Alabama football and ministry; they both should have a lot in common. Really? Well, at least one thing. I didn’t realize it until last Saturday while I was sitting at the game – high in the upper deck with my son. As i was watching the Bama pregame rituals, i was struck at how professional everything was. Everything was done with such excellence. Now i have been to a lot of Bama games in my lifetime, and it was not always this way, but it hit me hard on this game day. Everything was perfect; the color of the grass on the field, the striping, the logos, the lettering in the end zones, the graphics and videos on the jumbo-trons, the publications, and the signage. Everything was so neat and clean – even the paint job at the concession stands and the restrooms. Everything was so organized and everyone was, yeah, friendly and helpful: from the security personel and ticket takers at the gate, to the supervisors directing the maintinance and cleaning crews who were mopping up water before the game. The pregame ceremony, the videos, the uniforms of the Million Dollar Band, the music that was harmonious and right on cue, the recognitions, and the introductions. It was all so, so, well, it was just perfect. Everything flowed so smoothly as if everything had been rehearsed a million times. I was thinking “Wow, this is really nice - who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Bama Nation?” You could tell that everyone, from the administration and officials of the University, to the guy checking the bathrooms, takes a lot of pride in what they are doing and what is being presented to the 100,000 guest. Nothing was sloppy, nothing was done ‘half-way’, and no detail was overlooked. I am a very analytical person by nature and i was looking hard to find a stone that was left un-turned, and i could not find anything that was not done with excellence.
Now i know what you are thinking this very moment; U of A has money to do this! Not everyone has the resources that a major university has! What ministry has several hundred million dollar donors?? Very few, if any. But that is no reason to not do what we do for God with excellence. The bible has a lot to say about that, in fact. Just read Eccl. 9:10, Proverbs 21:5, Colossians 3:17. 1 Corinthians 14:4 says that everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. No, everything cannot always look like a million bucks, and we don’t always have every resource available to us, but we should take more pride in what we do and what we are presenting for the gospel’s sake, than an athletic program does for it’s football team! We can be organized and run our programs smoothly, our appearance can be neat, we can be prepared for our guest, our facilities can be clean with fresh coat of (walmart) paint on the walls, and our rooms can be inviting. Our greeters can be friendly and helpful, our church grass can be cut, and our graphics and brochures can look professional. We are to bring honor and glory to God in all that we do. I have served in churches of less than 100 to a church of over 2000 and i know that you can have a ministry that is run with excellence. And you know what, one person with those values can make a difference. If you are a follower of Bama, you have noticed it to. Since Nick has been hired, you can notice a huge difference; his passion for excellence has even trickled all the way down to the concession stand operators in the stadium. It takes one person with a passion for excellence. Take pride in what you do for God; It takes planning and hard work, but people will want to be a part of it and God will get all the glory!
Posted by Steve Patrick 
Posted by freddytodd 
Posted by Steve Patrick 
