"Jesus Is Better than the Super Bowl" Top TV Event of the Year Again Showcases Christian Athletes

The Super Bowl has long been an arena in which Christian athletes have shined ranging from Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Shaun Alexander to Reggie White and Kurt Warner.

This year TV's big event will showcase Denver Broncos's Peyton Manning and Seattle Seahawks' quarterback, Russell Wilson.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning doesn't publicly discuss his faith as frequently as some other Christian athletes, but he has said that he wants his actions to speak louder than his words.

The future Hall-of-Famer Manning led his team to a Super Bowl berth by throwing for 400 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. The four-time league MVP has been stellar throughout the season, setting NFL regular season records in both passing yards (5,477) and touchdowns (55).

But while many people focus primarily on Manning's performance on the field, the part of his life that he has said is most important – his Christian faith – is rarely discussed.

In Manning, the book published in 2001 that he co-wrote with his father, the quarterback shares how he came to faith in Christ in a New Orleans church as a 13-year-old boy, according to an excerpt of the book posted to the Young Conservatives site. His priorities in life, he wrote, have been faith, family, friends and football – in that order.

Russell Wilson will be facing off with Manning in the Super Bowl. Wilson and several of his teammates recently sat down with Mark Driscoll, the preaching and vision pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, to discuss their faith in an interview that was posted to the Resurgence website.

USA Seizes Marketing ‘Moment’ With Christian Community

With “American Bible Challenge” breaking GSN’s ratings records, “The Bible” miniseries pulling over 10 million viewers a week on History, and Lifetime’s “Preachers’ Daughters” offering a cheekier take on religion, faith-friendly fare is having a big impact on general entertainment networks.

“Bible Challenge” exec producer Tom Forman has even quipped that he can’t believe it’s taken mainstream TV “this long” to realize that there is an untapped market with the Christian community, noting that almost three-quarters of the U.S. identifies itself as Christian.

Now, USA is trying its hand in the space with reality series “The Moment.”

“The Moment” is by no means an in-your-face, God-forward series. Alexandra Shapiro, the cabler’s exec veep of marketing and digital, says that the show possesses “universal themes that resonate with a Christian audience,” however, which allots USA a bevy of marketing opportunities to promote the show.

The Network took the program to hundreds of churches across America, offering advanced screenings and simulcast events with famed preacher Max Lucado and Warner, who is a celeb in his own right within the Christian community.

A similar marketing strategy was employed for Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s “The Bible,” which was screened at mega churches as well.

Word of mouth is an increasingly valuable commodity in today’s TV landscape, as many viewers ditch water cooler talk by consuming programming on their own time frame with DVR or streaming sites.

What’s more, promoting a show can be difficult given the constant noise of programming on cable lineups.

The question that every exec asks is: how do you get people to talk about your show?

For the creatives behind faith-friendly shows like “The Moment,” the answer lies in the Christian community, where church leaders are constantly looking for a fresh way to discuss established Christian values.

Previously, shows like “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and films like “The Blind Side” were exemplary of faith-friendly fare, but not marketed directly to Christian auds the way “The Bible” and now “The Moment” explicitly are.

“The Moment” has seized upon this niche in the marketplace, even launching an initiative with ministries dubbed “Make the Moment” that calls thousands upon thousands of ministry members to action within their communities. “Make the Moment” features a website — MaketheMoment.org — that churches can register with, and pair those in need with church members with skill sets that can help improve the lives of others. Site features an online questionnaire that churches can email to their parishioners, along with sermon outlines and clips from “The Moment” to help pastors “build enthusiasm for the campaign to their congregations,” according to USA.

“The show (‘The Moment’) is all about second chances, which is something we as Christians certainly understand because we serve a God of second chances,” Warner says. “‘Make the Moment’ puts churches in a better position to make second chances a reality for those in need in their communities.”

Ken Foreman, senior pastor of Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, Calif., adds: “I’ve never found something as simple and impactful to help us meet the needs of our neighbors as ‘Make the Moment’. It’s made it so easy for us to tackle outreach efforts from two perspectives: identifying the gifts and talents of those in our congregation and then matching them to the needs all around us.”

The uplifting message not only promotes positive, actionable values within the churches, but also of course touts the show, spreading the word about the cable net’s frosh unscripted skein.

“The Moment” is also being promoted on shows and stations that Christian auds are already watching. Warner will appear on “Bible Challenge” tonight at 9 p.m. before the USA bow of “The Moment.” History also offered “The Moment” promo time during its marathon of “The Bible” that led up to the mini’s finale on March 31.

Not all uplifting fare fits the bill, though, when it comes to marketing to Christian audiences.

Shapiro notes: “People have made a business out of this, of course. But, at the end of the day, the product has to deliver, and a faith-based campaign is not for every property. You need to have the appropriate content and it needs to ring true and feel authentic in order for it to be a success.”

New USA Network Reality Series 'The Moment' Is a Show With “Christian Values”

USA has ruled the cable ratings for seven straight years, with light, bright procedurals like Burn Notice, White Collar, Royal Pains, and Covert Affairs. Now, starting with The Moment, USA is adding reality shows and comedies to its lineup. USA appears to believe that it has maxed out its current audience. Earlier this week, USA’s co-president Chris McCumber told me, “To grow, we need to be in reality.”

The Moment drawns on many of the standard USA procedural elements. It’s aspirational and upbeat—what could be more pleasant than seeing good people get another chance to accomplish their life goals?  There is a wholesomeness to the show that’s sometimes hard to find in reality television. And though faith and religion aren’t specifically mentioned in the first two episodes, executive producer Charlie Ebersol told Slate that the show is designed to promote Christian values.

The series has been heralded as a game-changer in today's reality television culture and will make is premiere on USA tonight..The network's unscripted original series hosted by former NFL star Kurt Warner should have a wide appeal.

Based on the fact that many Americans are dissatisfied in their jobs and that very few are living their dreams, "The Moment" offers ordinary people the opportunity to do what they have always wanted to do.

Each week Warner will appear at the doorstep of one nominee with a unique offer. Depending on the career they have always dreamed of- from a college football coach to a race car driver- Warner will provide the tools and expert mentors needed to work toward rewriting the story of their lives.

Providing nine people with a second chance at their lifelong dreams, "The Moment" is complete with strong undertones of God's plan and a commitment to family.

In the series premiere of "The Moment" on Thursday, Tracie Marcum will train with famed sports photographer Lou Jones as she strives to fulfill her dream of being a photographer for Sports Illustrated.

Warner is an outspoken Christian who has won awards for his work both on and off the football field. His 12-year career in the NFL is considered one of the greatest stories in the NFL's history.

Natalie Grant to Perform at Super Bowl Gospel Celebration

Natalie Grant will make her football debut at the 13th Annual National Football League's Super Bowl Gospel Celebration. The show will tape before a live audience at 7:30pm EST on Friday, February 3, 2012  in Indianapolis, IN.

The celebration is hosted by Wayne Brady, current host of CBS' "Let's Make A Deal," and CeCe Winans. Grant will be performing alongside American Idol winner Fantasia, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and "Players Choice" Wess Morgan, and Verizon's How Sweet the Sound 2011 Overall Winning Choir, Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir.

The Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has become legendary for its performances from artists including Patti LaBelle, BeBe Winans, Mary Mary, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Yolanda Adams, Jaci Velasquez, Fred Hammond and many more. NFL Players that have made appearances include Cris Carter, John Elway, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, Tim Brown and Darrell Green, Raheem Morris and many more.

Tickets for the 2012 Super Bowl Gospel Celebration are on sale at superbowlgospel.com. Since its inception in 1999, the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration has partnered with a charity in each Super Bowl host city. This year, Gary Brackett's IMPACT Foundation has been selected as the event's charitable partner.