Wild game feasts reach unchurched hunters, friends

CALLAHAN (FBW)-Several Florida churches have capitalized on their members’ love of hunting and fishing to attract sportsmen to church events where hunting and fishing tales are mixed with Gospel presentations. First Baptist Church, Callahan, and Green Pond Baptist Church, Polk City, recently hosted crowds of hunting enthusiasts, while other Florida churches plan to host similar events this year.

Leaders of both churches told Florida Baptist Witness the hunters’ events are among their largest evangelistic outreaches.

First Baptist Church, Callahan

"You’ll never see more four-wheel drive trucks in one place," a parking lot attendant quipped to pastor Lynn Hyatt Jan. 22, as they watched 1228 men gather for the northeast Florida church’s fourth annual "Beast Feast." Some in the crowd drove from as far away as Brunswick, Ga.

"We were in awe of the response," Hyatt said of the crowd, which almost doubled last year’s attendance,

According to minister of education, Cliff Ryan, in a community with three traffic lights, 1,228 men is quite a gathering. In a church averaging 700 in Sunday School, Feast organizers know that well over half of those attending were not members.

"This meeting was never planned for Christian hunters. It has always been in our pastor’s heart to bring in unchurched men in our community," Ryan told Florida Baptist Witness.

The men registered for door prizes provided by dozens of businesses. The sportsmen feasted on meat — deer, fish and antelope — donated by hunters in the church. Church buildings were adorned with animal mounts, worth more than $750,000, on loan from the North Florida Chapter of the Safari Club.

Joey Hancock, a writer for Christian Sportsman’s Magazine and pro staff member of the Outdoor TV Channel’s "Adventure Bound Outdoors," told stories of his own turkey hunting experiences. At the end of the evening 224 men responded to the invitation, 121 inquiring about salvation and 103 re-committing their lives to Christ.

Hyatt said the idea of the Beast Feast came as Florida Baptist Convention director of evangelism strategy Don McCutcheon introduced him to intentional evangelism.

"I wondered how I could use my own love of the outdoors to minister to lost men," said Hyatt. "My passion is to reach men. If we can reach daddy, we can reach the family"

Green Pond Baptist Church, Polk City

On the edge of the Green Swamp Management Area, where the state manages wildlife, Green Pond Baptist Church is located 10 miles north of Polk City and is the only church within a ten mile radius.

"We are uniquely positioned for this ministry," pastor Claude Walker told Florida Baptist Witness. "We wanted to create an atmosphere where God can work with men who will come to this event when they would not come to anything else."

The congregation’s third annual Wild Game Dinner, which annually attracts more men than the church building can hold, was held Feb. 7 in a large tent behind the church. Hunters drove to the church from Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando, Clermont, Auburndale, Plant City and Polk City. Of the 525 men and boys attending, 23 indicated they had made a profession of faith during the event.

According to Walker, these professions of faith are the "sole purpose of the event. When God shows up, something wonderful happens."

Members of the church, which averages 85 in Sunday School, and local businesses provided the mealwhich featured a sample table containing deer, turkey and fish. The main meal was barbecued wild pork "with all the fixin’s."

Hunters could test their skills on a shooting range and casting pool with BB guns and reels provided by the church. The church also provided special hunting-related programs for boys aged 7-13.

Lee McBride, a comedian and musician from Pearson, Ga., spun yarns as part of the evening’s entertainment along with the gospel bluegrass band Never Fade. One of the highlights of the evening was the annual "Blessing of the father on the son," during which grandfathers, sons and grandsons stood arm in arm, hands on shoulders as prayers were offered for blessings on the sons.

Walker, who says he "has been known to go to the woods every once in a while," credits God with the success of the event. "It is God’s work. We work, but we trust God for the result," said Walker.

• Pine Terrace Baptist Church, Milton, will host a Sportsmen's Spectacular March 6 at 5 p.m., at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. For ticket information, call 850-478-3316.

• Moultrie Baptist Church, St. Augustine, will hold a Wild Game Feast March 13 at 2 p.m. For more information, call pastor Steve Smartt, 904-797-9005.

• Chipola Baptist Association is planning a Wild Game Luncheon at Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center in Marianna April 24 at noon. Director of mission Coba Beasley has asked each church to provide one wild game dish for the event. For more information, call 850-526-4050.