Tim Tebow will be the first active quarterback in the NFL ever to deliver a message from the pulpit this Easter, but the faithful young man of football is most concerned with keeping Christ first in the message he delivers at Celebration Church near Austin. Just as he did in leading his teams at the University of Florida and the Denver Broncos, he wants the spotlight to be drawn to a higher power than the broad shoulders and broader smile of the quarterback.
"This is the Super Bowl of the Christian calendar," emphasizes pastor Joe Champion, "It is the resurrection of Christ that we celebrate." Champion confirms that the call from Tebow came "out of the blue" weeks back, and the pastor agreed to the New York Jets' newest quarterback's request to come to the church outside of Austin, TX, and deliver a passage more meaningful than a scoring pass. Champion must have realized the media surge sparked by the guest preacher, because his church quickly prepared for the expected 30,000 crowd with 100 buses and assistants available over 60 acres to accommodate faithful visiting fans. Debbie Sandoval was among the throng of fans arriving at sunrise or earlier to soak in all the faith and fervor of Tim's pulpit visit. "I love that boy, he's like my son," she praised, elaborating "Everything about this young man's extraordinary life is special." Many in the crowd included parents who wanted to bring their children to see a sports role model worth the extra effort. Tim Tebow's choice of this church probably wasn't random, either, just like the day. Champion led the LSU Tigers, and his father coached the Atlanta Falcons, so he and the Jets star share a heritage of faith and football forged.
The church carefully controlled media access, not allowing cameras into the service, and only a portion of the message to be recorded. Just as when he delivers his countless messages to youth, or visits with a special ill child before a big game, when cameras aren't there to catch his every word, Tebow wants to ensure that Christ is the star of this sacred day and keep the Chosen One the center of his chosen words. "This is not going to be a Tim Tebow show."
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