Super Bowl Parties Bring Churches Together, Invite People In

Super Bowl Parties Bring Churches Together, Invite People In | [View online]( [Give Now]( Advertisement [Local Church Outreach]( [CT Pastors]( [Subscribe]( [More on Outreach]( Wednesday, February 6, 2019 Super Bowl Parties Bring Churches Together, Invite People In Churches in Decatur, Illinois—and all over the country—hosted gatherings this Sunday to [watch the Super Bowl]( together. While all provided snacks and a front-row seat for the game, not all churches hosted these events for the same reason. Some, like New Vision Urban Ministries Church, saw it as an opportunity to gather the church community together: Jared Bohland, the church’s Men’s Minister, said the main thing is gather the church family to enjoy experiences together that don’t have to have “Evangelism” with a capital E hanging over them. He said the point is that the church is a family that does things together and enjoys its own company, even when the game is on. Others, like the First Church of the Nazarene, viewed their party as more of an outreach event: Scott Chapman, who was acting as emcee of the church "Souper Bowl Party", said the idea is offer something for everyone to enjoy, including the game, alternative games, plus lots of food and fellowship. “And our party is open to anyone, you don’t have to go to church here,” added Chapman, 50. “It’s a nice, family environment where everybody is just here to have some fun.” What did your church do this year? If you hosted a Super Bowl party, did you use it as a fun gathering for the existing community or as a community outreach event (or both)? [Who Worries About Hell the Most?]( On a very different note, researchers from Baylor University recently conducted [a study]( about the psychological consequences of belief in hell. Here are a few of their surprising findings: The more religious an individual was, the less likely they were to display hell anxiety. Unhealthy fears were not related to dogmatism or religious fundamentalism. Free will, or the idea individuals have control over where they will spend their afterlife, was a key element in reducing hell anxiety. … Overall, the results suggested [belief in hell should not be considered a pathological fear,]( “but is perhaps a rational response to personal theological” beliefs, researchers concluded. [Regular Church Attenders Happier, Healthier]( Finally, you’ll probably be glad to hear that, according to a Pew Research Center [report](, an active faith is associated with healthier choices and happier lives. According to a Christianity Today [article]( on the report, Among Americans who identify as Christian or another religious tradition and attend services at least once a month, 85 percent don’t smoke, compared to 74 percent of the religiously unaffiliated and 72 percent of those who attend services less often. … Religious attendance—rather than religious affiliation—consistently linked to higher levels of happiness than the growing population of people around the globe who claim no faith. “You’ll be healthier and happier” probably isn’t the best reason to entice people to your church services (church attendance isn’t merely a replacements for a gym membership), but it is nice to know that an active faith is linked with habits like nonsmoking, community involvement, and voting. [Kyle Rohane] [Kyle Rohane] [Kyle Rohane](mailto:krohane@christianitytoday.com) Editor, CT Pastors Advertisement More from CT Pastors [Is a Fast-Growing Church a Blessing or a Curse?]( [Is a Fast-Growing Church a Blessing or a Curse?]( Not everyone shouted for joy when the Lord added to our number. Eugene C. Scott [Read More]( [The Myth of Inevitable Growth]( [The Myth of Inevitable Growth]( Not all healthy churches grow numerically—and that's okay. Karl Vaters [Read More]( [Should a Church Set Goals?]( [Should a Church Set Goals?]( 5 reasons, despite the resistance, to set goals rather than merely to make plans. Scott Scruggs [Read More]( Related Newsletters [CT Pastors Newsletter]( Each weekly CT Pastors issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. 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