The good news of God's saving power should be preached to the football world. But it is becoming increasely difficult to get football fans to attend Christian fellowships or even church services. Yet, we can find hundreds, if not thousand, gathered in one place, in a viewing center, especially on a big match day. Such occasion should not be allow to pass, without finding a way to take the Gospel to them.
Here, let us discuss how we can successfully execute an evangelical outreach in such a big match day, in a viewing center. The question has always been, will this passionate fans listen to you before, during the game, during half time or after the game?
You dare not try to off the screen during the game to preach, you may risk being linched, even if you are the one that organised the viewing center, you dare not! So, preaching during the game is completely out of it.
What about during Half-time? Then emotions has gone high and fans are arguing as they analyse the first half and predicting what will happen at the second half. For just 15minutes, you may never succeed in getting their attention.
After the game, people are walking out of the viewing center. One group over joyous, celebrating the win of their favourite team and the other group feeling so sad, mourning the lose of the team they supported. Remember, some may have lost money on bet. You could open your self to transferred aggression if you try to preach at that point. So, when is the best time to get their attention, and to preach?
Before the match, people only start tickling into the venue few minutes before kick off time. Yet, your best opportunity is to find a way to get them to come earlier, an hour or 30 minutes before the kick off time. If can attract them to come, then you can get their undivided attention for nothing more than 25 minutes. So, you have only 25 minutes to begin and end your sermon, then, make an at altar call.
What you can do to attract fans into the viewing center, at least, 30 minutes before kick-off time?
1. Advertise Free Entry Tickets for first 30 - 50 fans that can make it to the Viewing center an hour before kick-off time.
2. Advertise A Pre-match Musical jam or futsal entertainment with free packages, an hour before kick-off time.
3. Be creative, find other ways to attract fans before kick off time.
Steps You Should Take to Ensure A Successful Outreach
1. Choose the Right Viewing Center: Look for a viewing center that attract a lot of people, then go ahead and discuss with the owner or manager and have agreement. Commit the owner by making some kind of payment and let him buy into the programme idea.
2. Prevailing Payers: Remember evangelical outreach is a spiritual warfare, you first conquer on your knees before physical success. You and your team should set prayer schedules. Perhaps, prayer deposits or prayer chain.
2. Make Banners & Flyers: design and print a very attractive banner and flyers clearly advertising the outreach date and free offers. Place banner in front of viewing center and any high traffic road near the viewing center. Go to the viewing center and share the flyers during smaller games, few days before the big match day.
3. Provide Books or Tracts: Remember, you have only short time to preach.Share Christian materials such as Rhapsody of Realities devotional or tracts to the football fans present.
4. Short Salvation Message & Altar Call: Remember you don't have all the time, prayerfully plan a salvation message not more than 15 minutes, then make an altar call!
5 Collect Data for Follow up: Collect names, contacts and mobile phone numbers for proper follow up of fans after the match day.
