STORY
Tim Tebow
Everyone seems to know of Tim Tebow. People could easily see him as the guy who has it all - fame, money, good looks, athletic ability, etc… Yet what truly stands out about Tim Tebow is how he is someone who has decided to use his all to help those who have nothing.
Tim is the youngest of five children, and his mother has called him her “miracle baby.” Tim’s parents were serving as missionaries in the Philippines with their four children when Tim’s mother became very sick with dysentery. When the doctors who were treating her discovered she was pregnant, they recommended she have an abortion. Because of their strong Christian faith, Tim’s parents refused, and despite what they were told, their son did not have any health issues related to his mother’s illness. God had a special plan for this miracle baby.
Tim was raised in a family who was truly living out their Christian faith, and this had an impact on his life. From a young age, Tim was a gifted athlete, and he was driven to excel. He pushed himself to train and compete, and to be the best on the field. This pursuit of excellence is visible throughout his life and his extensive list of achievements, especially in the realm of athletics. Tim led The Florida Gators to two National Championships, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, was awarded the Heisman Trophy, and went on to play professional football and baseball! Despite all of the fame and publicity Tim attracted, he did not shy away from giving glory back to God. In public interviews, he talked about his missions work, prayed often and publically, and was known for writing Bible references in the black under his eyes during games. But Tim didn’t leave it all on the field. One of his most worthwhile achievements was instituting the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2010, which exists to offer hope and help to needy and hurting people around the world. The vision for this ministry began in Tim’s heart long before his pro-football days.
When Tim was only 15 years old he returned to the Philippines and was serving with a mission outreach in a remote jungle village, where he met a boy named Sherwin. Sherwin wasn’t a great athlete like Tim. In fact, he was born with his feet on backwards. Because of this abnormality, people in Sherwin’s community felt he was cursed. He was a reject and was destined to a life of suffering and hardship. When Tim met this child, something began stirring in his heart, and he knew God was calling him to help people like Sherwin… the people who didn’t have much at all, the least of these. The Tim Tebow Foundation’s homepage shares this reflection:
“Before that day, Tim focused his time on the successful pursuit of his athletic goals. He set his sights so fiercely on winning championships, setting records, and being an MVP on every team. But the day he met Sherwin, the direction of his pursuit began to shift. That day, God opened his eyes to see things—and people—in a way he had never viewed them before. And just as Jesus intentionally sought to serve vulnerable people during His time on earth, God was calling Tim to set his sights on a new MVP - the Most Vulnerable People on earth” (timtebowfoundation.org/about).
Despite all of the excellent achievements in his life, Tim has decided that nothing matters more than giving His all to live like Jesus, by bringing faith, hope, and love to desperate and hurting people around the world.
