On December 2nd, 2023 FC Cincinnati competed before a sellout crowd of 25,513 people at TQL Stadium. The theme of the game was, “Hell is Real.”

It was a rivalry match with the Columbus Crew. And the media regularly references the “Hell is Real” theme when describing matches between these intrastate rivals.

For those who are unfamiliar with this rivalry and the “Hell is Real” theme, see this post for more details.

Two Minute Video. FC Cincinnati: Hell is Real (2023)

A Night that Demanded Enthusiastic Proclamation

Because the theme for the match was biblical, an enthusiastic proclamation of truth was demanded. If the teams were going to introduce a truth from the scriptures, we were going to take full advantage.

In the last clip, you will see an animated response from the crowd. I am not confused about the fan’s enthusiasm. It is probably more for the event than the word of God. But we are grateful to proclaim biblical truth in the open air to a large crowd.

Shall I Not Pity Nineveh, That Great City

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Jonah 4:11

Jonah learned a lesson about God’s grace and mercy. And since we have received that same grace and mercy from God, we can not withhold it from others but must proclaim it to everyone around us.

According to the US Census, there are 2,256,000 people living in the Cincinnati metropolitan statistical area. And we believe that God pities the great city of Cincinnati enough to be generous with his grace and mercy. So we proclaim the truth about sin, righteousness, judgement. And we proclaim the simple gospel of Jesus Christ.

Evangelize Cincinnati

We proclaim the biblical truth around Cincinnati at Reds, Bengals and FC Cincy sporting events. In addition, we do gospel-driven abortion ministry. And finally, we do one-to-one evangelism at the University of Cincinnati.

Check our Evangelism Outreach Schedule and join us as we Evangelize Cincinnati.

Charles H. Spurgeon: Preach with Fire

Preach not calmly and quietly as though you were asleep, but preach with fire and pathos and passion.

Charles H Spurgeon

FC Cincinnati hosted the Columbus Crew on August 27, 2022. The interstate rivalry matchup is known by fans as the “Hell is Real” match. See the two minute video below.

Hell is real. But Jesus and his gospel are also real. Praise God who rescues sinners from hell.

2 Minute Video: Hell is Real

Why do Ohio fans call the match, “Hell is Real”?

There is a sign between Columbus and Cincinnati that reads, “Hell is Real”. So travelers to the annual match between Columbus and Cincinnati can’t avoid the gospel truth.

Here is a Columbus Dispatch link to more information about Jimmy Harston, the Christian man behind the billboard. He has put up 20 billboards. His goal is obey Christ.

Apollos Watered …

Jimmy Harston did his part. He planted a billboard that thousands of fans see.

We watered by proclaiming the gospel. We attempt to make a personal, passionate plea. And we point fans to the cross of Christ.

Now we pray that God will give the growth. He will work and will to His good pleasure. For he is mighty to save.

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3: 5-7

Evangelize Cincinnati

We proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at sports venues around Cincinnati, Ohio. And we do one-to-one witnessing at the University of Cincinnati.

Check our Evangelism Outreach Schedule and join us as we Evangelize Cincinnati.