An effective fishing tournament begins with preliminary planning that starts four to six months in advance. Organize your men into teams responsible for different aspects of the tournament:

• Prayer: This group leads the men and the host church (or churches) into weekly, organized prayer for the event.
• Meal: This group plans the details around offering the participants a free or low-cost meal (either breakfast or lunch). This team accumulates the food and plates, utensils, and accessories, either by donations from church members or through community businesses. They also purchase food if the men’s or church’s budget allows.
• Organization: These men plan the actual event. They arrange for a time, date, and location. They plan the event schedule, including securing an appropriate speaker. This team is responsible for registering the men and arranging for follow-up. They also plan and prepare for logistics such as any tents, tables, and audio needs.
• Missions: These men take responsibility for connecting the event to the church, communicating needs, details, and progress reports. They also gather and provide church information to be made available at the fishing tournament.
• Prizes: This group gathers the awards for the actual tournament. They can seek donations from the community or ask individuals to donate smaller items as door prizes.
• Promotions: This team is responsible for getting the word out, either by making posters, placing newspaper ads, or even taking advantage of "freebies" offered on local radio about upcoming community events.
• Coordination: This can either be an individual or a team who helms the event's direction to ensure work is progressing and not being duplicated.

Four to Six Months Out:
• Begin praying about the event, focusing on the responsibilities of each team.
• Choose your location. Take advantage of your local surroundings. Choose a place that is away from the church and will draw a crowd.
• Choose your time and date. Look on your community calendar to avoid conflicts or to capitalize on a time of local activity.
• Share your needs with the church and solicit donations. Invite people to take part by contributing new fishing rods, reels, lures, tackle boxes, nets, stringers, or other items.
• Choose a speaker to deliver a short (15-20 min.) message to the participants. Your associational or state BMEN coordinator may have recommendations. The message should be direct and evangelistic, but not overwhelming in “church language.” Remember, the gospel of Jesus is an appealing, inviting message that should draw people to faith in Christ.

Three Months Out:
• At your monthly men's meeting, invite a skilled fisherman to come teach your men how to tie flies. Use this short time of instruction to help build motivation.
• Choose a menu for the event (either breakfast or lunch).
• Invite people from the church to be involved in the event. This may be how you can involve men in the church who have otherwise been uninvolved. Some men may not be ready to sit in a small-group Bible study, but they will jump at the chance to barbeque chicken or flip pancakes for the event.
• Continue in prayer for the event, adding intercession for those who are lost and for good participation.

Two Months Out:
• Begin accepting pre-registrations for the event. If possible, keep the event free to the unchurched. Encourage church members to register, but with the provision that they register an unchurched friend as well. Make every commitment to keep the event focused on outreach.
• Begin accumulating supplies for the event, and make arrangements for the set-up and clean-up of the event.
• Begin promoting the event in the community and even the region. If your church is able, you may even take advantage of the Internet by visiting fishing Web sites and leaving a comment about the event details. Use a Web search engine to find sites where fishermen visit.
• Continue in prayer, adding specific prayer for registrants and thanksgiving for contributing individuals and businesses.

One Month Out:
• At your monthly men's meeting teach a practical fishing skill and keep the excitement high!
• Secure your awards for the actual tournament. Make an effort to have a special grand-prize such as a guided fishing trip or a complete fishing outfit from rod and reel to tackle box and even waders!
• Make sure all teams are coordinated in their progress. Help as needed.
• Finalize commitments from people to serve in greeting, registration, fish weigh-in, cooking, and hosting.
• Begin advertising locally with posters, newspaper ads, and radio spots.
• Continue in prayer for individuals by name, as well as for the speaker, weather, and logistics.
• Finalize your schedule.

On the day of the event, make sure to capture as much information about the participants as possible to help you be effective in your follow-through. Commit to sending each participant a thank-you letter for being involved and inviting them to return at the following year’s event. Follow up with all local participants with a visit to their home and an invitation to your church.

One final note: your fishing tournament is less dependent upon the weather than you may think. Don't close down the event if the weather isn't cooperating!

By Bryan McAnally
Used by permission of the North American Mission Board, SBC.

For more outreach event ideas, contact Sonny Tucker , Toby Talley , John Caddy , or Dave McClung on the ABSC Evangelism & Church Growth team.