wfn.org | Church serves up 'Real Halftime' show for Super Bowl fans

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Feb. 2, 2000        News media contact: Tim Tanton·(615)742-5470·Nashville,
Tenn.     10-71B{042}

By Andy Ellis*

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (UMNS) - As the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans
attempted to get their offenses on the right track during the first half of
the recent Super Bowl, the television ministry at Frazer Memorial United
Methodist Church was preparing to put viewers of the "big game" on track to
a relationship with Christ.

For the last four years, the church has produced the "Real Halftime" show,
featuring local ministers and special guests who blend discussion of the
first half's action with the importance of living a Christ-centered life.
The live show runs on the church's television station and is broadcast to
residents of Montgomery and surrounding counties. The station is a part of
three cable television systems.

"'The Real Halftime' show is basically an effort to reach those who need to
be introduced to Christ. It offers a meaningful alternative to seeing Tina
Turner or a Disney production," said Frazer Family Minister John Schmidt,
who hosted the 25-minute show on Jan. 30. Schmidt hosted the show in the
absence of Frazer Senior Minister John Ed Mathison, who is among 80 church
members currently in Israel.

Joining Schmidt were Jay Wolfe, pastor of Montgomery's First Baptist Church,
Frazer member Mark Jackson, who serves as the assistant state director for
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and Brian Pavlikc, a junior at
Montgomery's Trinity High School.

Sports provides a valuable opportunity for faith-sharing because the United
States is a "sports crazy" society, Jackson said.

"A survey conducted several years ago found that 94 percent of people living
in the U.S. said that they were impacted by sports on a daily basis," he
said. "That figure means that the vast majority of people in this country
either play sports, watch sports, are involved in coaching or have children
playing sports. Sports is a big platform for sharing the gospel, and as
Christians, we need to take advantage of that platform."

This year's show featured a videotaped testimony by University of Alabama
running back Shaun Alexander, the Southeastern Conference Player of the
Year. Alexander, a Kentucky native, set several Alabama records last season
and was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to college football's
best player, until a midseason injury forced him to sit out a game. 

In the video, Alexander credited his mother with giving him the desire to
share his faith and to acknowledge openly that his talents were a gift from
God. Offering thanks to God in post-game interviews became a trademark of
the quiet, humble running back, who also led teammates and players from
opposing teams in prayer following games.

An active member of the FCA, Alexander met Pavlikc during one of the
organization's camps for high school athletes. It was there that Pavlikc
gave his life to Christ as the result of Alexander's testimony and
influence.

Pavlikc shared the life-changing moment on the broadcast and discussed the
difference God has made in his life.

"This meant a lot," Pavlikc said of the opportunity to share his testimony
on the show. "It is real important to me to share my faith with others.
Shaun (Alexander) opened his heart to me, and that has led me to want to
open my heart to others."

The halftime show wrapped up with Wolfe presenting the plan for salvation
and prayer. 

While the number of viewers who tuned into the presentation was not
immediately known, the church's Sunday morning worship telecast regularly
draws an audience of close to 35,000 people. In addition to worship
services, the church's television schedule includes a variety of devotional
and informational shows produced in-house along with some national Christian
programming.

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*Ellis is director of communications for the Alabama-West Florida Annual
Conference.

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United Methodist News Service
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