decision to follow Christianity, marking a wave of spiritual revival within the school’s athletic department.

According to CBN, this movement, initiated five months ago by senior tight end Jake Overman through Pitt Purpose, a student-led initiative, includes weekly Bible studies, prayer meetings, and participation in national baptism campaigns.

Overman said the idea took root after he felt a strong spiritual call several months ago, hearing what he described as God’s voice encouraging him to bring revival to the campus. Motivated by this conviction, he began reaching out to local pastors to discuss the spiritual needs of student-athletes.

Pitt Purpose Launches Faith-Focused Meetings

These conversations spurred the formation of Pitt Purpose, which Overman describes as a student-driven spiritual community aiming to support and inspire athletes through the Christian faith. In just a few months, the group has grown steadily and is now attracting between 20 and 25 football players to its weekly Bible gatherings.

The faith initiative includes structured prayer meetings held regularly, where attendees have reportedly experienced what participants describe as spiritual transformations, healings, and other uncommon religious phenomena. Some athletes and students claimed to have received their “prayer language,” a reference to spiritual gifts mentioned in Christian doctrine.

Overman believes that the unique pressures facing college athletes—especially those earning money through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals—make them more receptive to seeking spiritual grounding. “We’re making sure we’re building a life on a solid foundation,” he said, emphasizing the value of faith for emotional and mental wellness.

Baptisms Signal Shift in Campus Culture

The movement gained statewide and national visibility earlier this month when several University of Pittsburgh student-athletes chose to be baptized as part of the Baptize America campaign. The initiative brought together more than 650 churches nationwide and recorded over 26,000 baptisms in June.

These Pittsburgh-area baptisms were coordinated in part by Pastor Mark Francey from Oceans Church, who is also Overman’s home pastor. Francey collaborated with local churches to facilitate the student-athlete baptisms, underscoring the campaign’s strong ties between local and national Christian leaders.

The Pitt Purpose Instagram page commemorated the event with a post expressing deep gratitude, stating the group was still “in awe” over what took place. Overman said the experience highlighted that the spiritual momentum extends beyond individual belief, becoming a community-wide transformation.

Student-Led Vision Aims for Wider Reach

Overman shared that his mission is not limited to his campus and believes that faith-based student movements like Pitt Purpose have the potential to expand to other universities and influence a broader cultural shift throughout the country.

“If God can touch a football team, then He could touch a campus… then a city… then a country,” Overman said. He attributes the movement’s momentum to younger people embracing spirituality at higher rates, suggesting there is fertile ground in this generation for revival.

While Overman plays a central role, he emphasized that the changes come from a larger divine force and not from human effort alone. “It’s just been God and His breath has been on it,” he said, describing the series of events as far-reaching and divinely guided.

Athletes Urged to Step into Leadership

Overman encourages other Christian student-athletes across the country to lead similar faith-driven movements on their campuses. He believes that one individual's decision to follow a spiritual calling can initiate a larger ripple effect across entire communities and even the nation.

“When God wants to move, He can do whatever He wants,” he said, adding that transformation can reach those struggling with isolation, illness, or mental health issues. For Overman, boldness and obedience are key ingredients in fostering long-term revival.

As the spiritual revival continues to evolve at the University of Pittsburgh, its student leaders remain focused on spiritual growth, personal transformation, and community support through a message of hope and faith. They see this as only the beginning of something much bigger.