Outdoor extravaganza events reaching state’s men, boys

A new synergy between the great outdoors and Intentional Evangelism efforts is drawing men to Baptist churches across the state in never-before-seen numbers, according to Sammy Gilbreath, director of evangelism for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
   
“The idea has caught on to take your passion and build an event around it,” he said. “Now things are popping up all over the place, like turkey-hunting tournaments, horse competitions, archery and golf tournaments and even lawn mower races.”
   
It’s new methodology but the same gospel message it’s always been, said Bill Barnett, pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church, Oneonta, in Friendship Baptist Association. “It’s like a lot of us — we came to church for a girl and found Jesus.” 
   
But at Barnett’s church, the draw isn’t a girl this time; rather it’s bowhunting, boating and black-powder guns.
   
The outdoor extravaganza event, which Barnett described as a wild-game dinner taken to the next level, is attracting the nature-loving sector of the area’s men to the doors of the church with a day of family activities.
   
For instance, at Union Hill Baptist’s event Aug. 19, men and boys may shoot shotguns and rifles in an electronic laser range, play in a golf tournament, shoot skeet, play a 3-D archery course and see a marine-police boat, a state trooper helicopter and a 200-gallon tank of game fish.
   
“This will be our second year for this event. We had a good response last year, and we hope it will be multiplied over this year,” Barnett said. “A number of men made professions of faith. Some of them were men we had been praying for for many years that had never darkened the door of the church. Now they are as active as anybody.”
   
That’s why Eric Hixon, a member of Union Hill and director of M.U.D. (Making U Disciples) Ministries, said he believes in the concept of the outdoor extravaganza. “When lost guys come and realize there’s a lot of real men — average hardworking guys — that love the outdoors who are Christians, they want to get involved.”
   
Oneonta-based M.U.D. Ministries connects churches with resources to put on such an event, Hixon said. 
   
“The state conservation department has been very gracious to help us bring in different activities for men and boys, such as shooting and laser-firing booths,” he said.
   
M.U.D. representatives bring in all the equipment for a 3-D archery shoot. They also bring in Brock Ray, host of the nationally known outdoor TV show “Better Built’s World of Outdoors,” as the guest speaker for an evening awards banquet following the day’s activities. At the banquet, Ray not only offers the opportunity to enter a drawing to go on a nationally televised “hunt of a lifetime” but also shares his testimony with those present.
   
“When people see the effect it (the outdoor extravaganza) has on their community, they want to book us year after year,” Hixon said.
   
Sam Hollis, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hayden, in Friendship Association, said his church decided to have an outdoor extravaganza Aug. 5 after seeing the success Union Hill had last year. 
   
“Men there converted and others who were inactive became active in the church again. That’s the only reason we’re doing this,” Hollis said.
   
Hayden-area men will have the opportunity to participate in activities similar to those at Union Hill’s event, plus have their mounted buck heads judged by Hixon and Ray.
   
“It’s been said that this type of event is like Vacation Bible School for men. It’s a growing type of outreach and it’s working,” Hixon said.
   
For more information about M.U.D. Ministries, visit www.mudministries.com. For more information about Intentional Evangelism, contact Gilbreath at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 245.