Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Classifieds
  • Free Email Newsletter

Church’s game day breakfasts have big impact for Grove Hill community

  • January 14, 2022
  • Grace Thornton
  • Alabama News, Churches, Featured, Latest News, Sports

Church’s game day breakfasts have big impact for Grove Hill community

In cities all over Alabama, Friday night football games are one of the most beloved parts of the week. That’s certainly true for Grove Hill, where the Clarke County High School football team recently won the state 2A championship.

But for some in Grove Hill, Friday morning breakfasts have become even more beloved. That’s because ever since Grove Hill Baptist Church started feeding football players from Clarke County High and Clarke Preparatory School on game day before school, 14 players have professed new faith in Christ.

Deacon prayer

It all started last summer when the church’s deacon chairman, Bobby Keahey, proposed the idea of having a deacon at the church every day to pray about what God might have them do to reach their community. It wasn’t long before one of those deacons, Brandon Garrick, felt God begin to lay something specific on his heart.

“When I was growing up and playing ball in school, we always had a church that did that outreach and would always invite the football players to eat breakfast every Friday morning,” Garrick said.

He mentioned it to a friend — Eric Neel, defensive coordinator at Clarke County High — and Neel told him there wasn’t anything like that for the players.

“Some moms used to do it, but there wasn’t anyone feeding them on game day these days,” Garrick said.

Making a plan

Garrick and Neel, a fellow church member at Grove Hill Baptist, put their heads together with Kyle Routzahn, senior pastor, and Austin Bedwell, student pastor, and came up with a plan. They invited football players from both schools, recruited people to share devotions each week and figured out how to feed breakfast to as many as 100.

Some of the senior adult members of the church helped out, providing fresh eggs, Routzahn said.

The first week they had around 45 players. Soon, they were averaging 80 to 90 each Friday morning, including cheerleaders and band members.

Along the way they saw God work, Routzahn said. He shared his own testimony with the players of meeting Jesus while in rehab at age 25. Garrick also shared his testimony of coming to faith at 26. Jeremiah Castille, who played in the NFL in the 1980s, spoke one Sunday and they invited the football teams to the service.

Along the way, Routzahn said he could see God “was disarming them.”

Garrick saw the same thing happening. Many of the players had never been regular church attendees, but he had conversations with several who were ready to give their lives to Christ. When Routzahn shared the gospel, 14 football players responded.

Leaders got each player who attended the breakfasts a study Bible with his name and number on it.

Garrick said all this had nothing to do with them — “first it had to do with prayer; our deacons started praying and God started moving.”

And it kept going.

Keeping on

As both teams got into the playoffs, the breakfasts continued. Clarke Prep lost out in the first round, but Clarke County High kept winning. They’d win, and Grove Hill would host another breakfast. Garrick said he thinks it was a “God thing” that they kept winning, so the breakfast outreach could keep going.

He said the players agreed — even mentioning it in news interviews after they won the state championship game in December.

“As they spoke after the game, the first thing they said is, ‘The only reason we’re here is because of God,’” Garrick noted. “The kids were saying God didn’t want that ministry to stop. I truly believe that state game and that season we just had with that football team, that it was a God thing.”

Garrick said it’s been a blessing to watch the students grow spiritually and see outreach grow. He said it’s also been a blessing to see the way it’s brought the two schools together.

“When Clarke County rolled out of town on the buses, Clarke Prep was standing out on the road cheering for them as they left,” he recalled.

Taking notice

Routzahn said the community is taking notice too, and a number of people have invested in the ministry with donations. The mother of one of the players stopped one of the deacons one day in the store and said her son had been coming to the breakfasts. 

“She told him, ‘Please keep doing what you’re doing,’” Routzahn recounted.

Right now they’re working on doing breakfasts for the basketball teams and other sports at the schools.

Bedwell said he’s been thrilled about the opportunity to have an inlet.

“We’re always looking for ways to reach them, and I had no idea how big of an impact such a simple idea could make,” he said.

Seeing a change

Stacy Luker, head coach at Clarke County High, said after the ministry started “you could just see a change in the players — a lot of them — for the better.”

“I just really appreciate what Grove Hill Baptist has done with our kids and our school,” he added. “It’s been a neat thing to watch.”

Routzahn said it’s been a big encouragement for the church, which has been looking for what God has for them in this post-pandemic season.

“It started with prayer,” he asserted. “And I would recommend it to anyone who thinks it’s something they could do in their own community.”

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • China closes three college campus ministries
    China closes three college campus ministries
    June 4, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    Ripple effects: Supporting women who evangelize families
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    Meadow Brook Deaf ministry unites believers in worship, outreach
    June 3, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

‘Biggest supporter and biggest critic’: Indy racer’s ‘momager’ reflects on God’s provision since the beginning

May 14, 2023

Kimmie Serrano expects to spend Mother’s Day weekend like she spends a lot of others — cheering on her favorite

Birmingham Squadron faith and family night brings in churches, highlights community efforts of organization

May 9, 2023

Squadron, a G-league professional basketball team affiliated with the New Orleans Pelicans, is more than a group of basketball players

‘Super grateful’: Faith-driven Alabama quarterback Bryce Young selected first in NFL draft

May 1, 2023

Former University of Alabama quarterback and outspoken Christian Bryce Young was the No. 1 selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

UM Master of Athletic Training program announces CAATE accreditation

April 14, 2023

The Master of Athletic Training program at the University of Mobile has officially been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 The Alabama Baptist, Inc.
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Archived: Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcasts
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel