Candace Cameron Bure: “God Has Changed Me in Ways that Words Cannot Describe” (Gospel Light Minute #132)

She is an actress, producer, author, loving wife and mother of three. She is perhaps best known for her role as D.J. Tanner on the hit television series “Full House” from ages 10 to 18 which ran from 1987 to 1995. She is the sister of actor Kirk Cameron. Her other film credits include: “Punchline”, “The Wager”, and “To the Wall.” Her television credits include: “Cybill”, “Boy Meets World”, “Make It or Break It”, “The Heart of Christmas”, and “Let It Snow” among others. She was nominated for the Young Artist Award seven times primarily for her role in “Full House”, and she won the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award in 1994.

She says of her faith, “When I was growing up, my family wasn’t Christian. We didn’t talk about God and I didn’t know anything about him. When I was twelve years old, my parents told us we were going to church; a friend had invited us. It was strange to me, and I giggled at the thought of God. But as we continued to go every Sunday, my heart felt warm, and I saw how happy my mom, brother and sister were. I decided that I wanted to feel the same way. It was Jesus Christ that was producing this change in them, so one Sunday morning, I asked Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. I was baptized along with some of my family at a later service. I was extremely excited about what I thought was my new Christian life.”

As a teenager, her popularity caused church to become an after thought .She said, “It wasn’t until I read the book Left Behind that I started rethinking my Christian life. There was one character that stood out to me. Pastor Bruce Barnes. He was left behind after the Rapture had occurred. I could not understand how a pastor could be left behind and figured the authors had probably never read a Bible! But, the book went on to explain, and it was my own ignorance that had me to believe that I could ask God into my heart, live my life the way I wanted to (even if it was not pleasing to the Lord), and still go to Heaven when I died.”

She said, “After reading a book my brother gave to me, now called The Way of the Master it changed my walk with God forever! It talked about the 10 commandments, and showed me my sin in it’s true light. You see, when I prayed the “sinner’s prayer” that day in church when I was 12, I asked God to forgive my sins. But I didn’t even know what my sin was. But, the law showed me my sin. As I went through every commandment, I saw that I’d broken all of them. Then I learned that God was going to judge me by this standard, not the world’s standard. So, while I thought I was a good person compared to other people, I saw that I was a horribly bad person by God’s standard. It was then that I truly recognized and understood my sin and what Jesus did for me. I broke the Law, and Jesus paid my fine. God has changed me in ways that words can’t describe. He has transformed the way I think and live my life. Things that were once important to me are no longer. I can’t help but share the Good News with everyone! I know there is nothing more important. I know that without Christ, the eternal consequences are devastating. I urge you to surrender your whole life to Jesus, turn from your sin and trust in Him with all your heart. Pick up a bible, and start reading.”

Her name is Candace Cameron Bure.

Rashad Jennings: ‘If You Put God First, He Will Take Care of Everything Else in Your Life’ (Gospel Light Minute #131)

He is a running back for the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft before going to the Raiders in 2013. He played college football at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Before transferring to Liberty, he attended the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 and became only the fourth true freshman running back to start there.

At Liberty, he set a Big South Conference record with 3,633 yards with 42 TDs and a 5.7-yards-per-carry average. He holds numerous rushing records including most rushing yards and touchdowns in a single season and most 100-yard consecutive, single-season, and career games. He also played high school football at Liberty Christian Academy where he helped the team advance from a 0-11 season to a 10-1 season in two years.

He says of his faith in God, “I am truly humbled to be in the position I am. There is nothing special about me; I am just in a special position, and it is my job to utilize it to advance the kingdom. My faith is what got me here. My faith is going to keep me here. A part of playing in this game is to make sure that I witness to as many guys as I can; that truth (the Gospel) is going to last longer than the NFL.” He says his time at Liberty University showed him that “if you do things the right way, if you put God first and give him honor in your life, He will take care of everything else.”

His name is Rashad Jennings.

LL Cool J says, “I Am a Christian” and “I Love God” (Gospel Light Minute #130)

He is a rapper, entrepreneur, and actor. He has released thirteen studio albums and two greatest hits compilations including “Mama Said Knock You Out” in 1990 and “The DEFinition” in 2004. His latest album “Authentic” was released on April 30, 2013. He is well known for the popular hip-hop tracks, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”, “I’m Bad”, and “Rock The Bells” among others. He has also appeared in numerous films and TV shows including: “Krush Groove”, “Charlie’s Angels”, “Deliver Us from Eva”, “Last Holiday”, “Kingdom Come” and “30 Rock”.

He is currently starring on the CBS crime drama TV series, “NCIS: Los Angeles” as Special Agent Sam Hanna. He has won several awards including, a Grammy award in 1992 and 1997; an MTV Best Rap Video Music Award in 1991; 4 NAACP Image Awards; and 2 Soul Train Music Awards. He was inducted into Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

In an interview with Crosswalk, he talked extensively about his faith. He said, “I’m a Christian. Faith is a huge part of what I do, on every level – and I mean from salvation to tithes and offerings, and on every level and every dynamic that you can think about. … I was raised in church, and I read the Bible constantly. I stay in the Word constantly, on every level, because ultimately I think that we need that strength. You need that power in your life – that wisdom and discernment. You need that rain on all the seeds that are inside of you, and constantly nurture that potential that God placed inside of you, by watering it with that Word and constantly getting that in you, so that you can deal with the industry, so that you can deal with the trials and tribulations and temptations that come your way because of film, because of television, music and various other areas of the world, and the industry that I’m in. For me, it started off as a boy, and here I am.”

Asked how he nurtures his faith in the music and film industry, he said, “It’s kind of interesting. Sometimes, you have to let your life be the testimony. You have to let your life and yourself be the example. If I can be successful in the secular world and give God the glory, then it’s not so difficult. If ultimately he gets the glory, then the proof is in the pudding. If I can go out and claim a victory for God, and if I can go out and do incredibly exciting things and take my life to new dimensions and new levels and, at the end of the day, when I’m standing in the end zone, give God the glory, then I’ve done my job. Yeah, you get some of those weird vibes that people have because they fear being looked upon as different from everyone else when they talk about God. But for me, I love God, and I’ve never had a problem with going out in front and saying that it’s because of the tithes and offerings, and because of the faith and because of the fact that I’m willing to step out of everything worldly that I’m able to be in this position. I don’t have a problem saying that. It doesn’t bother me.”

His name is LL Cool J.

How God Helped Interstate Battery CEO Norm Miller Overcome Alcoholism and Find New Life in Christ (Gospel Light Minute #128)

He is the chairman of Interstate Battery. From humble beginnings as a salesman, he worked his way up through the departmental ranks of the company to become CEO. He expanded the company’s dealerships to over 200,000 across America and helped build up a brand name and reputation that is known for excellence and honesty.

As a young child growing up in Galveston, Texas, he often watched his father drink heavily on many evenings after work. Consequently, when he entered junior high, he began drinking as well. His drinking and partying continued all the way through high school and college. After college, he got a job with Interstate which kept him on the road a lot, and many days after working on cars and trucks, he would drink until the bar closed in the wee hours of the morning.

However, on one occasion, he was driving home after a night of drinking and got pulled over by the police. He says in his testimony: “I already had been convicted of two DUIs, but somehow I talked my way out of getting arrested. When I woke up the next morning all hung over, I called in sick to work. Then as I lay there in bed, the truth overwhelmed me. I was an alcoholic just like my father. I’d lost control of my life. That was a frightening realization! At the very instant I realized I had become an alcoholic, I blurted out in a half-yell of desperation, ‘God, help me! I can’t handle it!’ I’ll never forget those words, because He took the compulsion to drink away completely. It was over right then. I realize it doesn’t happen that way for everyone, but it did for me, and I’m eternally thankful. The weird thing is that if you’d asked me the day before if I believed in God, I would have told you that I didn’t know — that I hadn’t given much thought to it.”

After a friend came along and shared with him the truth of the Bible, he gradually began to understand it, and it began to take hold in his heart. He goes on to say, “An important verse for me was, ‘Seek and you shall find…’ I told God that if He was for real, I was a ‘seeker’ and I wanted to find the TRUTH. The Bible says that ‘Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.’ It teaches that we’re all ‘slaves’ — not just to alcohol and drugs, but to sin. Each of us has sinned against God and gone our own way, independent of Him. With a self-centered, do-our-own-thing attitude, all of our lives have fallen short of God’s intentions for us. Just as the Bible says in Romans 3:23, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ I knew that was true for me! But the good news is that ‘the Truth shall make you free,’ and Jesus Christ is the Truth! So I accepted Him just as the Bible teaches: as my Lord and Savior, as God’s only begotten Son who died as payment for MY sins. In Him is the forgiveness of sin and the power of self-control in being freed from the bondage of sin. Jesus is the gift of freedom, the power for living, and He gives eternal life!”

Today, he serves as a board member for Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas Seminary Foundation, the Overseas Council and BEE World. He is co-founder of the Great American Race and a founding team member of I Am Second. His name is Norm Miller.

The Faith of Paul Walker: “Who Couldn’t Believe There’s a God?” (Gospel Light Minute #127)

He was a famous American actor. He gained fame in 1999 for his role in the film “Varsity Blues”. He is perhaps best known, however, for playing Brian O’Conner in “The Fast and Furious” film series. His other films include: Eight Below, Joy Ride, and Takers. His television credits include: Highway to Heaven. Touched by an Angel, and Shark Week, among others.

Before his untimely death on November 30, 2013, he spoke of his conversion from Mormonism to Christianity in an interview with USA Today. Although he was raised as a member of the Mormon church, he attended Sun Valley’s Village Christian School as a teenager, and later in life became a Christian. He said, “I’m a Christian now. The thing that drove me crazy growing up was how everyone works at fault-finding with different religions. The people I don’t understand are atheists. I go surfing and snowboarding and I’m always around nature. I look at everything and think, ‘Who couldn’t believe there’s a God? Is all this a mistake?’ It just blows me away.” He was on his way to attend an event for the typhoon victims in the Philippines hosted by his charity, Reach Out WorldWide, when he passed from this life into the next.

His name is Paul Walker.

How Alfred Morris Chose to Stop Just ‘Professing to be a Christian’ and Start Living Like One (Gospel Light Minute #126)

[audio https://gospellightminute.buzzsprout.com/3192/133959-how-alfred-morris-chose-to-stop-just-professing-to-be-a-christian-and-start-living-like-one-gospel-light-minute-126.mp3]

Alfred Morris

He is a running back for the Washington Redskins. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Redskins. He played college football at Florida Atlantic University. He holds career records at Florida Atlantic University in carries, rushing yards, and touchdowns. He broke Washington’s records for single-season rushing yards and rookie rushing touchdowns in 2012. And he became the fourth player in NFL history to record more than 1,600 rushing yards as a rookie.

Growing up in poverty, he credits his mother and father for instilling in him morals, values and beliefs in family, taking him to church every week and introducing him to what it means to have a relationship with Christ. As he progressed through high school and college, he said, “I realized I had professed Christianity throughout my life and given God the glory, but I was still doing a lot of the worldly, college-kid stuff. God was blessing me and opening doors, but, when I honestly looked at myself, I saw that I was lukewarm in my faith, one foot in and one foot out.”

“That all changed when I hit a rough patch during my junior year. A couple days before a game, I had so much going on and was feeling overwhelmed with it all. Things piled up, and I hit rock bottom. Broken down, I called out to the Lord and told Him I couldn’t do this life on my own anymore. I gave it all to Him that day and jumped in with both feet. I gave God my heart and have never been the same since. I felt the pureness of God’s love and how all He wants is a relationship with each of us and to shower us with His unconditional love. It’s been an amazing journey since then.”

He is thankful now for the Redskins’ chaplain and for his teammates who encourage him daily in his walk with Christ. He said, “Professing Christ can be a popular thing to do, but living as He’s called us to isn’t easy. We all fall short of His glory, but to be able to walk the walk with others and be there for each other is the true definition of being a teammate. I thank God for transforming me and being the solid rock on which I stand. He has never left me. Without Him, I would have given up a long time ago. He’s blessed me with the abilities to play this game, and in return I play to glorify Him. He is, was, and always will be the true prize.”

His name is Alfred Morris.

Ben Zobrist: Learning to Trust God Through the Ups and Downs (Gospel Light Minute #125)

He is a professional baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays. His versatility on the field allows him to play most positions except pitcher and catcher. He has been second baseman for the Rays since 2009. In 2009, he earned a trip to his first All Star Game in St. Louis. While there the Baseball Writers Association of America named him MVP of the Rays for that year.

Growing up as the son of a Baptist preacher in Eureka, Illinois, he played baseball since he was eight-years-old. He became a Christian at an early age and as he grew older, his faith in God increased. After no scouts looked at him when he graduated from high school, he thought his career was over, but God had other plans for him. Soon God opened up doors for him to play at Olivet Nazarene University, and then at Dallas Baptist University where he played shortstop.

During the in-between times when he was uncertain of his baseball career, he said, “I wondered why God allowed this to happen and I started to have lots of doubts. But God allows things to happen the way He wants, and we need to accept it joyfully and to love Him through things that don’t happen the way we would like in life. The Bible says: ‘And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.’ Being sent up and down in both 2007 and 2008 was a great lesson for me. I had a prideful and wrong attitude about success. God was saying to me, ‘Keep working, keep glorifying Me; wherever you are, don’t grow weary in doing good for in due time, you will reap.’ I am learning to enjoy the experience God put me in at the moment and glorifying Him in that.”

His former teammate Brian Shouse said of him, “Ben is the kind of player you would want on your team…he plays hard, he wants to learn and improve, and he has a great attitude. He is a very active Christian and he looks for ways he can help and encourage others in life. He has found peace and joy in his life through his faith in Jesus.”

His name is Ben Zobrist.

London Fletcher: ‘I Was Living in Darkness for So Long; But When I Accepted Christ, My Eyes Were Opened’ (Gospel Light Minute #124)

He is a middle linebacker for the Washington Redskins. Before signing with the Redskins, he played for the St. Louis Rams and the Buffalo Bills. Well known for never missing a game in his career, he is ranked first among active players in this regard with over 200 starts. He was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and to the Second-team All-Pro twice. He helped his team, the St. Louis Rams win Super Bowl 34 in 2000. He won the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award in 2012 and was the Washington Redskins’ Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December 2012.

He says of his faith in Christ, “For several months in 2004, I felt God was telling me to come to Him. But I resisted the call until after the first Bible study that Fred Raines, a chaplain with Athletes in Action, had at training camp. I was excited to accept and follow Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was tired of living the life that I was living. I knew I couldn’t do this on my own. I felt a fulfillment inside that I had been searching for. I spent years chasing things I thought would bring me everlasting joy and happiness: chasing Super Bowl rings or a multi-million dollar contract; or a new house, cars and jewelry. None of those things did for me what Christ did in an instant.”

“I grew up in a home where my grandmother had us in church. It was more of a routine thing to do. I would hear people talk about how Christ changes you, but I was skeptical then. I was living in the darkness for so long. But when I accepted Christ, my eyes were opened; I wanted to shout and tell the world. I called and told my best friend — all the friends that I knew — that I had received Christ. I wanted them to really experience the joy that I felt. I was so thirsty; I really wanted to experience all that God wanted to give me. I didn’t just want to keep the relationship I had with the Lord on the inside. I wanted it to be an outward expression as well and that’s why I was excited about getting baptized that following week [after I gave my life to Jesus Christ].”

“I encourage you today: if you already haven’t made the decision to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior — don’t hesitate. Don’t be discouraged by someone else. Accept Christ in your heart. Admit to Him that you’re a sinner. I believe that this is the best decision you will make in your life.”

His name is London Fletcher.

Russell Okung Never Knew his Father, but says the Heavenly Father has Always Been Present (Gospel Light Minute #123)

[audio https://gospellightminute.buzzsprout.com/3192/129012-russell-okung-never-knew-his-father-but-says-the-heavenly-father-has-always-been-present-gospel-light-minute-123.mp3]

He is an offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks who was drafted as the 6th overall pick in 2010. He played college football for Oklahoma State University. While there, he was twice recognized as an All-American.

Raised in a single-parent household, he never met his father. However, he learned at an early age to focus on God and allow God’s peace to rule his life. He said of his faith, “My father passed when I was a very young boy. I have never had my father in my life, but my heavenly Father has always been present. The Lord has placed plenty of outstanding mentors in my life to help facilitate my walk. I’m blessed enough to have God fearing men of great valor and integrity to help me. My faith is important to me because I realize that I’m not in this world by accident. My faith speaks to my heart. It gives me confidence, strength, and renews me each day. Though I don’t physically see my faith, I see it manifested through my life, with my platform, off and on the field as well as my personal life. My faith is my rock!”

His name is Russell Okung.

Dallas Clark: How the Death of his Mother Moved him Closer to God (Gospel Light Minute #119)

[audio http://www.buzzsprout.com/3192/121226-dallas-clark-how-the-death-of-his-mother-moved-him-closer-to-god-gospel-light-minute-119.mp3]

He is a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens. Before signing with the Ravens, he played with the Indianapolis Colts from 2003−2011 with whom he won Super Bowl 41. He also played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012. During his college career at the University of Iowa, he earned All-American honors, and was recognized as the top college tight end in the nation. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2009. And his team was twice named AFC Champions in 2006 and in 2009.

He says of his faith that his mother’s death before his high school graduation pushed him toward God. He said, “Graduating from high school is supposed to be one of the greatest moments of your life. You’re looking forward to college; feeling like you’re on top of the world, all set to run off and explore everything life has in store for you. Four days before my graduation, that’s exactly how I felt. But then something happened that changed things in a hurry: My mother passed away. Suddenly, my entire future looked a lot different. I had every reason to sink down into the dumps at that point, to be bitter at the world and everyone in it. But my mother’s death actually pushed me in the opposite direction instead. It helped to strengthen my belief that God is in control of things, and that even though bad things happen, they happen for a reason. In my mom’s case, even though I thought she was the best person in the world, I really feel that her time here was done. She got me through high school, and now it’s my turn to go out and use what she taught me to make the world a better place. You may be going through a similar loss right now. If so, I feel for you. But I encourage you not to get stuck there. Bring it to God, and ask Him to help you make sense of things. Speaking from experience, I realize such events can feel like the end. But if you give them over to God, He can show you how to make them a new beginning.”

His name is Dallas Clark.

Anquan Boldin: My Faith is What Keeps Me Focused (Gospel Light Minute #117)

He is a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens in 2010. After helping the Ravens win Super Bowl 47, he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He was named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times in 2003, 2006, and 2008. His other records include: most receptions in a rookie season, most receiving yards in a first career game, and most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career, among others.

He said of his Christian faith: “That’s just who I am; that’s just my faith. No matter what goes on in my life; surgeries, injuries, hard times or whatever, I’m a man of faith and I believe that’s one of the reasons I’m here today. Faith is what keeps me grounded; it’s what keeps me focused. Through life you are going to go through some ups and downs, you are going to go through some hardships, but me being grounded in my faith I think truly is the reason that I’m here.”

His name is Anquan Boldin.

Matt Hasselbeck: “God Doesn’t Need My Ability. He Just Needs My Availability.” (Gospel Light Minute #116)

He is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1998, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. During his time there, he led the Seahawks to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl appearance.

After ten seasons with the Seahawks, he joined the Tennessee Titans for a brief period in 2011. After being released, he signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. He was selected to three Pro Bowls in 2003, 2005, and 2007 and to the All-Pro in 2005.

When he was in the first grade, his parents came to Christ. He said, “I grew up in a great church with parents who were great role models.” He personally gave his life to Christ at Vacation Bible School in Boston at the age of 11. While at Boston College, he got involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He credits God with the success he has experienced in football and seeks to glorify Him in all that He does. He said, “God doesn’t need my ability. He just needs my availability. That’s my approach to life.” He and his wife and children frequently team up with Compassion International because they want to see more children reach their full potential.

His name is Matt Hasselbeck.

New York Giants Player, Justin Tuck, says his Faith in Jesus Christ is ‘Essential’ to his Development (Gospel Light Minute #114)

He is a defensive end for the New York Giants. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame. And was picked in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice in 2008 and 2010 and twice to the All-Pro in 2008 and 2010. He and his team won Super Bowl 42 in 2008 and Super Bowl 46 in 2012. He has also been voted defensive team captain by his teammates for the past 3 years. His commitment to serving others inspired him to create the “R.U.S.H. for Literacy Program” which seeks to encourage children to Read, Understand, Succeed, and Hope.

He said of his faith, “For me, it started with my upbringing. My mother and father raised us in the church. I know a lot of times you hear about people going to church every day, but I can honestly say that I went to church…just about EVERY DAY. It was this lifestyle of constant worship that was embedded at an early age. I truly believe that I have been blessed to have this platform as an NFL player in one of the biggest markets in America for a reason. That reason is to spread how good God has been to me and to let his light shine through me…Faith is tremendously important in my family and it’s been essential to my development.”

On the impact of Bible study with his teammates, he said, “For our team dynamic, I feel that bible study serves as another way of helping guys stay faithful to God. In the locker room it can be very hard sometimes because you don’t always have guys that are necessarily living for God, so sometimes you need to see a face or hear a voice from guys that are trying to walk in that way. I think it’s been really beneficial for our locker room because it’s brought a lot of guys closer in their faith and closer to each other. It’s really helped us.”

He encourages young people and student athletes to place their faith in Jesus Christ as well. He said, “When I started being recognized as an athlete, it was hard to prioritize my faith. I tried to play both sides of the fence. When I was around people that were Christians, I tried to act like them. Then when I would get around guys that wanted to go out in the club and party I tried to put on that front. If I could offer any advice from the mistakes that I’ve made, I would say: Don’t try to fight it, and don’t try to impress everyone. Live your life the way that you know you’re supposed to, which is living for God. Don’t worry about what people might say or think…You’re not going to make everyone happy so you might as well do what you know is right. Be who you are and that’s good enough. There will be a lot of pressure that will come your way. However, I’ve found out that by being who you are, a child of God, you have all the defense that you’ll need in life.”

His name is Justin Tuck.

After Leaving a False Religion, Sherri Shepherd Faced Failed Relationships, Abortions, and Career Failings, and then she Placed her Faith in God (Gospel Light Minute #113)

[audio http://gospellightminute.buzzsprout.com/3192/111862-after-leaving-a-false-religion-sherri-shepherd-faced-failed-relationships-abortions-and-career-failings-and-then-she-placed-her-faith-in-god-gospel-light-minute-113.mp3]

She is a comedian, actress, and television personality. She is one of the co-hosts on the daytime talk show, “The View”. She and her co-hosts were chosen as part of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine while Forbes ranked The View hosts #11 among “30 of the Most Influential Women in Media.” She also hosts the “Newlywed Game” and has a role on the NBC series “30 Rock”.

She also stars in her own sitcom “Sherri: on Lifetime. Her film roles include: “Beauty Shop”, “Madea Goes to Jail”, “Precious”, and Think Like a Man” among many others. Her television roles include: “Less than Perfect”, “The Wedding Bells”, “Entertainment Tonight”, and “Dancing With The Stars” among many others. She was awarded a Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Talk Show Host of The View” in 2009 and an NAACP award in 2009 and 2011.

She grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness. Striving to follow the many rules, she often fell short and seriously disagreed with the strict regulations of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. One rule she disagreed with was when the church elders told her to stop talking to her father because he began to doubt some of the things they believed. She refused to do this and turned her back on the religion. After several failed relationships, abortions, and career mishaps, she decided that she needed something more. In 1993, she gave her life to Jesus Christ.

She said of her faith in Jesus Christ and her continuous success, “I let people know I’m a Christian. It comes up naturally when I do things. If they say you did a great job, I go: ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ I do not mind saying: ‘Thank you, Jesus,’ because I’m not that good. When people hear that, they go: ‘She’s thanking Jesus a lot!’ [When I autograph] my scripts, I’ll write ‘God bless you.’ Before we go on to tape a show, I just ask people if we can say a little prayer. I’m not trying to force it on you, but I like to pray so God can make everything smooth.”

She credits the Lord for teaching her about her worth and value in Him. She said, “If I didn’t have God, I would have been dead. My faith [in God] means everything to me. God and I talk constantly. I realized that God gave me this special gift and I have to believe it.”

Her name is Sherri Shepherd.

Tamika Catchings: ‘Jesus is Definitely My Savior; He Walks Beside Me Through My Ups and Downs’ (Gospel Light Minute #112)

She is a professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. After graduating from high school where she was named a WBCA All-American, she became one of the star athletes at the University of Tennessee women’s basketball team. In 2001, she was drafted by the Indiana Fever. In 2002, she had an all-star rookie season. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. She is a six-time WNBA All-Star Selection, made the All-WNBA Team six times, and was the 2011 WNBA MVP. In 2004, 2008, and 2012, she helped lead her team to Gold in the Olympic Games. She currently serves as President of the WNBA Players Association.

Though she grew up in the church, her faith only became real to her in her senior year at the University of Tennessee when she suffered a season ending injury just months before the WNBA draft. When she realized all she had was God at that point, she says God gave her the peace and the strength to make it through. Though her injury kept her from playing her first year at Indiana, she gained a new perspective on faith, basketball, and God.

She said, “Peace definitely came from God. It came from realizing I needed to remove my focus from basketball back to God. It seems like every single time I have been hurt it has been the same thing. It’s been that you get so caught up in what you are doing that you forget to give Him the glory. It is hard to be a Christian in the WNBA; and I think it is because of so many different stereotypes. Just trying to walk with Him and not be pulled by all the negative forces from the outside. I think that what I do with my platform is that I live my life as Christlike as I can. [Jesus] is definitely my Savior. He’s the one that walks beside me through my ups and downs and the one that keeps me focused on where I am going in life. He protects me. He provides for me. He guides me and he leads me.”

Her name is Tamika Catchings.