Tim Tebow to speak at Easter service

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - Newly traded Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is set to be the special guest at an Easter Sunday service at Celebration Church in Georgetown.

Tebow was traded Wednesday to the New York Jets, ending speculation of a trade after the Broncos signed Peyton Manning this week.

The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Florida is set to be a special guest speaker for the 10 a.m. service, "Easter on the Hill." The service will be held outdoors on the 110-acre campus of Celebration Church.

There will not be opportunities to meet the popular player or get Tebow's autograph at the Easter service.

Families are encouraged to bring friends, blankets or lawn chairs to sit on, and snacks. There is no charge to attend the Easter Sunday service. The church is located at 1202 Rabbit Hill Road.

Celebration Church was founded in 2000 by Senior Pastor Joe Champion and his wife, Lori. Champion is a former Louisiana State University football player. He is the son of a former National Football League coach, one who also coached in the Canadian Football League.

“As the son of an NFL coach," Champion said, "and also someone who came to know Christ thanks to two NFL players who were willing to share the Gospel with me, I am extremely excited to have Tim Tebow with us this year. We believe this year’s service will impact the lives of those who would never enter the doors of a church.”

Gates leading to the hill will open at 8 a.m. on Sunday, April 8. No parking is available on site at the church campus, but instead church-goers will be able to park in areas around the Round Rock and Georgetown area, including Round Rock Premium Outlets, Texas State University, Dell Diamond and H-E-B in Cedar Park. Shuttle buses will transport people to the site of the service starting at 8 a.m., with bus service ending at 2 p.m.

Carpooling is recommended, as well.

Items not allowed at the service include:

• Weapons of any kind
• Framed or large backpacks
• Grills
• Alcohol
• Glass containers
• Skateboards, scooters or personal motorized vehicles
• Bicycles inside Festival grounds (bike racks are available near each entrance)
• Carts of any kind (including red wagons)
• Large chains or spiked jewelry
• Fireworks
• Explosives
• Large umbrellas
• Non-collapsible chairs
• Hard-sided coolers
• Tents
• Pets (except service dogs)
• Video equipment. No video recording will be allowed.
• Professional still camera equipment. No professional zoom lenses, stands, tripods or commercial use rigs
• Audio recording equipment
• No illegal vending is permitted. No unauthorized/unlicensed vendors allowed.
• Unauthorized solicitations, handbills, sampling, give-aways, etc.
• Metal aerosol containers, including sunscreen.

According to Celebration Church, both the Georgetown and Round Rock police and fire departments will be on site to provide security and emergency medical services as needed, along with a private security company.

No child care service will be provided. However, if a child gets separated from a parent, the church has a plan in place to deal with it.

During his college career, Tebow earned the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top football player, the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback and the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s most outstanding amateur athlete in any sport. As an NFL player in his rookie season, Tebow became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in each of his first three career starts.

• More news on the trade to the Jets