Coach Joe Kennedy still looks back with bewilderment at how a 30-second post-game prayer sparked a cultural battle that ultimately led to a Supreme Court case. Kennedy won the case, winning support from many critics and inspiring countless Christians around the world. Still, Kennedy marvels that his act of defiance — praying after being told to stop — changed America's legal system.
“It was a very simple thing,” Kennedy told Crosswalk Headlines.[Prayer has] It's something that's been going on since ancient times.”
He said he had no interest in stirring up controversy, but “God had other plans.”
On October 11th, a movie depicting Kennedy's legal battles was released.Average Joeis coming to theaters. Based on the book of the same name, it follows Kennedy, a principled man who spent time in foster care and 20 years in the Marines before preparing for the legal battle that ultimately cost him his job as an assistant coach for the Bremerton High School football team in Washington state.
Contrary to popular belief, Kennedy had a lot of support in the community, not just from parents but also within the team, but his critics were loud and powerful.
Kennedy began his coaching career after watching a faith-based football film in 2006. Confronting the Giants The film was directed by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. The movie inspired him to pray. From that moment on, he made a “contract with God” to give glory to God after every game, win or lose.
“We would pray for about 30 seconds after every game, home or away. It went on for eight years,” Coach Kennedy said of the post-game prayer at the 50-yard line. “The kids wanted to know if they were going to play. [and join]And of course I told them this was a free country, and sometimes they said it, but sometimes they didn't. [pray]”
Soon players from other teams joined in the prayer, turning Kennedy's low-key gesture into a mass event. Moved by this show of faith and unity, someone from another school district contacted Kennedy's principal.
“It all started with a compliment,” Kennedy said.
The exchange prompted lawyers to launch a full investigation, raising concerns that Kennedy might have violated rules that prohibit staff from encouraging or discouraging prayer. At first, lawyers and administrators told Kennedy to stop praying with players. Kennedy complied and resumed praying alone.
“Then somebody else started a fuss,” he said. “The lawyers thought it would be best if I stopped praying altogether and moved somewhere else to pray in private.”
Kennedy continued to pray on the football field. He was eventually fired and the controversy caused rifts in the family.
“My wife was the human resources director for the school district, so you can imagine she was in the middle of this and taking criticism from both sides,” Kennedy said. “She felt isolated and alone, and we were on the verge of divorce over this.”
Brother Kendrick's act of kindness saved their marriage.
“We were ready to break up,” Kennedy said, “and I was getting ready to walk out the door and then I got a video from Brother Kendrick. [They were] Standing at the 50-yard line where the shooting took place Confronting the GiantsAnd he said, “Coach, I know you and your wife are going through a tough time right now, and I just want to encourage you.”
“We ended up just sitting there watching the video,” he added. “We cried in each other's arms for like an hour. … In that moment, we were healed and two people became one. It was an amazing miracle that happened at just the perfect moment. … I don't even know how they got my phone number.”
Kennedy sued the school district but lost in district and appeals courts. In 2022, she won the case in a landmark Supreme Court decision that found the school district's actions violated her religious freedom and free speech. The decision overturned the so-called Lemon test, a doctrine that courts have used in religion cases since 1971 and that has often been cited to restrict religious freedom.
Kennedy wants his story and the movie Average Joe To inspire others.
“God wants to tell the rest of the world, and the American people, something. [need] Wake up and understand the meaning of the First Amendment and respect freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of religious belief. [of religion]”If you don't exercise it, you end up losing it,” he said.
“We have more religious freedoms and rights today than we have in the last 50 years.”
Kennedy no longer coaches at a high school level, instead traveling the country encouraging others to “stand up for what's right and do the right thing.”
“Life isn't all roses. There are going to be tough times and there are going to be hard times,” he said.
His story, he said, is that ordinary people can make a lasting difference.
“If this man could change a country with one simple act of faith, imagine what our country could accomplish,” he said, referring to himself, “So I hope people are inspired and ready to stand up and fight, to be bold in their faith, to be bold as Americans.”
Watch: Average Joe – Official Teaser Trailer (2024)
Photo credit: ©Fathom
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
