Church makes room for God and football

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's not uncommon to see Atlanta Falcons jerseys at this church service.

And when parishioners finish praising God on game days, some walk over to the Georgia Dome to do a little more shouting -- but this time for the home team.

Founded in 2007, the Impact Church of Atlanta began holding services at the Georgia World Congress Center earlier this year. Now the church markets itself as the "best pre-game experience" in town.

It's part of their "Impact Game Plan" strategy, which capitalizes on their close proximity to the Georgia Dome.

The idea is simple. Anyone not wanting to miss Sunday service can come to Impact and get out in enough time to tailgate and catch the game.

The leadership makes sure to acknowledge those visitors and members planning to attend the game.

"How many Falcons fans in the audience today?" asks Olu Brown, lead pastor during Sunday's 10 a.m. service. "We hope your coming here today is a blessing."

On home game days, the church holds one service instead of two.  And those who are headed to the game do not have to worry about additional parking charges.

Not long after Sunday’s service, support pastor Edwin Turnipseed was inside the Georgia Dome tweeting from his seat.

About 200 people attended worship service at the  Sidney Marcus Auditorium for a little less than two hours Sunday. As the praise team sang hymns and songs of praise, congregants stood or sat, singing along. Some wore Falcons jerseys, while others wore jeans and a sweater. Others donned their Sunday best.

After music, a video presentation, and offering, the pastor delivered his message.

As he preached, Brown took a plastic star and buried it in a bucket of dirt to symbolize "the one who buried his talent."

" So many of us are getting by on just enough. And not just financially," he said, "But some of us are experiencing lean times spiritually. Some have never felt so separated from God before."

This Sunday's message: Whenever you take the blessings of God and cover them up, you diminish the blessing God has given you.

"If I have got one arm I'm gonna use it to the glory of God," he said.

On some Sundays, church-goers can also find something unconventional at Impact, including creative arts performances and skits. As service got underway on a recent home game Sunday, a group of men and women, dressed in jerseys and played flag football on stage, Turnipseed said.

“It is a non-traditional approach to the worship experience with a relevance to the gospel and application to the quality of life,” Turnipseed said. “At the end of the day, our commitment is on making sure everyone has what they need to hit a home run in life.”