Tim Tebow – Athlete, Celebrity, and Modern Day Hero of the Christian Faith
Intro
I have been doing a series of “Heroes of the Faith” posts over the past two years featuring such well known heroes as:
- Mother Theresa
- Billy Graham
- Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire)
- William Booth (Founder of the Salvation Army)
- William Tyndale (Translated the Bible into English and was burned at the Stake for it)
- Gladys Alward (Missionary to China featured in the movie Inn of the Sixth Happiness)
- Many other lesser known but still giant Heroes of the Faith
I think its time to acknowledge a current, up-to-the-minute Hero of the Faith, Tim Tebow.
Background
I am a football fan and that’s how I and millions of other football fans first heard the name, Tim Tebow.
Does football have anything to do with being a Hero of the faith?
Well, yes and no.
There are certainly many faithful Christian athletes in football and all of sports as well as many who do not follow a faith.
So what is the connection between the two things, faith and football in Tim’s case?
I’m not sure I can capture the full dimensions of the connection but it includes:
-
Tim Tebow Tebowing by en.wikipedia.org
Tim’s zeal and commitment to both faith and football
- The “platform” of national and international media attention that football has provided that openly and famously includes Tim’s evidence of his personal Christian faith
- Tim’s continuing connection to sports as a broadcaster and his continuing connection to a widening expression of his Christian faith through charitable works by the Tim Tebow Foundation and in other ways.
I see Tim Tebow as a sort of Apostle Paul (although not in Paul’s apostolic and church planting, Bible book writing roles). Like Paul, Tim expends much time and energy on works of love and compassion in the name of Christ. And, like Paul, he makes his own living in his area of secular expertise.
I think the best and most heroic years for Tim Tebow still lie ahead.
But I also think is is a Hero of the Faith already.
Biographical Info
Tim was in some jeopardy of not being born at all or being born with limitations as you will read or hear in the Bio links below.
His physical development was normal and his faith and family development was a parent’s best dream.
Follow along Tim’s journey through these links for several minutes. It is time well spent.
http://www.biography.com/people/tim-tebow-20786869
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tebow
Tim’s Charitable Work
Tim spends much of his waking hours building the outreach of his foundation, Tim Tebow Foundation. He also does many personal appearances at families or facilities where children are suffering in various ways. He is their hero even though they may never have known or seen him as an athlete.
Make a Wish with Tim Tebow by jacksonville.com
Tim Tebow, on the mission of his foundation:
“When I was a student at the University of Florida, I found great joy in taking time to encourage children suffering from cancer in hospitals or visiting a prison or juvenile detention center, or doing mission work with my family at Uncle Dick’s Orphanage in the Philippines. College football and Gator nation are so popular it enables an athlete like me to establish a platform for doing good deeds, so this new Foundation is a way to take this experience to an even greater level of outreach and influence. … After my professional career, I plan on giving my life full time to this outreach. So the Tebow Foundation is a beginning step in this process.”
The foundation has a website that gives more information about the scope of outreach it supports and some of the results of the work so far.
Take a look at:
http://www.timtebowfoundation.org/
Tim also has his own informational website at:
My Personal Connection
I have a personal connection with my Hero of the Faith through a family I know at my Lakeland, Florida church.
The Fettke family is a wonderful family of 5 which includes Phillip who is 30 years of age and is affected by autism.
Phillip and his mom, Tilly, were able to attend a “Night to Shine” event hosted by a local Lakeland church and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation on February 13, 2015.
Tillie wrote this Letter to the Editor of the Lakeland Ledger describing the event and its value to participants.
Thanks, North Lakeland Presbyterian Church, Tim Tebow Foundation
Published: Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 12:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 9:43 p.m.
On Feb. 13, my 30-year-old autistic son, Phillip, and I attended the “Night to Shine” dinner and dance for the disabled, held at North Lakeland Presbyterian Church and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. In 50 cities across the nation, this event was held Feb. 13 at host churches.
After arriving, my son received his boutonniere, and we were photographed by Cruz Photography. We strolled down the red carpet entrance and danced to some great music before being seated and served a wonderfully healthy dinner, provided by Fresno’s Restaurant.
After more dancing, we took a fabulous limousine ride and watched some “Dancing with the Stars,” whose participants were disabled. Such enthusiastic applause was given by their peers!
A dessert bar was easily accessible. At the conclusion, each guest was given a goody bag, which contained the professional photograph taken earlier and a Night to Shine frame and drink cup to commemorate this marvelous event.
The church was beautifully decorated, the workers were kind, and the 105 guests, each of whom was joined by his or her buddy, were ecstatic. As for my son, he had not been to a dance since he completed his educational career at Doris Sanders Learning Center in 2006. A Ledger Garland needs to be awarded to the NLPC congregation in conjunction with the Tim Tebow Foundation for hosting such an event.
The truth is: NLPC has maintained a “Buddy Break Program” for the disabled and has learned to love them, not in just word or speech, but in truth and action. Thank you, NLPC and the Tim Tebow Foundation, for putting feet on your faith.
LORRAINE K. TILLY FETTKE
Lakeland
Conclusion
I am sure that some readers will say it is too early put Tim Tebow in the same category of the other Heroes of the Faith I mentioned above.
Others may see his contributions as less important than translating the Bible into English (or other languages) or holding evangelistic crusades or being a foreign missionary for a lifetime.
I say that in the current environment, the media and much of the public glorify athletic achievement but ignore glaring moral or other character flaws.
By contrast, Tim faced relentless media and other public criticism not only for every football mistake he made but far more for his public expressions of his Christian faith.
Tim has not wavered from his steadfast view that his Christian faith and the working out of it in his life is the most important part of his life.
He has carried the torch for Christ every bit as well as Eric Liddell and my other heroes did.
What do you think?
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