NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Baptist Press will launch a new service to provide national coverage of all Baptist college and university athletic teams, according to Will Hall, vice president for convention news for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
BP Sports will begin operation on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will feature scores, game summaries and feature stories from Baptist institutions nationwide, Hall said. In addition, BP Sports will provide news and information on Christian athletes in state universities as well as the professional ranks.
Hall said BP Sports will be coordinated by Todd Starnes, assistant editor of Baptist Press. A team of regional sports correspondents has been networked to provide national coverage at all Baptist schools.
“I am excited about the launch of this new ministry,” said Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Executive Committee. “This new project is part of an ongoing effort by the Executive Committee to meet the needs of our Southern Baptist family and expand our witness to non-believers.”
BP Sports will offer scores from all team and individual sports, ranging from water polo to football. The new sports site will also feature game-day photographs, occasional sports commentary, box scores and game summaries.
“Through the years, state universities as well as Baptist colleges have had many students who have been both great Christians and outstanding athletes,” Chapman said. “Often the secular media have overlooked them or, at the least, have refused to write about their deep faith.
“BP Sports hopes to fill that gap,” Chapman said. “Not only will BP Sports honor these outstanding athletes, the world will have the opportunity to hear their testimonies for Christ.”
The BP Sports website can be accessed through www.sbc.net.
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