DENVER (ABP) — Baptists were among the many Christian groups who ministered to the delegates, journalists and others who flocked to the Democratic National Convention in Denver Aug. 24-29.
And while the impact of the political event will culminate Nov. 4 with the election of a new president, individuals believe at least one new ministry will continue to have a positive impact on the souls of Denver.
Two Denver-area Southern Baptist congregations, Riverside Baptist Church and Bear Valley Community Church, worked with Denver’s Mile High Baptist Association ministering to local, state and federal law-enforcement agents during the event.
And a broad, interdenominational coalition of more than 60 churches — representing Baptist, Anglican, Nazarene, non-denominational and other congregations — ministered together through a group calling itself 1ChurchMetroDenver.
Ministry began weeks before politicians took the stage when Denver hosted “We Bow Down,” a national prayer conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention and its North American Mission Board. Organizers included specific prayer times for the DNC and included a prayer walk around DNC venues.
Other Christian volunteers held another prayer walk the week following the Aug. 7-9 prayer conference.
The Baptist groups also offered evangelism training for the hundreds of volunteers who served during the event. Because Southern Baptists in Denver planned to work directly with law enforcement in many of their efforts, they coordinated closely with city and state officials in the planning stages.
Because they were working with government entities, they had to keep religious efforts low-key. “We had to stay below the radar,” Bob Ryan, the association’s director, said. “And we had to make sure everyone was trained.”
All volunteers learned about disaster-relief and security efforts in preparation for any potential mishap associated with the convention. Each also was trained to give a two-minute testimony and to use the “Evange-Cube,” a seven-panel item that uses pictures to explain the Christian plan of salvation.
Beginning the Saturday before the DNC’s official start, Southern Baptists began serving meals and snacks to public-safety officials, including firefighters and Secret Service agents.
On Aug. 23, organizers set up 10 full-service ministry sites and 10 drop-off and pick-up sites for food, water and snacks.
Slightly fewer than 600 volunteers served more than 55,000 meals between Aug. 23 and the end of the convention. All officers of every law enforcement agency assisting with the convention received a hot meal and a cold meal during each of their 12-hour shifts. Volunteers also made snacks, water and Gatorade available.
Organizers estimate four semi-trailer loads of food and three semi-trailer loads of water and Gatorade were used.
“It was an amazing mobilization,” Ryan said.
An evangelistic team of 40 volunteers walked through the crowds throughout the event. Organizers had no word by press time for this story Sept. 2 on the number of encounters or decisions made as a result of their efforts.
Organizers hoped and prayed that long-term ministries would develop from the outreach effort. One formed as a result of intelligence law-enforcement agencies gathered while preparing for DNC security.
Open Door Ministries, an urban church, used police information suggesting that several thousand prostitutes would surface in the Mile-High City during the DNC to begin a ministry to those who want a way out of sex businesses.
“We hope this ministry now will be sustainable,” Ryan said. “But the association is a resource. We don’t do anything unless it is requested by our churches.”
Ryan believes the ministry can continue because a local church saw and responded to a need.
1ChurchMetroDenver offered prayer and worship in a park close to the Pepsi Center, where most of the convention’s plenary sessions were held. With Micah 6:8 as their theme, volunteers distributed water and sunscreen and provided directions to DNC participants. They also picked up trash and recyclables from around the DNC venues.
“We wanted to be a presence, explained Jude Del Hierro, a 1ChurchMetroDenver organizer. “It was our heart … that we would reflect the heart of the Father and be in a posture of servanthood.”
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