Tebow attracts 15,000 to Easter service

GEORGETOWN, Texas -- Tim Tebow drew a crowd of about 15,000 to an outdoor Easter church service yesterday, telling the gathering it's important to be outspoken about faith while admonishing athletes about not being better role models.

"In Christianity, it's the Pope and Tebow right now," Celebration Church pastor Joe Champion said. "We didn't have enough room to handle the Pope."

Tebow -- devout Christian, backup Jets quarterback and cultural phenomenon -- has a flock of admirers drawn as much to his religious leanings as his Heisman Trophy skills.

He told them he welcomed the attention on his convictions as well as the prayer pose he often strikes on the field because it puts his faith and prayer in the public conversation.

"It's being talked about," he said. "That's exciting."

Some at the "Easter on the Hill" morning service under sunny skies about 20 miles north of Austin drove more than 100 miles to hear Tebow speak. The service took on the feel of a rock concert, with more than 100 school buses shuttling people to the sprawling megachurch campus from local shopping centers and the nearby college.

The service was peppered with Christian rock songs and Tebow took the stage to cheers from those who could see him. Others at the back watched on huge video screens. Tebow sat for a 20-minute interview with Champion about his faith and its role in his public life.

"It's OK to be outspoken about your faith," he said.

He also took a shot at professional athletes who insist they are not role models. "Yes you are. You're just not a good one," Tebow said.

Champion asked Tebow what he thought needed to change culturally in America.

"First and foremost is what this country was based on: one nation under God. The more that we can get back to that," Tebow said to applause.

Church officials say that while they typically get their biggest crowds on Easter, Tebow was clearly the big draw yesterday. Several hundred people started heading to the exits after he spoke, not waiting for Champion's main sermon, so they could avoid the 80-degree heat and beat the traffic.

Some couldn't wait for the official 8 a.m. opening to the church grounds and showed up hours early.

Debbie Sandoval and her husband and two sons arrived before sunrise. They wore Tebow's Jets jerseys and set up camp close to the large soundstage.

About an hour before the service, one person dressed as the Sesame Street character Elmo dropped to a knee with a boy to mimic Tebow's on-field prayer pose.