Some 140 children were brought to the water’s edge for a chance to catch catfish during Team Jesus Ministries (TJM) Mobile 2000 Fishing Weekend May 20-21. But organizers said fishing was only a means to an end.
“I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for us to minister to children,” said Brent Rawson, minister to students at First Church, Satsuma, who served as local director of the children’s events. “Some of these kids and their families don’t go to church anywhere.”
Children were split into two groups, with one fishing while the other was entertained by the professional Christian clown troupe “A-men Alley.” Clown Tony “Junior” Jones said the group is a ministry of First Church in Social Circle, Ga., with clowns doing face painting following their performances.
Casting a hook
“We’re trying to give kids an alternative to all that garbage that’s out there,” said Terry Chupp, longtime Bassmaster pro bass fisherman and founder/president of TJM. “If we can get kids hooked on fishing, chances are they will not get hooked on drugs, alcohol, tobacco and all the other garbage.
“Once they get hooked on fishing, that puts them in a position to meet the greatest fisherman that ever lived — the Lord Jesus Christ,” Chupp said. “That’s what we’re trying to do through this — to reach the world through pro fishing.”
The event also included a cookout, Christian music and children’s sermon by Jim Robinson, children’s minister at Cottage Hill Church, Mobile, with 13 children accepting Christ as their Savior.
Besides Chupp, on hand for TJM were Bassmaster pro anglers Shaw Grigsby, Dalton Bobo and Ricky McFarlin.
“I’m very pleased with the turnout and pleased to see all these kids involved,” said Lambert Mims, a TJM local committee member.
“It’s a joy to see them actually catch a fish and hear about the Lord as we go along — that’s what it’s all about, bringing them to know the Lord,” said Mims, who is also director of men’s ministry with the Mobile Baptist Association.
Though many children in attendance were unchurched, others are strongly involved in local churches of various denominations.
“I had fun fishing; the clowns were funny and it was a fun time, said 10-year-old Katherine Pepper, who worships at West Mobile Chris-tian Center.
The daughter of Harvey and Mattine Pepper of Mobile, Pepper said she hadn’t fished in a long time, but might try it more often.
The event also offered a witnessing opportunity for children living outside Mobile, like Daniel Winemiller, 11, who was in the area from Winston-Salem, N.C. The youth was in Mobile with his father, evangelist Kevin Winemiller, who was preaching at First Church, Foley.
“For him to come here and be a part of this is quite a big deal,” Kevin Winemiller said. “He was a Romanian orphan, and we adopted him in 1994 (when he was five years old).” (TAB)
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