James carries Jesus

Chance James, 18, was a member of Flomaton High School's 2018 championship football team, but the 2019 FHS graduate had other mountain's to climb, which included his love and devotion to Jesus Christ.

This past Saturday, James put a cross on his back and began a walk from the Atmore Country Club to the parking lot of Flomaton High School. He said he didn't realize it at the time, but the walk down Highway 31 from Atmore to the high school was 17 miles – the number he wore as a member of the Hurricane football team.

James said he's always followed Jesus, but had probably drifted.

“I went to a men's meeting with my dad at a new church,” he said. “I pretty got re-saved. I've always been saved, but a little fell away.”

Now a Loxley resident, James said he carried the cross from Atmore to Flomaton to show God he was serious.

“I wanted to end in Flomaton,” he said. “I started at the golf course about 5:45 a.m. and ended up in Flomaton at 1 p.m. When I realized it was 17 miles long, it was a sign.”

He said as word spread Saturday about his journey someone painted the number 17 along the highway that he saw as he entered the Flomaton Town limits by the welcome sign.

He said he was stopped at least eight times along his journey, once by a Mexican who saw him, turned around and prayed with him on the side of the road.

He said another man from Atmore saw him along the road and stopped and asked him why? He said it was for his love of Jesus.

He said the man told him he'd had some conflicts and said God would give him a sign.

“He said I was the sign,” James said. “We prayed together and both cried.”

“It's a good way to let people know that Jesus loves them,” James said.

In addition to those who stopped and prayed, he said he had multiple vehicles pass by him honking their horns and giving him a 'thumbs up'.

James was reunited with his family in the parking lot in front of Flomaton High School after taking a journey he felt was deep in his heart.