HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
An ad produced by a religious organization is making its way into the Super Bowl.
The Fixed Point Foundation said it originally wanted to run the 30-second commercial during last year's Super Bowl.
The ad, now posted online, shows people watching a football game and wondering what the "John 3:16" painted on a player's face means. It is then implied that the viewer could look up what the verse means.
The foundation's leaders said Fox Sports denied the ad last year because of its religious undertones.
"We submitted the ad to Fox Sports last year and they rejected it. It went viral on the Internet so now we're just looking to put it in the local markets," said Larry Taunton, the foundation's executive director.
Pastors at the Rock Church in Huntsville said the verse in question - John 3:16 - sums up the Christian belief.
"It takes what Jesus did, and just wraps it up in the simplest of forms that anyone can understand," said Pastor Dave Smith.
Smith and his colleagues watched the commercial online on Friday and saw its potential for controversy, but they say this is okay and used a famous athlete as an example.
"Tim Tebow is a great example of how someone could be a good figure, but controversial in the way they approach their faith," said Pastor Mark Benson.
Fixed Point reps said Super Bowl commercials have a potential to reach nearly two million viewers this Sunday. In the Huntsville area alone, reps said the reach could be as many as 395,000 households.
"It kind of plants a seed and it leaves it up to the person that's watching; and if they're curious, to go further with it," Smith said.
The Fixed Point Foundation said it could cost half a million dollars to produce a spot like this for the Super Bowl. Taunton said contributions from donors allowed it to cost them a fraction of that amount.
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