A decade of footy fans and faith

It began back in 2015 with a unique idea: to use the LCA Churchwide Office car park on Ward Street, North Adelaide, to raise funds on AFL match days at the nearby Adelaide Oval. 

Each game, volunteers donned yellow vests and welcomed footy fans with a smile and a $10 parking spot at the Churchwide Office location, an easy 15-minute walk uphill from the Adelaide Oval. The LCA did up the rosters and provided signage, vests and amenities, while congregation volunteers provided the heart.

Groups that took up the opportunity to volunteer included Immanuel Lutheran Church Novar Gardens; Glynde Lutheran Church; Metro Christian Life Week (CLW); Blueprint Ministries; Strathalbyn Lutheran Church; Barossa CLW; Golden Grove Lutheran Church; and Blueprint Ministries NOVO. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, each group introduced EFTPOS facilities, as most parkers didn’t carry cash.

Across all groups, we estimate that 8,000 to 9,000 cars were parked, raising a potential total of $80,000 to $90,000. Specifically, $17,820 was raised for Glynde and Golden Grove’s children’s ministry, a mission we are passionate about. Other congregations and ministry groups have similar stories, no doubt.

And better still, the funds flowed from the community, not from congregational members.

Footy fans came to know the Lutheran Church through the volunteers who coordinated the parking for each match. People often asked where the money went and learned about the Lutheran Church and its local ministries in the process.

We got to see the best in people. One fan’s story stands out. After parking his car, he realised he had forgotten his ticket at home. Dejected, he was about to leave when another parker overheard and offered him a spare ticket.

We thank God for protecting us all over those 10 years with very few incidents. The faithful parkers will greatly miss this parking convenience when the Churchwide Office moves to Frome Street in Adelaide’s CBD later this year.

Thanks to all at the LCA for providing and supporting this fundraising opportunity since 2015, and especially for the chance to witness to the community through our Lutheran Church, where love comes to life.

Linden and Janet Huxtable are long-time volunteers with the LCA’s football parking initiative. They are also dedicated members of Golden Grove Lutheran Church, where they volunteer regularly.