(The Lion) — As the Kansas City Chiefs aim to become the NFL’s first team to win three straight Super Bowls, they also have another NFL exclusive in their corner: the only on-site chapel service for fans at an NFL stadium.
Before every Sunday noon home game, worshippers can attend a church service in a white tent-like building on the grounds of GEHA Field at Arrowhead. The non-denominational services feature live worship music, prayer and an inspirational message.
The chapel, which could be expanded pending renovations to the stadium site, was founded by team owner Clark Hunt 10 years ago, NBC News reported.
Since that time, and in the last five years in particular, the once lowly Chiefs have won three Super Bowls. This year they have already clinched the division as they eye a third straight Super Bowl appearance and victory.
Before the stadium fills up for games, the chapel facility is often “standing room only.” Hunt and his family can be seen attending in a video shot by NBC, sitting in the middle of the crowd.
“It’s a great opportunity for our family to be able to come to a church service before the game as well, because on a typical Sunday, like a lot of our fans, we’re traveling to the game,” Hunt told the network.
Chiefs’ Chaplain Marcellus Casey leads the services, along with his wife, Stephanie. They also hold Bible studies for Chiefs players and their wives.
“My favorite thing about faith and family chapel is number one, we get to worship, so we’re pointing our hearts and our minds towards Jesus,” he says. “You can feel the energy of everybody singing together.”
Casey appreciates that the Hunt family, which is outspoken about its Christian faith, felt it was a “natural next step” to create a Sunday worship opportunity for football fans.
“In the world we live in today, people need as much encouragement, as much faith, as much hope, as much vision and passion as they can get,” he says.
Fans say they feel fulfilled after attending, and then receive the blessing of also watching the Chiefs, who have had a knack for winning this year on some very last-minute, or even last-second, plays.
“I’m excited about the game, but I felt like a peace, I felt like a ‘wow.’ I feel like the day is complete already,” said one fan after a recent service.
“I don’t have to miss church, and I still get to go to the Chiefs game,” said another fan.
The chapel is partnered with Life.Church, a ministry based in Oklahoma City with churches in multiple states, including several locations in Kansas City.
