Even Churches Trying To Capitalize On Super Bowl

Added on Jan 15, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

Super Bowl

By now everyone knows that the Super Bowl is more than just a game, even a ‘big game’. It has become a de facto national holiday and a very important event in a wide variety of industries from sports betting to advertising to snack foods. With Super Bowl XLV set for Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, Texas a somewhat unusual group is hoping to leverage the excitement around the big game–Dallas area churches.

A number of churches in the area are cancelling their Sunday worship services, though most are trying to put a positive spin on it and insist that its not a reaction to what would certainly be dismal attendance. The First Baptist Church of Dallas, for example, is hosting a party for young people at the church and encouraging other members to get together and watch the Super Bowl in groups. They’re giving away DVDs to be played at halftime plugging a guest appearance the following week by former Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden. Reverend Robert Jeffress states:

“We are not capitulating to, but capitalizing on the Super Bowl”

Author William Baker, who wrote a book called Playing With God: Religion and Modern Sport, suggests that other activities on Sunday aren’t viewed in the same way they used to be:

“In the ’40s and ’50s, games on Sunday were suspect in many evangelical quarters. That’s just totally out the window. Nobody worries about playing football and watching football on Sunday.”

Another event that looks to leverage the Super Bowl is the “Souper Bowl of Caring” which raises money for food banks and homeless shelters. This campaign isn’t exclusive to churches, but they often participate in it and do well in raising money and food donations.

Other initiative by churches aren’t quite as egalitarian. A Las Vegas outfit called the “X3 Church” had dubbed Super Bowl Sunday “Porn Sunday” and is hoping to use the event to bring attention to its pet cause–”pornography addiction”. Other than aggregating a big male audience, I’m not sure what the Super Bowl and porn have in common. They’ll be buying billboards in the area and holding a sermon at a local church.

Ministry founder Craig Gross says the Super Bowl “gives us the best shot at being able to send this message across the world, because all eyes are on Dallas.”

Even the NFL itself is getting on the religion bandwagon for Super Bowl Sunday. They’ve provided official sanction to the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration scheduled for the Friday night before the game. Gospel star CeCe Winans is host, and the NFL Players’ Choir is on the bill.