Does divinity play a role in sports? That’s according to a poll by the AP-Norc Center for Public Affairs Research 3 in 10 Americans believe God has a hand in the outcome of a particular game, and the same is true when asked about prayer.

These people might just be the audience for a few ads before 30 and 60 seconds, at a cost of $20 million, with the aim of conveying a simple message: “He understands us.”

A group made up of wealthy and influential Christians is using some of the most expensive advertising space money can buy to disperse and unite the crowd with this short slogan, which goes against the idea that religion divides people. In fact, the campaign has a version in Spanish.

This comes at a time when America’s Christian population, and religious affiliation in general, is in decline. That explains the AP it is rare that the faith is promoted in commercials, movie trailers and pop music shows like the superstar’s Rihanna, the queen of tranquility.

But campaign investors he understands us they see it as a great opportunity to reach millions at once. Ministry Watch spokesman Jason Vanderground says this is his audience. “We’re trying to reach people who are spiritually open but skeptical.”

The official Ministry Watch website explains that he understands us It didn’t cost the $20 million of the Super Bowl ad. It’s a $100 million investment, mostly from anonymous donors, which began in March 2022, aimed at “readjusting” the image of Jesus, consisting of a series of black and white videos showing him as a rebel, a refugee, an immigrant, an activist or a victim of the justice system.

During production they have worked with celebrities such as retired Las Vegas Raiders player Miles James Burrisnow turned into a series actor for Disney Plus, HBO Max, Netflix and NBC.

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Christianity is the majority in the United States, where 63% of adults identify as religious, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey. But in 2007, it was 78%.

The National Football League (NFL) is no stranger to this movement. Fans and athletes are used to public creeds, locker room prayers and on the field, for competitions, to dedications to heaven after one landing.

One of those manifestations occurred in January of this year, after that Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the grass during a meeting with the Cincinnati team. His companions and opponents knelt fervently around the doctors who tried to save his life.

“The thoughts and prayers of all Bills support you Damar,” reads a social media post from the Buffalo Bills. Shock in the NFL over Damar Hamlin’s situation. Photo: Courtesy of Twitter @BuffaloBills

What other religious groups have tried to make it to the Super Bowl? The Church of Scientology has chosen to make regional announcements during the game broadcast. There is a list of such announcements in Super Bowl history, but it is small.

In 2010, the conservative group Focus on the family showed a video with football star Tim Tebow’s mother, Pam Tebow, discussing her decision to continue with that child. The ad, of course, was met with opposition from abortion rights activists. Result in The list of the 10 most controversial ads from the Super Bowl It wasn’t what the organization’s president, Jim Daly, had expected, but he still calls it a success.

At what point in the Super Bowl do you pay particular attention to crowd reaction? One will be in the first half and will focus on the relationship between Jesus and the children, while the second half will address the theme of anger and Jesus’ model for dealing with this emotion.

We believe that Jesus is the big news, and we want to make a big announcement about it.urges Vanderground. “What better way to do that than to put it in the biggest cultural moment we have all year?”