NFL Cornerback Scott Starks: “I Got Down on My Knees and Asked God to Be the Lord of My Life” (Gospel Light Minute #224)

He is a former NFL cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison where he was also a track star. He played for the Jaguars from 2005 to 2010 and recorded 71 tackles. He is currently director of marketing at Kinetic Home Health in Jacksonville.

When he was playing in the NFL, he wrote a piece for Beyond the Ultimate describing how he came to faith in Christ:

“I’m 5’9 and probably 178 lbs on a good day. There’s no way I should be playing in the NFL. But here I am. And it is God’s love that puts everything into perspective for me. No matter what trials may come, if you can get back to the fact that God loves you, it puts everything into perspective.

“I went through a time where I built up a lot of pride because of the success I had on the field, in school and with girls. You know, sin feels good for a reason. It feels good when you’re doing it. But then I just felt empty inside. When I got to college it just got worse. And I knew exactly why that was. I got down on my knees and asked God for forgiveness and to be the Lord of my life.

“But it’s not like I had everything together in my life. I made the mistake of expecting God to give me everything I wanted. Then I had a real mediocre season. I was about to quit football and leave it all together. But I learned something really important — not to seek God for what he could do for me, but to just get to know Him better. It made so much sense.

“When you’re in a relationship with God, you look for His heart, not a hand-out. He wants a relationship with you. And once you get into learning more about Him, you learn more about yourself. That’s what the Bible is about, instructions for our life and how we should seek Him. It’s a relief.”

His name is Scott Starks.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Scott Starks gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” In fact, I am the chief of sinners, so don’t think that you’re alone.

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.

He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

NBA Player and Olympic Gold-medalist Michael Redd: I Want People to Say, ‘He Loved God and Represented Christ Well’ (Gospel Light Minute #223)

He is a retired professional basketball player. In 2000, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks and in 2002 set a then-NBA record after making eight three-point field goals in the fourth quarter. He was named to both the NBA All-Star and All-NBA Third Team in 2004. In 2011, he signed with the Phoenix Suns before retiring in 2013. Midway through his NBA career, he played for Team USA in the 2007 FIBA Americas tournament and went on to win gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

In a piece for Beyond the Ultimate, he described how he came to faith in Christ and what it has meant for his NBA success:

“I grew up in a Bible-believing home, my father being a pastor for 30 years; it’s all I’ve known. I received Jesus Christ [into my heart] when I was 17 years old but He didn’t really become personal to me until [some time after that]. It took some experiences, some trials and tribulations, that’s what helped develop my relationship with Christ over the last few years.

“God is Love, His Love is unconditional. God has pulled me out of situations that I knew I shouldn’t be in. But in His mercy, He loves me so much that He gives me a second chance [and] a third chance. I handle temptation by staying rooted in [reading and knowing] the Bible, and prayer. You literally have to do those things to avoid temptations. I walk in [God’s] Spirit and surround myself with people that love God and continue to encourage me.

“My dad is my role model, my hero. My dad has taught me everything I know as far as life and basketball. He has had a great impact on my life…to see what he’s gone through to be a fulltime dad, pastor and husband; it’s not an easy thing to do. Those are things I value, that is success.

“Success is being obedient to what God is telling you to do. Worldly achievements [like playing in the NBA] are a blessing from God, but not ultimate success. Winning championships, the Hall of Fame, or being mentioned as one of the best—MVP, these are not ultimate success.

“I believe basketball is the greatest sport in the world! But basketball is not who I am. I value my faith and my family more than basketball. After everything is said and done…after I retire, I want people to say, ‘He loved God and he represented Christ well.’”

His name is Michael Redd.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Michael Redd gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.

Alana Beard: ‘Good Things Will Come if I Wait On the Lord’ (Gospel Light Minute #223)

She is currently a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. In high school, she led her team to four consecutive state titles and was named a WBCA All-American. In college at Duke University, she became the first NCAA basketball player to collect over 2,600 points, 500 assist and 400 steals. She helped her team reach two Final Fours. Since being drafted, she has played in 4 WNBA All-Star games and in 2016, she helped the Sparks win the WNBA championship.

Growing up, she and her family attended church at Greenwood Acres Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana and at the age of 13, she gave her life to Christ. In an article for Sports Spectrum, there is a reason she doesn’t allow all the hype to go to her head. She said, “I believe in being humble because it’s in the Bible. Whenever I’m having problems or feel that nothing is going right, I always go to Matthew 6:25-32, which says that if you seek God’s kingdom first, everything else will be fine. Of course, I want to be the best. But I also believe in being patient. I know that good things will come when I wait on the Lord.”

Her name is Alana Beard. Continue reading “Alana Beard: ‘Good Things Will Come if I Wait On the Lord’ (Gospel Light Minute #223)” →

Robert Allen Dickey says God’s Grace Saved him from Suicide and Showed him ‘How to Stop Clinging and Start Living’ (Gospel Light Minute #222)

While in college at the University of Tennessee, he was named Academic All-American and Academic All-SEC. He is also a member of the 1996 US Olympic Baseball team that won a bronze medal. He is a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and one of only two active players in the majors who is skilled at throwing a knuckleball as a primary pitch. He has also played for the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays among other teams. In 2012, he played in his first All-Star Game, became the first knuckleball pitcher to win the Cy Young Award, and in 2013 received an honorary doctor of sacred letters degree from Wycliffe College in Toronto.

He describes his life and salvation experience in a 2015 article for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In June of 2007, his life, professional baseball career, and marriage were falling apart. Under the intense pain of being sexually abused by a 13-year-old female babysitter at the age of 8 and being molested by an older teenager in that same year, he felt the best way out was through suicide. At 32, he jumped into the Missouri River but it wasn’t God’s time for him to go. One of his teammates tracked him along the riverbank and reached in to pull him out of the river’s darkness.

God mercifully saved his life. He said, “I felt like He had a strong pull on my heart from then on. Whether I always pursued that was something else, but He always pursued me. Only God’s imagination can script a story like mine….I am amazed—and I’m not. I know that sounds funny. I feel loved, sure, and His grace is abundant in my life, but I also feel a responsibility. He’s given me things to do. It makes me feel like a tool in a good sense of the word, like he’s using me to make a difference this side of eternity. I feel a real purpose in that. That’s just His way. It also helps me to believe in a God that big. I’m never hopeless.”

He wrote in his 2012 memoir, “Wherever I Wind Up”: “The Missouri may not be holy water and people may not go there to be baptized and seek absolution of their sins, but nobody can tell me that God didn’t use it to humble me and help me and recharge my faith and reset my focus. I jumped in to prove my worth and failed spectacularly, but wound up with one of the greatest gifts of my life. What a deal. What a day—the day God’s grace showed me how to stop clinging … and start living.”

His name is Robert Allen Dickey.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Robert Allen Dickey gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Derek Fisher Puts Everything on His Faith in God (Gospel Light Minute #220)

He is a basketball coach, most recently head coach of the New York Knicks. He is a former point guard and shooting guard who played professionally for 18 seasons, mostly with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won five NBA championships. He also played for Golden State Warriors He is the all-time NBA record holder in playoff games played. He has also served as president of the National Basketball Players Association.

He said, “I just totally put everything on my faith in God. If I concentrate on something and work hard at it, something good will come out of it.”

In an interview with the 700 Club, he said, “God blessed me with an ability to play this game very well. So then, in response to that, to show Him that I appreciate that blessing, I’m supposed to try to be the best at playing the game of basketball. I know all of it is because of Him. There’s no question about it. The source of my power and strength is God, and I know it, without a shadow of a doubt.”

His name is Derek Fisher.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Derek Fisher gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Harvard and Yale Graduate Courtney B. Vance Realized he Needed the Lord (Gospel Light Minute #219)

He is an actor who is respected amongst his colleagues and praised as one of the best in the entertainment industry. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts and later attended Yale School of Drama to earn his Master of Fine Arts. He is notable for his roles in the feature films “Hamburger Hill” and “The Hunt for Red October,” the television series “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” in which he played Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver, and “The People v. O. J. Simpson,” in which he played Johnnie Cochran. For the latter, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He guest starred on the TNT series “The Closer as Chief Tommy Delk” from 2010–11. In 2013, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in “Lucky Guy.”

Along with being an actor, he is a dedicated husband to actress Angela Bassett; a father to twins, son Slater Josiah Vance and daughter Bronwyn Golden Vance; and a contributor to society. Faith plays a big role in his life. When he was cast as Reverend Henry Biggs in “The Preacher’s Wife,” he felt an overwhelming need to get in touch with his faith. He said: “I knew I wasn’t going to get into that role without coming to the Lord. I had been trying to do that my whole life. My family was raised in the church and then we stopped going to church when I was about nine or ten – so I was on that search. I didn’t really understand how much I needed my faith until I got married. Two become one – it’s a mystery and I needed help and to know how to do it.” Through counseling, service, and scripture, he gave his life to the Lord and got baptized at a historic Harlem, New York, church.

When asked how faith played a role in his acting journey, he said: “The difficult thing is viewing things from God’s eyes. From his perspective a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. So I have learned to look at the pauses in between, God is working something out and for me not to worry about it and for me to continue work. Just like a farmer is not standing over his seedlings waiting for them to grow. He is busy getting things done, preparing for that time when it’s time to harvest because when it’s time to harvest and you’re not prepared then you’re in trouble. It’s all about preparation and perceived blessings. I’m just trying to be prepared.”

To excel in having a relationship with God, he said: “[God] is asking us to let Him in and if we let Him in, He will give us the desires of our heart and ‘open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing we don’t have room enough to receive.’ That’s ours; that’s the promise.”

His name is Courtney B. Vance.

Track Star Trayvon Bromell Put his Faith in God to Get Through Difficult Times (Gospel Light Minute #218)

He is an American track and field athlete specializing in sprinting events. He is the first junior to surpass the 10-second barrier. He is majoring in film and digital media at Baylor University and completed his sophomore season with one NCAA title, three NCAA All-American honors, three Big 12 individual titles and five All-Big 12 accolades. In 2015, he won bronze at the World Championships in Beijing and gold in the World Indoor Championships in Portland in 2016. He competed in the 4-x-100 relay and the 100-meter dash in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

After suffering three injuries in three years, he told the Baylor Lariat, “It was a process. It made me stronger as a person, spiritually and physically. I put my faith in God, knowing he would get me through it. Throughout the whole thing it was a struggle because, really, where I’m coming from, you don’t have a lot of resources. I didn’t have the resources and my family didn’t either, but God got us through it and it all paid off.”

His name is Trayvon Bromell. Continue reading “Track Star Trayvon Bromell Put his Faith in God to Get Through Difficult Times (Gospel Light Minute #218)” →

Maya DiRado: ‘Being a Child of God Gives Me Quiet Confidence’ (Gospel Light Minute #220)

She is an American competitive swimmer who specializes in freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events. While at Stanford, she won NCAA titles in the 200 and 400 yard individual medley in 2014. After winning three individual events at the 2016 US Olympic Trials, she qualified to swim the 200 meter and 400 meter individual medley events, and the 200 meter backstroke at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2016 Olympic Games, she won the silver medal in the 400 meter individual medley, the bronze medal in the 200 individual medley, and the Gold Medal in the 4x200M relay event.

She shared with Christianity Today, “Knowing that I’m a child of God and that his love for me is determined by nothing I can achieve or do on my own has given me a quiet confidence. My faith has helped me chart my own course and pursue my goals when people around me may be going in different directions. Jesus’ love for me and all humanity is something that always helps me better love people around me when things get difficult.”

When asked what she thinks God does care about as she competes in Rio, she replied, “I think God cares about my soul and whether I’m bringing his love and mercy into the world. Can I be a loving, supportive teammate, and can I bless others around me in the same way God has been so generous with me?”

Her name is Maya DiRado.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Maya DiRado gave her life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

How Andra Day Began to ‘Rise Up’ Through Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #219)

She is a singer and songwriter signed to Warner Bros. “Cheers to the Fall”, her debut album released in 2015 was met with critical acclaim, and peaked at #48 on the Billboard 200 chart. At the 2016 Grammy Awards, her album was nominated for Best R&B Album and the album’s primary single “Rise Up” was nominated for Best R&B Performance.

In an extensive interview with Relevant Magazine, she describes how a low point in her life led her to faith in Jesus Christ.

She said, “My mother converted to Christianity when we were very young. When I got into my teen years and into my younger adulthood it was, ‘Yeah, yeah, I believe.’ But I was smoking weed, drinking heavily, into promiscuity—cheating on whoever I was with—just doing things selfishly, and doing music for my own sort of vain persona. I ended up moving out to New York … but my conscience just started to catch up with me. I told [God] everything I had done, I told my family everything I had done. Dealing with the guilt and the shame, you know, it was a very low point in my life. I didn’t have a job, completely broke, sleeping on my mom’s couch in her tiny little apartment. And any deal I had at the time basically fell through. It was a low point, but it was the greatest point in my life.”

She continued, “I rededicated my life to Christ. I was like, ‘I’m not playing games anymore, I’m not lukewarm, I’m not doing that anymore.’ I regret hurting someone, but I’m grateful for who I have become and how close I’ve been able to grow in Christ, because of all of that. I always say ‘those years were formative years. When I came back to San Diego, I literally told God, “God if you want me to do this, I’ll do this. If you want me to teach, I’ll be a teacher. If you want me to panhandle on the corner for you, I’ll do that.

“From there, that’s when the door with Stevie Wonder opened. When things that weren’t supposed to be there came through. Eventually, he introduced me to the producer I did the record with, Adrian Gurvitz.

And so from that moment we met and I got into the studio, I told myself, ‘Tell the truth, talk about everything. Talk about the heartbreak you inflicted, talk about the heartbreak you experienced. What you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, how you continue to try and grow.'”

When asked about her very personal album, she said, “It is Christ who empowered me to be able to say those things. You’re not trying to prove yourself anymore. All you are doing is being obedient, and that really lifts the burden and the worry of people’s opinions.”

When asked about the inspiration for her hit song “Rise Up” she replied, “You know, I pray about everything, and this song was no different. So it was kind of like, ‘God what do you want to talk about today?'”

And when asked how she connects with her audiences on stage, she said, “My band and I pray every time before we go on stage, that “His will is done.” Really, my desire is to communicate how powerful and how life-changing the love of Christ is. Without knowing Christ, you don’t know your potential—how big you really are, how powerful you really are. And I talk about being vulnerable, because you can’t be at His feet without being vulnerable.”

Her name is Andra Day.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Andra Day gave her life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Brock Mealer Had Faith in Christ for his Salvation and for his Ability to Walk Again After a Spinal Cord Injury (Gospel Light Minute #218)

He is the director of the Spinal Cord Injury Foundation. He graduated from high school in 2003 and spent much of his time working at his family’s construction company in Ohio. A car accident on Christmas Eve in 2007 while on their way to church, in which an elderly man ran a stop sign, left him paralyzed from his waist down and killed his father and brother’s girlfriend. Told he had a 1% chance of walking again, he persevered through tragedy and relied on his faith in God to finish his college degree in economics at Ohio State. He learned to walk with two canes and in 2010, led the Michigan Wolverines onto the field for their home opener. By 2012, he had learned to walk without canes and married his wife in 2012. His main aim in life is to share his faith and motivate others to strive for their goals.

At the Republican National Convention, he recalled his life’s story and that tragic event that helped to shape him. He said, “My spinal cord damage was about the worst she had ever seen. She said that I would likely never walk again — that even a one percent chance was overly optimistic. But that one percent was all I needed. Through it all, I had faith in Jesus Christ, I believed in myself and strived to make that one percent a reality.”

He went on to say, “Truthfully, God made that one percent a reality; His will, not mine. He blessed me with football coaches Rich and Mike, who gave me a fighting chance. His blessings enabled me to graduate from The Ohio State University and go on to be cheered by University of Michigan fans, as I led the Wolverines onto the field. He blessed me with my beautiful wife, Haley; we walked down the aisle together. He gave me countless other blessings. This very moment, for me, is a testament to God working all things for the good.”

His name is Brock Mealer.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as Brock Mealer gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings: “I Am a Christ-driven Human Being” (Gospel Light Minute #217)

He is the 61st mayor of Dallas, Texas and has been mayor since 2011. He is a graduate of Boston College. Before becoming mayor, he was the CEO of Pizza Hut. He was also a chief executive officer of the advertising agency, Tracy-Locke. Since his election, Dallas has seen increased economic growth and a significant drop in unemployment over the years. Along with running the city, he fights to improve public education, combat poverty, is also a prominent opponent of domestic violence, and pushes to elevate the city’s international profile. Recently, he was called a “natural, national leader”, by Black Christian News Network One (BCNN1.com), in light of the strong leadership he provided in the wake of the tragic police killings in Dallas, Texas.

He is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas and said of his faith in an interview with the Dallas Voice, “I am a Christ-driven human being.” Similarly in a 2013 discussion about faith being interjected into public schools, he said, “One of the first big words I learned in Sunday school as a kid was ‘omniscient’. I went on to learn ‘omnipresent’ which led me to think that if God was indeed everywhere, then he is in schools too. Surely we can create a new way to educate, to fund the best and the brightest in this country. For me, it starts with God being omnipresent in lives across this country.”

His name is Mike Rawlings. Continue reading “Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings: “I Am a Christ-driven Human Being” (Gospel Light Minute #217)” →

Dallas Police Chief David Brown: ‘A Strong, Christian Man who Relies on his Faith to Get Through Each Day’ (Gospel Light Minute #216)

He is the chief of the Dallas, Texas Police Department since 2010. He holds degrees from Dallas Baptist University, Amberton University, and the FBI National Academy, and is certified by the State of Texas as a master peace officer and a police instructor. He has been praised for his efforts to reform the police department to reduce violent confrontations between police officers and the community.

While he is an intensely private person, he is a dynamic leader as was evidenced in recent tragic events in Dallas with the shooting of five police officers. Anna Hill, president of the Dolphins Heights Neighborhood Association in Dallas, said “He takes his job seriously. He takes community seriously. If we have a problem in our neighborhood and we contact him, he answers.

Former Lancaster Police Chief Keith Humphrey said about him during a time of personal tragedy surrounding his own son, “He was very humble. You know, he never made any excuses for his son. He’s a strong, Christian man, and so he relies on his faith to get through each day, and that was demonstrated during the whole incident…It’s not about him, it’s about others. He is an amazing leader. What you see is what you get on TV. He’s not putting on an act, and he’s definitely not performing for the media. He cares.”

His pastor, Dr. Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, said, “He believes in bedrock Christian doctrine — faithful submission to God’s plan followed by an eternal reward. He sees his job as a “divine assignment” and brings a Biblical perspective to all his decision-making. He doesn’t compartmentalize his personal life and his professional life — he brings the same awareness of God to both. And he’s been able to keep leading the department despite his son’s death, through repeated calls for his ouster from his own officers, and now, this ambush. That’s because he has a “faith comfort level” that God has a reason for making things happen — even horrific things. There are innocent people who suffer for the wrong that people do. How God calculates that, I don’t know. All I do know is that nothing happens by chance. He sees himself as a representative of good fighting evil. That’s what keeps him grounded during tragedies and crises.”

His name is David Brown. Continue reading “Dallas Police Chief David Brown: ‘A Strong, Christian Man who Relies on his Faith to Get Through Each Day’ (Gospel Light Minute #216)” →

How David Tyree ‘Cried Out to God from a Jail Cell’ and Later Gave his Life to Christ (Gospel Light Minute #215)

He is a former wide receiver who played for seven seasons in the National Football League from 2003 to 2010. He played college football for Syracuse University. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens. In 2005, he earned a Pro Bowl selection as a special teams player.

He is best known for the miraculous Helmet Catch in 2008 which helped the New York Giants defeat the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII (42). He is currently the Director of Player Development for the New York Giants. He retired from football in 2010.

In 2006, along with his wife, he started Next In Line, a project that counsels teenagers in his hometown. In 2011, he became an advocate against legalization of same-sex marriage in New York.

He says of his journey to faith in Jesus Christ: “The environment where I grew up was ‘anything goes.’ My mother was a Christian but she never pressed it upon us, and I was not interested in hearing about it. I started drinking at age 13. During college I was getting drunk every weekend and blacking out from too much alcohol, not knowing what happened. Basically, I was a functional alcoholic. I also began using and selling marijuana.

“When I began playing in the NFL I had a lot more money, which made things worse, as the addictions were easy to satisfy. After my first season, I was pulled over and arrested for possession of marijuana. At the time, I was dating my girlfriend — now my wife — and she was pregnant with our second child. I cried out to Christ from the jail cell and confessed that I needed him to forgive me and change me.

“On March 14, 2004, I walked back into my church to get my life right. I saw a woman at church who was so happy, but I didn’t know why. I discovered that she had also been forgiven by Jesus Christ. She had true freedom and peace with God. I wanted that too and gave my life to God.

“Now I’m all about getting to know God more intimately and allowing my life to be a testimony that he still lives today. I can’t separate any portion of my life from Christ because He is living in me.

“I now have a life with endless possibilities. God allows me to live a life of freedom, hope and joy. I had fallen victim to the surroundings that our society is engulfed in — money, pleasure, fame — that’s what I sought after and football was my pinnacle. But now I strive to know God and His attributes so I can show them to others. God continues to blow my mind by giving me an opportunity to know Him.”

His name is David Tyree.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Just as David Tyree gave his life to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Chris Conley: Being a Christian is an ‘Every Day Lifestyle’ (Gospel Light Minute #214)

He is a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. He played college football for the University of Georgia and was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft.

He said of his faith, “I grew up in a Christian home with parents who took me to church, and we grew up reading the Bible. I accepted Christ at a young age but I really didn’t know what it meant then. Knowing what it means and living a Christian lifestyle has really only been since middle school.

“I was involved in the church youth group and went on a number of mission trips and other ministry opportunities. I was taught what it really means to be a Christian, not just in title but a real relationship. All those things helped my understanding grow, and I realized it was a lifestyle I would have to work on every day of my life. Continue reading “Chris Conley: Being a Christian is an ‘Every Day Lifestyle’ (Gospel Light Minute #214)” →

Nick Hundley: ‘No Matter What is Going On, Jesus is in Control’ (Gospel Light Minute #213)

He is an American professional baseball catcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball. He played three seasons with the University of Arizona Wildcats and was named by Baseball America to the second All-America team in 2005. He has also played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. Continue reading “Nick Hundley: ‘No Matter What is Going On, Jesus is in Control’ (Gospel Light Minute #213)” →