Souper Sunday at Unity Baptist Church

Souper Sunday at Unity Baptist Church
February 7, 2010

Every Sunday is a SUPER day to attend worship services at Unity Baptist Church, but once a year we designate one Sunday evening for our SOUPER SUNDAY services. This annual event coincides with the NFL Championships, better known as the Super Bowl, which this year featured Peyton Manning, a former UT-Knoxville football star and current quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, against his boyhood hometown and the underdog New Orleans Saints. The odds were on Manning to win his second NFL championship, so Coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and Jabari Greer (a Jackson,TN native) had nothing to lose; they left it all on the field. In the end, they defeated the Colts (31-17) to win Super Bowl 44 and take home the coveted Lombardi Trophy and returned to Bourbon Street for a pre-Mardi Gras celebration and victory parade.

Approximately 40 Unity football fans attended the Souper Bowl of Caring by donating at least one canned food item to RIFA. No other admission was charged to see the Super Bowl by satellite in the Fellowship Hall. As advertised, there was lots of hot soup to tempt the palate and even more sandwiches, cookies, fresh veggies, chips and desserts. It seems that Baptists never waste an opportunity to pack on a few more calories in the name of “fellowship.”

While most of the adult football fans were glued to the larger-than-life screen, many of the children and youth headed to the gym area for volleyball, air hockey, pool, and basketball shooting competitions. At halftime, Dr. Huggins shared a very appropriate message about “the game of life.” He challenged all of us, young and old, to live up to the name of Christian and to run with intensity the race that will end with eternity in heaven—the only final score that really matters.

Brother Bob carefully intercepted the beer commercials and other high-dollar advertisements that cost millions of dollars on this night every year. Instead, we enjoyed looking back at the highlights of activities in recent years at Unity as compiled in a slide show by Brother Scott Warren.

By the end of the evening, everyone left feeling very blessed (even if their favorite team came up short.) These special times for fun, food, and recreation are part of the warm fellowship that exists at Unity Baptist Church. Let’s don’t try to keep the Good News just for ourselves. Invite your neighbors to join us at Unity Baptist Church.

Submitted by Mary Wadley
A disappointed Colts fan