Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Matthew West/KJ-52 to Headline Faith and Family Night at the KC Royals

By Alan Goforth | Metro Voice

 

Instead of being satisfied with an occasional base hit, Scott Dawson encourages Christians to swing for the fences.

“We are the body of Christ,” said Dawson, founder of Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association in Birmingham, Ala. “Let’s be part of something that is bigger than ourselves.”

Dawson and his team were in Kansas City last month to promote the upcoming Faith & Family Night at Kauffman Stadium. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, after the Royals play the Cleveland Indians.

“Maybe some people won’t come to a church service, but they will come to a baseball game,” he said.” Make this a group opportunity for your church to reach your community for Christ. That’s why we are here.”

Matthew West, winner of the American Music Award for favorite contemporary inspirational artist, and Dove Award winner KJ-52 will perform after the game. In addition, several players from both teams will share their testimonies, and Dawson will present a clear gospel message.

“At this event, it’s not going to be about a bait-and-switch,” he said. “It’s going to be about the gospel of Jesus Christ. If it’s just a one-day event, it will start and stop. Instead, let’s start this as a process. Let’s pray that this will be an opportunity to bring a God-consciousness to Kansas City.”

The event has attracted large crowds and positive feedback in the past two seasons. “Both years, we have had people come to know Christ not only in Kansas City but from 18 different states,” Dawson said. “We have seen many people who just showed up for a ballgame leave with a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Because it is on a Saturday night, the game will begin at 6:10 p.m. Tickets are available at discounted prices ranging from $11 to $34. Regardless of the ticket price, all fans can move to open seating on the field level following the game.

Another way to get involved is to counsel people who respond to Dawson’s message. Two training sessions are scheduled for counselors:

• 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 24 at Lenexa Baptist Church.

• 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 25 at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes national headquarters in Kansas City.

Faith & Family Night is a good way for churches, youth groups or families to enjoy an evening of unbeatable entertainment and fellowship. However, Dawson reminds Christians that above everything else, it is designed to present the good news in a non-threatening environment.

“I want to challenge everyone to not just let this be `our event’,” he said. “There are men and women, boys and girls who are screaming spiritually that they need to be saved. Don’t lose confidence in the power of Jesus Christ. ”

Tickets are available at the Kauffman Stadium box office or online at www.royals.com/faithandfamily. For groups of 20 or more, contact the Royals group sales department by phone at (816) 504-4040, option 4, or online at groupsales@royals.com.

Additional information is available at www.safeathomeministries.org.