Super Bowl XLIII – Tampa

Dungy, Tampa’s adopted native son, plans ministry future

TAMPA (FBW)—Tony Dungy knows what it’s like to be the first. He was the first boy born into a family of six, the first black head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory and the first NFL coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.

Mike Tomlin, Steelers’ head coach, says ‘faith is who we are all the time’
Jones a former Alabama Baptist

TAMPA (BP)—Since becoming head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers two years ago, Mike Tomlin has talked often of his appreciation and respect for former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy, who first brought him into the NFL as an assistant coach.

Cardinals’ Courtright a Miami native
Coach baptized, grew up at Wayside Baptist

TAMPA (FBW)—Stepping of the plane and breathing in the Florida air, Arizona Cardinal’s Rick Courtright said he knew he was home.

Steelers’ faith makes ‘all the difference in the world’
Bailey, Miller talk about Baptist ties

TAMPA (BP/FBW)—There was nothing quiet about NFL Super Bowl XLIII Pittsburgh Steelers’ Troy Polamalu’s witness for Jesus Christ during the annual media day Jan. 27 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Boldin, Warner outspoken champions for Jesus during media day

TAMPA (FBW/BP)—Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin has had a bittersweet year: a Super Bowl berth and a painfully broken face, causing him to miss two games.

A Super Bowl party in ‘a hard community’

YBOR CITY (BP)—At a giant pre-Super Bowl party in an impoverished neighborhood not far from Tampa’s downtown and Raymond James Stadium, a different but no less festive atmosphere prevailed at an event organizers said has been 11 years in the making.

NFL players give credibility to sports outreach

TAMPA (FBW)—With high-profile athletes like the Arizona Cardinals’ Kurt Warner and University of Florida’s Tim Tebow elevating the Gospel among sports fans, believers have come to see the “big game” as an opportune time to spread the Good News.

Tampa association features ‘Super’ rallies
From ‘God’s bail-out plan’ to ‘The Super battle for your soul,’ Luter sparks enthusiasm

TAMPA (FBW)—Amid the influx of visitors for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, the Tampa Bay Baptist Association ushered in the week with “Super Evangelism” rallies to the east, north and south of Raymond James Stadium.

Fundraiser sees game as Gospel platform
Ken Elder: ‘Don’t give up’ on non-believers

TAMPA (FBW)—While fans geared up for Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Ken Elder was already planning for Super Bowl XLIV in Miami for next year.

Tampa newspaper delivers 56,500 Bibles

TAMPA (FBW)—A 200-plus-page New Testament featuring Tony Dungy was distributed the Saturday before the Super Bowl to 56,500 subscribers of the Tampa Tribune.

Tony Dungy honored for ‘Lifetime of Inspiration’

TAMPA (BP)—The 10th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration turned into a lively, sustained tribute to recently retired Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy for his faith in Jesus Christ and his mentoring of others.

400 Years of Baptists

The First Baptist Church in America

The oldest Baptist congregation in the United States is The First Baptist Church in America at Providence, Rhode Island. First Baptist claims 1638 as its organizational date when believers met in the home of Roger Williams for prayer, worship, and fellowship.

Gambling with Florida:

‘Accidental speaker’ sees instead God’s hand in his life
Cretul says Seminole compact should remain within the law

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Rep. Larry Cretul, R-Ocala laughs at the suggestion of some that he is the “accidental speaker” of the Florida House, although he will take that high office only because of the unexpected departure of Speaker Ray Sansom.

Seminoles promise legislators $288 million for state budget

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Ratcheting up its public relations effort to seek approval of an agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist invalidated by the Florida Supreme Court last year, the Seminole Indian Tribe told legislators Feb. 2 the compact could provide the state with billions of dollars in economic development and $288 million for the 2009-2010 budget.

BF&M; Commentary

Point of View
BF&M; commentary 13: The church

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of an occasional series of commentaries examining and explaining the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention’s confession of faith.