Eight churches from southern California participated in the Turkey Bowl on November 29 at Eagle Rock Recreation Center.
Churches across the nation cut turkey and gave thanks this past Thanksgiving week, but once Thanksgiving was over, many also shook off their food coma to compete at Turkey Bowl during the weekend. A spin off of the Super Bowl, groups of churches in similar regions gather together in this annual competitive event to play football, through which members within each church are able to have fun together, and also to appeal to those who may otherwise not be comfortable with coming to church.
In southern California in particular, a group of eight churches from Los Angeles and Orange County brought their college students and young adults to compete at Eagle Rock Recreation Center on Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Churches that participated include LA Sarang Community Church, Gospel Life Mission Church, Hillside Ministry from LA Christian Presbyterian Church, the Vine Church, Living Hope Community Church, Beacon Church, Oriental Mission Church, LA Open Door Church, and Fullerton Presbyterian Church. The Vine Church has been hosting the event for the past two years.
Fullerton Presbyterian took first place this year, while Living Hope was the runner up. LA Sarang won the best sportsmanship award.
Some may argue against having sports competitions between churches like the Turkey Bowl, on the basis that certain individuals may take things too personally and get offended, or that games may get too heated. However, churches can take measures to avoid such situations, by ensuring that team members focus on the fellowship rather than the competition, and to keep each other accountable in terms of sportsmanship.
"We tried our best not to curse, and when we felt like things were getting personal, we just walked away from it," explained Joseph Choi, a member of LA Sarang. "I think we did a good job of keeping each other in check for those things."
There are also some definite benefits to having such competitive events. Members who participate in the event are able to spend more time together during practices for one to two months on a regular basis. Church members are also able to ask new people to come to their church for the event, and some of those new members may decide to stay in the church after Turkey Bowl is over, finding that perhaps they enjoy church more than they thought they would.
"There were three people who originally came to our church just to play Turkey Bowl, but they actually ended up staying in our church," Choi shared. "They came up to me and told me that they were so thankful that they found a church community that they felt comfortable in."
If every church is experiencing the same phenomenon each year, then the Turkey Bowl seems to bring even more things to be thankful for.
