Christian Family Day at
Busch July 19, 2008

By Jim Day

What does the smiling face of a child, a concert by Casting Crowns, and a hotdog at a Cardinal baseball game have in common? Try the 18th Annual Christian Family Day (CFD) at Busch Stadium on July 19th! “How cool is it that that we have Casting Crowns performing at this year’s Christian Family Day?” said Judy Boen, Chairman and Founder of CFD. “We’re also very excited to have Evangelist Tony Nolan as our featured speaker. His story of abuse as a child and how God healed his heart through his faith in Jesus is incredible!” continued Boen.

The event takes place behind the Cardinal’s dugout after the 2:55 p.m. Cards and San Diego Padres game on July 19th. Cardinal and Padres players will share their Christian testimonies; and the Christian musical group Casting Crowns will lead everyone in praise and worship. Andy McCollum of the St. Louis Rams will be this year’s Honorary Chairman and KTRS AM 550’s McGraw Milhaven will serve as the day’s Master of Ceremonies for the post game event.

The theme for this years’ Christian Family Day was inspired by a long time CFD Committee member, John Rybenski. Lisa Frank, current Committee member, was touched by John’s favorite Bible verse II Corinthians 5:17. John died of cancer last November and during his funeral Lisa knew that by his life, as the verse says, Jesus had come into his life and he had become a new Creation. Lisa chose a “New Creation” as her theme for 2008 and designed tee-shirts to reflect that theme with, “Request, Receive and Rejoice when you become a New Creation in Christ” on them. “We are so blessed to have such a creative committee. Lisa, her husband Rob who put together our promo DVD, Stel Pontikis of Y98 radio who did the voice-over for the DVD, and Buz Phelan of Phelan Designs who designed our brochure, poster and banner; I’m just in awe of their talent and how God continues to put our event together each year,” said Judy.

The CFD Committee asked Matt Rybenski, one of John’s sons, to throw out one of the first pitches in honor of his dad. Matt is a big Cardinal’s fan and is really looking forward to throwing out one of the first pitches. Another pitch will be thrown by Charles Murray, pastor of First Baptist Ellisville. “Pastor Murray has been very supportive of CFD, including financially, for many years,” says Boen. “I had put together a Todd Worrell Rally in Queeney Park in 1986 which left me with many unpaid bills when it was over. I thought I would have to sell flowers at the airport to pay our creditors. But, Pastor Murray came to our rescue and told me that the church would take care of the bills because he was so proud of me for putting the rally together. I will never forget that. Because he came to my rescue, I was willing to trust God when He put Christian Family Day in my heart in 1991.”

CFD begins at 12 noon in Kauffman Park where some 3,200 at risk kids and their leaders will be treated to a carnival atmosphere of games, motorcycles, a hot lunch, and ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery donated by Kevin Garrett from his Wildwood store. Special cookies will be made for each of the children by Gene and Maryanne Robinson and the Jim and Jeremiah Panhorst families. Clowns, face painting and balloon animals, made by Jason Mirikitani, are sure to be a big hit with the kids as well as The Hampel Family Circus. The Gideons will also be on hand giving out Bibles and CFD’s famous Christian baseball cards will also be given to each child.

As in years past (and always a big hit with young and old alike), while the kids are enjoying themselves in the park, hundreds of volunteers will be passing out CFD’s special testimony baseball cards at Busch Stadium. Last year 100,000 cards were given out as Cardinal fans entered the stadium and the CFD Committee plans to pass out twice that number this year. The cards look similar to regular baseball cards however, the player’s testimony and the plan of salvation are printed on the back of the card which makes them a great way to get readers thinking about their relationship with Jesus.

During the National Anthem, nine children will stand next to a Cardinal player at their position and receive an autographed baseball and a hug from their favorite player. The Cardinal Care organization, thanks to Tim Hanser, will give each of the kids a coupon for a free drink and hotdog during the game.

“This year the Cardinals have given us 9,000 tickets to sell” stated Ticket Chairman for CFD Sherri Gandillon. “The sales are going very well and we’ll probably draw from 14 states all around the St. Louis area.”

Tickets to the game for the kids are provided by the CFD Committee through ticket sales and donations. “We have to raise $80,000 to be able to give 3,200 kids this great day” said Jo Beaman. “It costs $25 per child to feed them and send them to the ballgame.” Jo has been raising money for the past 18 years and thanks to her tireless efforts CFD has 29 sponsors for this year’s event. Eighteen years ago we had one sponsor and we took 50 kids to the game” said Boen. “She is just amazing, you can’t say ‘no’ to Jo.”

The sponsors for this year’s CFD are Agape Financial Group, Apollo Home Builders, Cass Bank, Chick-fil-A, Curves -141 and Big Bend, Dierbergs Family Markets, Dr. Kevin Morgester D.M.D., Donahue-South County Heating and Cooling, Garlich Printing, Hamilton Jewelers, J.K. Music Repertoire, Cold Stone Creamery-Wildwood, Lay Renewal Ministries, radio station WIBI FM 91.1, Turn-Key Video Works, American Arts and Associates, Bott Broadcasting Network stations KSIV AM 1320 and FM 91.5 in St. Louis and their Spirit FM 91.7 station in Lake of the Ozarks, Metro-Vision Ministries, Mid Rivers Mortgage, Gregory A. O’liphant-Law Office, ProPrint, Sports Crusaders, The Cupcakery, Living Water Academy, M.S.G. Jewelers, 97.7 & 94.1 Joy FM, Third Coast Sports and The St. Louis MetroVoice, St. Louis’ Christian News and Events Newspaper.

The post game activities will take place behind the Cardinal dugout as some estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fans will fill in around the dugout, left to right field and the upper deck. Praise and worship will be led by the Christian musical group Casting Crowns. This year seven Cardinal players will share their faith and will include Braden Looper, Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina, Randy Flores, Kyle McClellan, Albert Pujols and Dave McKay. Their wives are also very involved in promoting the event. Several San Diego players will also share their faith. Tony Nolan will tie it all together and the day will end with a mini concert by Casting Crowns.

It’s not too late to get your tickets to this awesome event. To order tickets call (636) 227-9788 or order online at www.ChristianFamilyDay.com. Remember that a portion of every ticket sold goes to provide a Christ centered day at the ballpark for a child at risk. Come hear how YOU can be a new creation in Christ just like the players have become.