Last Sunday evening I attended the “Legends of Northwest Ohio” sports banquet at UNOH’s beautiful new event center.  I won’t go into the list of all the participants but there were some big names from the NFL and college players past and present.  The Bath Wildkitten State Champ softball and LCC state champ boys track teams were also honored.

Many of the athletes gave testimony of how they came to Christ and I want to share just two – because I believe they are indicative of how many people start a spiritual journey that results in becoming a Christian.

One group includes those who had “been there and done that”.  Many of the young men and women shared how “riotous living” (to quote the prodigal son’s lifestyle in the KJV of the Bible) played major roles in their lives until they figured out that these things (or anything) can fill that void God created in all of us that only He can fill.

The second group was made of athletes who were, by most reasonable qualifications, really good people.  There were small school athletes who did very well at the high school and college level.  College athletes shared how they had been successful at the pro level.  Two short stories typify how these people come to Christ.  One was a Bluffton University athlete whose best friend was killed in the 2007 bus crash that claimed the lives of seven.  The other was a senior in high school. His father died suddenly. Later as this student athlete sat in a Sunday school class, a man stood and shared how that as a result of the student’s father’s death he committed his life to Christ.  Shortly after that the student surrendered his life and became a Christian.

Friends, people come to the Lord in so many different ways but let’s pray the Holy Spirit will make us sensitive to the needs and hurts of people and the possibility people may be open to spiritual things from people who love them.

Blessings!

Pastor Mark