ast year, as the Young Adult Ministry leader, I brainstormed ways to create a fun, low-cost evening for our group of 18 to 25-year-olds. We decided on a baseball game, and it turned out to be a hit. We opened it up to the Children's Ministry families and had about 100 people attend, which was fantastic. One piece of feedback we received was that it would be even better as a whole church event. So, we decided to expand it this year.
We invited the entire church to join us for a Rubber Ducks baseball game, reserving a block of seats at Canal Park for everyone. The response was overwhelming—we sold 190 tickets and had 187 people attend. The main goal was simple: to have fun and enjoy fellowship together. There were no sermons or spiritual moments, just us as a church family enjoying a game. Pastor Mike did throw the first pitch, and our choir sang "God Bless America," which added a special touch.
The event was a huge success. People felt connected and part of something larger. I heard a lot of positive feedback, and the common request was to get more tickets next year. It was a wonderful feeling to see over a third of our congregation coming together outside of a Sunday service.
Organizing the event came with its challenges. The biggest hurdle was managing digital tickets when not everyone is as comfortable with tech. We had to ensure everyone got their tickets, which required a lot of coordination. But we managed, thanks to Jamie and the rest of the team.
Looking ahead, we're excited to do it again next year. The feedback from the baseball team's representative was positive, and they’re eager to work with us again. We can’t wait to make next year’s event even bigger and better.
Todd Hixenbaugh,
Children's Ministry Director
