More than 400 volunteers, representing 150 churches in five states, and 39,000 people gathered in early April at Spain Park High School in Hoover for StadiumFest 2011. The second event of its kind — sponsored by the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association — led to 225 known first-time commitments to Christ.
StadiumFest had several elements to attract a crowd of all ages. There were the Bronner Burgess Playground with comic stuntman Bello and Birmingham meteorologist James Spann, a member of Double Oak Community Church, Mount Laurel, who shared the gospel. Casting Crowns, TobyMac and Kevin Derryberry performed on the main stage, bringing raised hands in worship one moment and dancing feet in praise the next. Scott Dawson and Rick Burgess, Bill “Bubba” Bussey and Calvin “Speedy” Wilburn of “The Rick & Bubba Show” also shared during the event. Several Alabama Baptist churches volunteered at the event, including North Shelby Baptist Church, Birmingham, and Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Calvin Kelly, senior pastor of Valleydale Baptist, said around 75 people from his church helped set up the main stage, sound system, lighting, video screen and concessions. “Many folks worked 12-hour days over the weekend getting (the event) ready,” he said.
Allan Murphy, pastor of North Shelby Baptist, said around 35 people from his church — including friends and family who were invited — helped with StadiumFest.
“[North Shelby] had seven (people) trained as counselors by the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association and used Billy Graham immediate follow-up materials,” he said, noting two of the church’s own made a decision to follow Christ while at StadiumFest: a 7-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl from North Shelby’s Vietnamese congregation.
“God uses various means to present the gospel,” Murphy said. “[P]eople … invited their friends to an event (not a church), and through that, the witness was born and some came to Christ.”
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