Connecting Believers
Once while working in her kitchen, Judy Boen got a vision of a Christian event in connection with the St. Louis (MO) Cardinals baseball team, of whom she had been a fan since childhood. She wrote the Cardinals front office management about her idea. In time they responded with an offer to meet and talk about it. Judy invited a few others, including HHH, to join her at their Busch Stadium offices. The result is a near two-decade tradition known as Christian Family Day (www.christianfamilyday.com) at Busch Stadium, a part of a Cardinals’ Saturday day game each summer. The day is divided into three parts: (1) before the game a party with games and a Chic-fil-a meal for each in a local park for sometime 3,200 inner-city children (who are given the whole day free — volunteers come to help and “love on” the children); (2) the game itself, wherein each child is given a coupon for a hot dog and a cola to enjoy during the game (efforts are made to have a one-to-five ratio of adult supervision to children); and (3) after the game those remaining gather in the stands behind the Cardinals dugout for an on-the-field Christian concert, recognition of the children, testimonies by some Christian players (Albert Pujols, etc), and a concise Bible message of salvation by a gifted young evangelist. An estimated 20,000 (including the inner-city children) attended in 2008. The Cardinals seem very happy with the CFD connection, especially since their CFD won-loss record is 16 – 2! A number of other sports venues look to www.christianfamilyday.com as a successful pattern and role model. It indeed seems to be “catching on” as a combined promotional/ministry event for professional sports teams in many parts of the country. Special Note: while a cumulative 41,000 inner-city children have received the day absolutely free through the years, the recession has also hit CFD. Limited funds in 2009 have cut the number of children being provided for in half. As I write, unless more CFD “last minute” support is received, only 1,500 can attend in 2009. Each $30 provides the day for one child. You can donate, even at the last minute, at www.christianfamilyday.com.