St. Louis man crusades to keep

more bars out of ballpark area

By Susan Mires

Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS – Tim Jones walks and prays.

He lets the sandwich board strapped over his body tell the message: No more bars.

“My idea is just to walk, pray and praise the Lord every which way I go,” Jones said.

He’s just one guy with a passion, but people are taking notice and his God-inspired vision may end up shaping St. Louis’s future. Jones is asking the city not to put any bars or taverns in the proposed Ballpark Village next to Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.

“I’m saying enough is enough,” Jones said. “There are already 34 bars within a three-block radius of the stadium.”

He became burdened with the idea one evening while watching the local news. The first news item detailed how a highway worker was killed by a drunk driver; the next was about plans to develop the Ballpark Village as an entertainment district with bars and restaurants.

Jones, a father of five and a member of Cross Keys Baptist Church in Florissant, said he realized there’s no place downtown that’s suitable for families to spend the day.

He also points to a troubling number of events in St. Louis recently. The Cardinals’ own manager was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence. Pitcher Josh Hancock was drinking the night he died in a car crash after a game. In February alone, seven people died in drunk driving accidents around St. Louis.

“We have to find a way to stop enabling that to happen,” Jones said.

He felt led to prayer-walk around the new Busch Stadium, near the future Ballpark Village development. He started in January and every week day since then, he has walked around the stadium seven times.

One trek around is about a half mile, so it takes him about an hour each day to make seven laps. He’s worn out a pair of shoes and worn blisters on his feet. As he walks, he prays for the area and the people passing by. Occasionally, they ask what he’s doing and he gets a chance to share.

His message is laser-focused on creating one area that is family friendly. He doesn’t suggest shutting down any existing businesses, nor does he preach about the dangers of drinking.

“I’m not talking about what has happened in the past. I want to talk about what the future needs to be,” he said.

Jones, 44, is familiar with the heartache of alcoholism. He grew up in bars with a mother who was into the party scene. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army and became an alcoholic.

Having been set free from addiction by Jesus Christ, he feels a burden for his community. Since the prayer walking started, he organized the campaign under the name One Voice.

“All it took was one voice,” Jones said. “I truly believe prayer is the answer. I also believe it is Christians’ responsibility to do something about the moral wrongness of society.”

A Christ-like – and legal – approach is essential, Jones said. He doesn’t get emotional; he simply shares the facts about his campaign. He must work the No More Bars effort around his job and family life, as well as classes at Bible college. He and his wife care for foster children and he’s an active deacon at Cross Keys.

“His whole approach has been servant-minded from the beginning,” said Jim Wells, Jones’ pastor at Cross Keys.

The No More Bars campaign started so quietly that few members knew about it at first, Wells said. But Jones’ example has been inspiring.

“He went about this as a response to what God laid on his heart without a lot of fanfare and without a lot of planning,” Wells said. “He had the nerve to trust God and do all of this.”

It’s an uphill battle in St. Louis, home of Anheuser-Busch. The stadium around which he walks is named for the brewery’s founder, and drinking is ingrained in the city’s culture.

Yet, the idea is taking root. Jones said whenever he talks to people they see the sense of his proposal. While walking and praying, he has encountered many people who have been personally affected by drinking, such as a police officer whose partner was permanently disabled when he was struck by a drunk driver while on duty.

Creating an alcohol-free area would also help achieve the city’s goal of bringing more people into downtown, Jones said.

His crusade has attracted attention. He’s been interviewed on local television and radio stations.

Wells said he has enjoyed watching Jones become excited and grow with the campaign.

“Tim is just glowing in the things God is doing in him and through,” he said.

A rally is being planned for April 18. More information is available at Jones’ web site www.gotothetruth.com.

“We’re calling all Christians to make a stand and show the city and the Cardinals organization this is a one-voice thing,” Jones said.

He has no idea how many people to expect. He only hopes to bring people together to raise awareness of the issue while honoring God in every aspect.

“I don’t know the whole outcome, but I do know God will have His glory,” Jones said.