[1]TAMPA, Fla. (BP)–A 200-plus-page New Testament featuring Tony Dungy was distributed the Saturday before the Super Bowl to 56,500 subscribers of the Tampa Tribune.
In addition to the involvement of Dungy, who retired last year as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, the Tampa Bay Baptist Association participated in the effort along with other donors.
The International Bible Society, through a local organizer, CityReachers Bible distribution, raised about $2.25 per copy to produce and distribute the New Testaments in just four months.
Dungy, who was shown with the Tampa skyline in the background, was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2002 and is a member of Central Tampa Baptist Church.
The Tampa Bay Baptist Association’s director of missions, Tom Biles, said participants in the Scripture distribution have been “praying God will minister to our whole community through the Word of God.”
The association also sponsored “Super Evangelism Rallies” during Super Bowl week featuring Fred Luter Jr., senior pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. Bile said he hopes the outreach will have a “powerful impact” toward revitalizing the community and will have lasting implications all year long.
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Joni B. Hannigan is managing editor of Florida Baptist Witness (www.floridabaptistwitness.com) who was part of Baptist Press’ coverage of the Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
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