For the Elmhurst (Ill.) Christian Reformed Church, a tailgate party is a fun approach to church fellowship.
The annual Chicago Bulls game and tailgate party, now in its eighth year, draws over 200 people and usually generates a waiting list.
“It started out as an idea that would draw families from our weekday ministries together with our church families in an attempt to build friendships among all people who were coming through our doors,” said Marcia Huizinga, Enfolding coordinator at Elmhurst.
After dinner at the church and an indoor tailgate party, the Bulls fans boarded buses to the United Center for the game.
Hope Clark, 5, attends Elmhurst’s Little Lambs preschool ministry and was invited to be a VIP guest at this year’s game. She and her brother Caleb, 9, got to meet Benny the Bull on the court for photos and prizes after she wrote a letter to him explaining that they couldn’t meet him the previous year because their seats were too far away.
