Pastors, like shepherds, lead their flocks. But on Super Bowl Sunday, no one was following Pastor Bill Rogers.
Amid a group of Kansas City Chiefs fans, Rogers, pastor of Liberty Road Baptist Church, was wearing a New England Patriots' jersey and cheering for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
At the church's Super Bowl party, he didn't mind going against the grain.
"I grew up in Boston," Rogers said. "I'm a big New England Patriots fan. And as you know, on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is (former Patriot) Rob Gronkowski along with Tom Brady."
But for Rogers and other attendees, the game wasn't even the big draw. They just enjoyed getting together for fellowship.
Some said they were looking forward to the commercials more than the game.
Michael Petershagen said that with the pandemic, it was nice for him and his wife to bring their children out to an event.
"I think the most important thing is that when people see that church people love one another, then the stigma that the church has gotten over the years hopefully will be overcome," Rogers said. He said church-goers sometimes face accusations of being hypocrites, and "we want to show that that's not the case. We're out here to love one another."
A few hours before the game started, eight of the attendees were playing the game "OK Boomer," with Rogers tying for the lead.
At the Jefferson City Jaycees Fairgrounds, a couple dozen people were at a Jaycees Super Bowl party that doubled as a fundraiser for this year's 50th Access Day at the Missouri State Fair. The event allows about 1,500 physically or intellectually disabled people to visit the fair, typically the last Friday of the fair.
The Missouri Jaycees raise about $8,000 to fund the event each year, said Jackie Bax, a Missouri JCI senator. About 75 JCI senators volunteer to make the event happen.
She said the Jaycees have had the fundraiser for nearly two decades. It includes a silent auction and dessert/appetizer contest.
Bax said the Super Bowl parties typically bring in 25-30 people and raise around $800.
One of the attendees was Sandy Backes, a JCI senator and alumnus of the Jefferson City Jaycees.
"I've been a Chiefs fan since I was young," the Argyle native said, adding she's turned her daughter, Gracie, into a Chiefs fan. They've attended several games together at Arrowhead Stadium.
"I think they have a good chance at it," she said. "I think it's going to be a tight-scoring game, and possibly a high-scoring game. I have a feeling it could be a nail-biter until the end."