FLINT, Michigan — There were jerseys and gym shoes and chants for their favorite teams. And the congregation shared high-fives during the sermon as if their team had scored a winning touchdown. This was no normal Sunday service at Flint’s Church Without Walls Ministries, 6202 Dupont St., as sports gear replaced fancy hats and tailored suits.
This was Jersey Sunday, an effort to relax the normal routine, lure young people to church and address the violence hitting the congregation’s northwest Flint neighborhood.
Churchgoers were encouraged to wear sports jerseys, and they did, showcasing Flint Northwestern Academy, Carman-Ainsworth High School and other local schools, as well as teams in the National Basketball Association and National Football League.
Sunday’s service drew about 100 adults and children, a healthy increase over typical attendance at this time of year, officials said.