Maybe that old adage about sports being a form of religion is not so far off the mark after all.

Some might say that because there are lots of folks following the OKC Thunder like they would a religion. Certainly, this is true of other teams and other sports besides basketball, as well.

I’ve been taking note of how faith and the Thunder NBA team have intersected in one way or another.  Here are just a few of my findings. Some of them are stories that I have written. You might have more. If so, send ‘em to me.

1. Thunder MVP Kevin Durant (pictured) told The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson he keeps a Bible in the backpack he carries everywhere.

2. Thunder MVP Kevin Durant shared with Darnell Mayberry of  The Oklahoman that he had committed to daily Bible reading.

3. The Capitol Baptist Association and Union Baptist Association have partnered with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma for the “iBelieve” faith outreach in conjunction with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run. (May 12: “Baptists believe in Gospel, Thunder”) (May 14: “Baptists ‘I Believe’ outreach going strong”)

4.  Lorelei Decker, an Oklahoma City teen battling cancer, was named Thunder coach for the day a few weeks ago. Decker, a member of Cherokee Hills Baptist Church, is a huge Thunder fan. Stories about how her Christian faith has helped her face and combat her illness were published in The Baptist Messenger and The Oklahoman (June 2: “Polished look”)

5. Local preachers weighed in on how the Thunder players and fans should react to the return of Los Angeles Lakers starter Metta World Peace, also known as Ron Artest (remember him?) after he elbowed the Thunder’s James Harden in the head (May 10: “Thou shalt not act out”).

6. An El Reno pastor prayed for world peace as a way to jab at Lakers player Metta World Peace and his not-so-peaceful antics on the court ( April 26: “El Reno pastor makes playful jab”).

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

It’s just a few hours away until the tip-off  of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA game and true to their word, a group of Southern Baptists have continued their “I Believe” faith outreach in conjunction with the Thunder’s playoff series.

I got to meet with several volunteers at the Chesapeake Energy Arean today as they placed Thunder T-shirts and towels on every chair. Van Greenwood, volunteer coordinator of the “I Believe” outreach, said he had a group of about 30 people at the Peake for the T-shirt placement, most of them from Baptist churches in the metro area. However, he said several people from a Baptist church in Maud joined in and he also invited some young men who play basketball at his church, Quail Springs Baptist, to participate. Greenwood said volunteers prayed for the people that would be sitting in the chairs as they placed the T-shirts on them.

My initial story about the “I Believe” initiative ran in Saturday’s Oklahoman. The faith outreach is a combined effort of the Capitol Baptist Association and Union Baptist Association, in partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. In addition to the T-shirt placement, the faith outreach will include the distribution of faith-inspired brochures and a mini-magazine related to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It’s been a great opportunity for us,” Greenwood said of the effort.

“The Thunder has taken the community by storm. We want to show our support for the Thunder and try to share the love of God with people at the same time,” he said.

Jason Taylor, a member of Judah Christian Assembly, was part of Greenwood’s group on Monday. Taylor said he regularly shoots hoops at the Quail Springs Baptist Church recreation center and was happy to accept Greenwood’s invitation to help place T-shirts on chairs for “I Believe.”

“It’s a blessing,” Taylor said.

 Taylor said he’s an Oklahoma City Thunder fan and he particularly enjoys watching Thunder star Kevin Durant play ball.

Look for more stories about the “I Believe” outreach in the near future.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor    

Only the Thunder could bring about the perfect storm.

If the Memphis Grizzlies triumph over the San Antonio Spurs Friday, downtown Oklahoma City churches will suddenly have one more huge event to contend with on Sunday.

Some downtown churches are already operating on an adjusted scheduled due to Sunday’s Memorial Marathon, while members of some ministries are preparing to deal with the street closures and heavy traffic associated with the event.

Some of the churches, like First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City, are having their Sunday service on Saturday as a way to head-off traffic and scheduling issues on race-day.

This year, with the last day of the Festival of the Arts — one of the event’s busiest — on Sunday as well, even more people are expected in the downtown.

And now, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s success may deposit even more crowds onto the streets of downtown: The first Grizzlies vs. Thunder playoff game is scheduled for noon Sunday.

At least one church leader, the Rev. Susan Joplin, said “It’s a good problem to have.”

“I think it’s absolutely thrilling that we have so many things going on downtown,” said Joplin, a canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7.

“I keep calling it a renaissance. Something new is happening in ways that we haven’t seen in a long time in Oklahoma City.”

While the NBA game could pose a surprise challenge for some downtown ministries, Joplin said it shouldn’t be an issue for St. Paul’s.

She said this year, the church is having “casual day” and encouraging members to dress informally. Also, she said the church is inviting runners to an outdoor Runner’s Communion Service at 10:30 a.m. in the church’s new labyrinth. She said St. Paul’s also is offering tours of the church beginning at noon.

“We just decided to go with the flow rather than fighting against it,” Joplin said. “We are in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. Let’s be part of that heartbeat.”

Meanwhile, the Rev. Mark McAdow, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City, said most members of his church at 131 NW 4 will be immersed in marathon activities on Sunday.

“For us, it (noon Sunday playoff game) will be fine. With the marathon, we’re not having services anyway,” he said.

McAdow’s church offers activities through its Second Wind Ministries, such as a service for runners and their families on Saturday, and a free pancake breakfast and children’s play area on Sunday. Many of the church’s members also will serve as course marshals for the marathon.

McAdow said he’s not the type to be distressed about the game time and its possible ramifications regarding crowds and traffic, although he said he’s sorry the game is starting so early.

“I’m not the kind of guy to get upset about something like that,” he said.

“We need to support each other.”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

I told my teenagers and they had a good laugh.

Here’s why:

I’m a Boston Celtics fan (yes, I admit it) and I’d nicknamed Perkins “Devil Man” because he always seemed to have a scowl on his face and because  of the way his thick eyebrows seemed to create a fuzzy uni-brow ala Groucho Marx when he frowned. He was perpetually in frown-mode.

I told my kids I’ll have to stop calling him “Devil Man” now that he’s on our team.

The nickname had nothing to do with his playing. As a Celtics fan, I was heartbroken when he got hurt and couldn’t play in Game 7 in the Celtics-L.A. Lakers battle for the NBA championship last year. Yep, he is a difference maker and I think if he had been healthy and in that last game, Kobe, Pau and the boys might not have pulled that one out.

Ok, enough about the past.

So I read with great interest Jenni Carlson’s story about Perkins being an altar boy at his church growing up. Perkins, I hardly knew ya! Guess the mean-mug look is the persona he puts on for the games. Hey, if it helps you win man, I say keep on doing it.  

Anyway, I’ve issued myself a cease and desist on the nickname on my man Perk. Now that he’s suiting up in  Thunder blue, he’s an angel in my book.

I finally got a chance to see Perkins play the other day and I’m definitely glad he’s playing for Oklahoma City now.

Oh, and one final thing.

My son lives in Boston and he said that Bostonians are not happy at all about the Perkins trade. Although I hated to see Jeff Green go, methinks the Thunder and Oklahoma City got a great deal.

I’m looking forward to seeing Perk play again tonight. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor