The Tebow Phenomenon

• Date: 27th January 2012
• Author: Rick Emmelhainz
• Category: all

Tebow - is he God sent or a distraction?

The Tim Tebow phenomenon has hit the Denver sports scene like a hurricane. Whether you support or ignore the Denver Broncos and their hot-and-cold 2011-12 record, no one can ignore the publicity Tim Tebow has brought to Denver and the Christianity/Religion debate. Some call him the Denver Miracle, some the Come-back Kid.

You know its going viral when even Zanesville Ohio has caught Tebow fever! Check out this article recently posted in the Zanesville Times Recorder!

ZANESVILLE -- Attendance has increased each year of The Restoration, a faith-based event sponsored by the New Hope Gospel Church youth ministry program Extreme Fire.

Bringing Tim Tebow could provide a big bang for this year's fifth annual event.

Organizers are asking for donations and commitments to help bring the Denver Broncos quarterback to Zanesville to speak on opening night -- March 2.

New Hope Youth Pastor Adam King said the idea has been tossed around for a couple of weeks after he discovered Tebow uses the same talent agency, Elite Talent, the event has worked with in the past to bring in Christian bands.

"When we found out he was available to speak, we started asking for sponsorships and donations," King said.

An announcement was made during church services Sunday and donations started coming in, King said.

"Our teenagers raised thousands of dollars Sunday night, and that means a lot of kids are interested and will sacrifice a trip to McDonald's or the movies to make this happen," he said.

King already has started soliciting funds from local businesses and seeking sponsorships, which comes with tickets and advertisements throughout the event.

A flyer he has passed around notes the goal is to raise $50,000 for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although he did not disclose how much money has been raised thus far, he said the effort is more than halfway to that goal.

"We want to do everything we can to get kids exposed to God's message and the Gospel, so we can overcome that perception that church is boring, that's it's just a preacher telling them what to do," King added. "If Tebow comes, we can change that perception. And even if he doesn't, we always have speakers, a multi-media show, bands. It's all about telling kids we will spend the money because we care about them. God cares about them. And if we get Tebow, I don't think we'll have to do any marketing."

Depending on response, King added the event might have to be moved from Secrest Auditorium to another venue.

"We can get 1,800 in Secrest without violating any fire codes, but we may have to do this in a gym, build a stage. And we've talked to some schools about that," he said. "We want any kid, every kid, to come to this. If this happens, we could get 3,000, 4,000 people."

Proceeds of the fundraising to get Tebow to Zanesville will go toward Tebow's efforts to build a children's hospital in the Phillipines.

bgadd@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com; (740) 450-6752

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