Fall and football in Alabama are hard to beat. Whether it be high school or Southeastern Conference (SEC), football takes precedence in many Alabama Baptists’ lives until early December. One church staff member even revealed that his church’s activity schedule revolves around the SEC football schedule.
It is a fact of life that football thrives. And with so many people interested in the gridiron, Tuscaloosa Baptists decided football provides a perfect arena to plant seeds of the gospel.
Jerry Wilkins, director of missions for Tuscaloosa Association, found an avenue to evangelism through GamePlan, The Alabama Baptist’s annual special issue devoted to sports evangelism. In 1999 he initiated a 40,000 special run of the four-page piece that included a special message from the Tuscaloosa Association.
“This project is headed up by the evangelism council of the association,” Wilkins noted. “It is part of our strategy to sow the seed in every life in the county.”
Between 30 and 40 volunteers from churches in the association circled Bryant-Denny Stadium (across the street from the stadium) and handed out GamePlan at three University of Alabama home football games last year.
“We were excited about it,” he said. “And the people seemed to love getting it.
“The design of this piece is exceptional,” Wilkins noted. “It does not come across so religious and people are much more receptive to receive it.”
Wilkins said they would point out a particular sports figure to the people and say something like, “Read about Shaun Alexander while waiting on the game to start.
“The content is such … it makes the people want to read it, and they read the gospel before they realize it,” he said. “I think our evangelism council would say that any church that wants to sow seeds should jump on this piece.
“It is readymade to hand out at any sporting event,” Wilkins noted.
GamePlan is complete with testimonies, photographs and an easy-to-follow, sports-related plan of salvation. There also is space to place an address label or church label to indicate who is providing the piece. GamePlan can be used a variety of ways such as handed out at sporting events, given to youth at fifth quarter events or used in church outreach packets.
The cost is 25 cents each plus postage with a minimum order of 20. The deadline to order is Aug. 21. Special runs, such as what Tuscaloosa Association did, are also available.
With a minimum order of 10,000, a church, association or group can have GamePlan printed with their particular information in the issue. The Alabama Baptist has to approve the information printed in the personalized versions of GamePlan and reserves the right to refuse any order. The cost depends on the number ordered.
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