Pastor says group’s “Bible study, accountability, and prayer” mission “shifts gears” in September; attendance triples when waiver wire opens.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Leaders of a local church’s men’s fellowship acknowledged Tuesday that the group’s stated mission of “Bible study, accountability, and prayer” becomes “mostly fantasy football” once the NFL season starts, with attendance tripling in September and “spontaneous waiver-wire prayer requests” replacing planned devotions.
The fellowship, which meets weekly for breakfast and has a printed mission statement emphasizing spiritual growth, discipleship, and service, reportedly sees a sharp increase in participation once fantasy drafts conclude and Week 1 lineups lock.
“Our mission hasn’t changed,” said Pastor Mark DeWitt, who oversees the men’s ministry. “But our content has. In August, we’re talking about Joshua and leadership. In September, we’re talking about whether Justin Jefferson is a WR1 or a ‘start him and pray.’”
DeWitt said the group’s “accountability partnerships” often devolve into “start/sit consultations” by Week 3.
“Men will call each other during the week and say, ‘Hey, how’s your quiet time?’” he said. “Then, by Sunday morning, it’s, ‘Hey, did you see the injury report? Should I bench my RB2 for the rookie?’ That’s still accountability. Just… fantasy accountability.”
The fellowship’s official schedule lists “Bible study, prayer, and fellowship” as the core components of each meeting.
However, multiple members admitted that the “fellowship” portion now consists primarily of reviewing waiver-wire pickups, debating trade offers, and consoling one another after bad beats.
“We still open with prayer,” one member said. “But the prayers are different. It’s less ‘Lord, make me a better father’ and more ‘Lord, please let my kicker not miss a 32-yarder this week.’”
Another added, “Our devotional time used to be 20 minutes. Now it’s five. The other 15 is spent arguing about whether the tight end premium format is better than standard scoring.”
The group’s attendance records show a noticeable spike in September, with average participation rising from 12 men in the summer to 36 during the regular season.
DeWitt said the trend was “both encouraging and concerning.”
“On one hand, men are showing up,” he said. “They’re gathering. They’re engaging. On the other hand, they’re engaging over whether to stream a defense against the Giants. That’s not exactly the Great Commission.”
Some members defended the shift, saying that fantasy football provided a “low-stakes entry point” for deeper conversations.
“You start talking about your team,” one member said. “Then, somehow, you end up talking about your job, your marriage, your kids. Fantasy football is the icebreaker. The gospel is the main course.”
Others were less charitable.
“Let’s be honest,” another member said. “We’re not here for accountability. We’re here because my league has a $200 buy-in and I need to know if anyone in this room is starting my guy on Sunday.”
DeWitt said the leadership team was considering “realigning the fellowship’s focus” for the 2027 season, possibly by moving meetings to the off-season or requiring a “Bible trivia quiz” before waiver-wire discussions.
“We love these men,” he said. “We love that they’re gathering. But if our men’s ministry is just a fantasy football league with a devotional garnish, we need to ask ourselves some hard questions.”
At press time, the fellowship was reportedly considering a new mission statement: “To glorify God through fellowship, accountability, and responsible waiver-wire management.”
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