What do hot sauce, scrap metal, and beards have to do with the Gospel? The Tide® ministry’s “Year Beard®” campaign encourages men to share the Gospel in a creative way and inspires participants to get even more creative. In 2021, The Tide is challenging men to grow out their beards for one month, three months, six months, or the whole year in order to raise awareness for the ministry as it broadcasts the Gospel message in local languages around the world.
The Tide ministry’s mission is to reach as many hearts as possible with the love of Jesus through Gospel recordings and broadcasts on three continents in 30 languages. With more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide and more than 2,000 people groups that have been unreached by the Good News of Jesus, the opportunities are tremendous, and the need is great.
“Year Beard” gives men an opportunity to continue The Tide’s mission in a unique and interesting way. Long beards are easy conversation-starters and an excellent way to begin sharing both the work The Tide is doing and the love of Jesus in local communities. Some men are going beyond the hairy chins and thinking up other out-of-the-box methods of supporting the campaign.
Participant Denny has a friend who concocts his own line of hot sauces. When Denny announced his participation in the hairy challenge, this friend offered a six pack of hot sauce bottles to whomever was the first to help Denny reach his Year Beard goal. After Denny received that initial support, he sent a ‘thank you’ to his friend along with additional info about ministry. Excited about the work The Tide is doing, Denny’s friend immediately offered a second, similar challenge. Support soon piled in as a response to the spicy incentive.
Another participant, Micah, went to friends, family and neighbors, offering to recycle any scrap metal they might want to throw away. After gathering as much as he could, he sold it to a recycler and donated the proceeds to The Tide.
Depending on the time they commit, participants receive t-shirts, beard combs, beard oil, and a devotional book called “Bearded Gospel Men,” along with conversation starters such as country fact sheets, a testimony sheet, and a pocket info card so they can speak to potential donors about The Tide mission. Those who raise the most money for The Tide ministry throughout the year will be eligible to win sporting event tickets and gift cards.