Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the 16,000-member First Baptist Dallas and notable Christian author, hosted a “pickleball outreach” at his church last Friday, May 17.
The Dallas megachurch’s outreach attracted the attention of “Fox & Friends,” as well as others, including Kid Rock and Gracie Hunt, the daughter of the Kansas City Chiefs owner.
Speaking to “Fox & Friends” cohost Steve Doocy on a pickleball court outside the church, Jeffress indicated that sports are an important part of the church’s strategy to reach the community.
“Our mission at First Baptist Dallas is to transform the world with the truth of God’s Word, but we use different hooks in the water to get people interested in church and so forth,” Jeffress said. “Church shouldn’t be something that’s just one hour a week on Sundays.”
He added, “We believe it ought to be a family activity, something you do every day of the week, and we found pickleball is a way not only to win new people but also to help build community among members.”
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The 156-year-old Southern Baptist church has been using pickleball as an outreach opportunity for the past couple of years, but the church first started using sports as an outreach back in the 1950s.
“We were the first church to have a skating rink and a bowling alley,” Jeffress said. “And we were also the first church to have a full-time minister of recreation. And again, the purpose is [to] use everything you can to attract people to the church and hear the life-changing Word of God.”
Doocy told Jeffress that he and the pastor were going to play against a “world famous entertainer.”
Jeffress jokingly replied, “President Trump be here?”
Social media photos revealed that it was Grammy Award-winning rap/rock/country superstar Kid Rock, who’s real name is Robert James Ritchie.
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“It was an incredible start to the day here at First Dallas as we hosted @foxandfriends and special guest, @KidRock to highlight our unique Pickleball Ministry. Thank you to @SteveDoocy and the @FoxNews team for showcasing our story,” Jeffress posted on social media.
