Pastors to gather for nondenominational worship

On the surface, church and football don’t seem to have many things in common.

However, while one activity is mainly meditative and the other is based on physical strength, both have the ability to bring people together.

As football’s biggest event nears, ministers around Odessa and from out of town are spending the week prior to the Super Bowl with their own “bowl” of sorts as they gather for the second annual Minister’s Gospel Bowl beginning 7 p.m. Sunday at Terrace Hills Baptist Church.

Founded by the Rev. Quincy Randall of New Dimensions Worship Center, the Minister’s Gospel Bowl is a chance for ministers and their congregations to gather in a nondenominational setting.

“It was a vision God had given me to bring the body of Christ together and closer so we can be that one voice for the lost and dying world,” Randall said. “Denominations are a spirit of division. It puts us in separate categories where we shouldn’t be.”

Each night two or three ministers from Odessa churches, and some from as far away as Dallas or Pampa, speak on biblical stories and lessons to each other and to their congregations.

Because of the inherent differences in their denominations, congregants are able to learn lessons from the Bible from unfamiliar perspectives just by listening to other pastors.

“They can tell the same story and see it three different ways,” Mark Tippit, a member of Vine Baptist Church, said. “When you listen to the same preacher every week, it’s nice to hear something different.”

Even pastors get the benefit of learning new perspectives as they have the rare opportunity to be preached to, instead of doing all the preaching themselves, during the week.

The Rev. Johnny Touchstone of Vine Baptist said he was at first reluctant to attend each night of the Gospel Bowl last year but felt so revived the first evening that he went each evening.

“We always do ministry for other people. (The Gospel Bowl) is an opportunity for us to get preached to,” the Rev. Johnny Touchstone of Vine Baptist said.

Although the pastors might not always agree with preaching styles or interpretations, Touchstone said that the important part of the Gospel Bowl was to look past the differences to the main reason of Christianity – Jesus Christ.

“I don’t agree with everything but I go in there with open eyes. It helps us tear down some walls,” Touchstone said.

The Rev. Brian Serrano of Terrace Hills agreed with Touchstone and said the only way churches will reach more of the community is to show a united front with the differing denominations.

“The church tries to tell the community we’re a loving accepted group, and it’s hard to believe that when we’ve got different denominations,” Serrano said. “This is a whole week of healing. This is a rarity. It’s not about denomination; it’s people who love God.”

While most evenings in during Gospel Bowl’s first year had as much as 100 people in attendance, Randall said one of his goals is to grow the week-long celebration big enough to be held in the Ector County Coliseum.

“My vision is for this to get bigger and bigger. As we continue, I hope it continues to escalate,” Randall said. “People need to wake up to the fact to stand together for the common cause of Jesus.”

IF YOU GO

>> What: Minister’s Gospel Bowl II.

>> When: 7 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 4.

>> Where: Terrace Hills Baptist Church, 3319 Golder Ave.

>> Call: 580-8038.

>> What: Super Bowl Party.

>> When: 6 p.m. Feb. 5.

>> Where: Terrace Hills Baptist Church.

Minister’s Gospel Bowl Schedule

>> Sunday: The Rev. Quincy Randall.

>> Monday: The Revs. Rodney Williams and Brian Serrano.

>> Tuesday: The Revs. Pam Jackson, Charles Sims and Charncy Ephriam.

>> Wednesday: The Revs. Wayne Moss, Arvin Medlock and Marylan Williams.

>> Thursday: The Revs. Michael Blackmon, Donald Shanklin and Dexter Traylor.

>> Friday: The Revs. Mike Perdue, Ed Mayberry and Michael Smith.

>> Feb. 4: The Revs. Johnny Touchstone and Quincy Randall.