Community-based Super Bowl events draw attention to JAX churches

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-An explosion of fireworks into the night sky over Alltel Stadium on the banks of the St. John’s River in Jacksonville heralded the end of the Super Bowl XXXIX. For New England Patriots fans, the evening was a success with their third championship in four years, scraping by with a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the losing team, there would be comfort in knowing their determination held them to an unprecedented third quarter tie.

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And for some Florida Baptists – the day ended with what a few media types and others have called an unparalleled step in taking the message of Jesus to the streets.

Thousands of volunteers, led by their own pastors and church leaders worked with Jacksonville Baptist Association’s David Garrett and the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee to work in venues in and out of the stadium. And even beyond Jacksonville, churches and associations labored together to host Super Bowl watch parties, participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring and to spark witnessing conversations.

Not everyone is comfortable with the scant attention given Garrett by The New York Times, ABC news and other media outlets, however.

Accusing Garrett and others of “needlessly intertwining sports and religion,” a columnist for the Georgetown University newspaper appeared to take exception to the involvement of those whom he caricaturized as “the religious right.”

In the column, titled “Separation of Church and Sports,” Derek Richmond made fun of the Jan. 29 Super March for Jesus, though he defended the right of NFL players both on and off the field, to express their faith.

Richmond criticized both Garrett and David Burton, director of evangelism for the Florida Baptist Convention, for talking about “Jesus,” but noted NFL sanctioned activities, like the Convoy of Hope, Athletes in Action breakfast and the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration are interdenominational and inclusive.

“But seriously, the place of religion in modern sporting events should be kept as small as possible,” Richmond argued. “The Super Bowl is not inherently a religious event. Why make it one?” he said in the column.

An NFL spokesperson, however, acknowledged the participation of faith-based organizations and churches in the many events leading to game day.

“Religion is deeply embedded in the fabric of society, particularly here in this region,” Brian McCarthy told The New York Times. “The Super Bowl often includes events that reflect the surrounding areas.”

Still, Garrett, director of family and community ministires for the Jacksonville Baptist Association, said he believes it is a believers duty to be salt and light in their community. To that end, Garrett worked to enlist nearly 2,000 volunteers to participate in a variety of venues with the Jacksonville Host Committee, and encouraged church leaders to mobilize their members to be involved in acts of kindness and of community service – and to share about their lives while doing so.

He also encouraged churches to host their own block parties or watch parties in order to be explicit in sharing the Gospel.

“I’ve been impressed with the way everyone has worked together,” Garrett told Florida Baptist Witness.

Garrett and Nick Phoenix, pastor, North Main Street Baptist Church led numerous churches to participate in an interdenominational effort to provide food, health care information, entertainment and community support at an NFL-sanctioned event, The Convoy of Hope.

Phoenix told the Witness over 100 churches were involved with about 1,000 volunteers working to serve nearly 7,000 individuals.

Twenty circus-type tents were set up in a large grassy park, where various groups, all wearing gray Convoy of Hope t-shirts spread out to cook hot dogs and other finger foods, provide hair cuts and job training advice, and sing gospel and hip hop. Some workers offered to pray with individuals about their needs, and some handed out bags of food.

“This was their Super Bowl,” Phoenix said of those gathered. “We get to live out the Gospel for them.”