Beyond the Affluence and Popularity - Ministering to Pro Athletes

By Bruce McDonald

Scott came striding into the large comfortable room at the CoreStates Center Complex, home of the Philadelphia 76ers, and the room used for chapel before each home game. "Hey, I memorized my first Bible verses." He then quoted Proverbs 3:5,6 to those gathered for chapel: players from both the visiting and home teams, staff and players' families.

As I looked at this 6' 11" young man in his game uniform, I praised the Lord for His grace in recently saving Scott Williams. God's converts come in all shapes and sizes, all ages, all colors and nationalities, and all types of occupations.

After serving with ABWE-North America planting a church in Texas, in 1987 I opened ABWE's ministry to professional athletes. The "beach head" was becoming chaplain of the Philadelphia 76ers. This position led to many witnessing opportunities throughout the professional world, such as leading a Bible study with several football players and their wives. Antone and Carrie Davis (now with the Atlanta Falcons) and Herschel and Cindy Walker (now playing for the Dallas Cowboys) are on fire for Christ.

Working with professional athletes over these ten years, my wife Bev and I have realized these are people of incredible influence for good or evil. They are also people with incredible needs. Sometimes these needs are masked by their affluent life styles and tremendous salaries. (The average pro basketball player receives a salary of $2.8 million a year.)

Do athletes and their families need Christ? Most certainly! Did Christ die for them? Without a doubt! What joy this year to see Michael Cage share his faith in Christ before the 4,000 people who stayed after a game for a rally to see and hear a professional ballplayer.

"Bruce! Bruce!" I turned around and looked at the man calling my name. 7'1" David Robinson loped down the hallway. "Thank you," he said as he put his large hands on Bev's and my shoulders. "Thank you for being in the place of God for us athletes."

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