Thursday, March 21, 2002
Thursday, March 21, 2002
And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior
of the world.
But there was one respect in which Neil Jeffries was as different from his father, James
Jeffries, as night and day. For while James was a dynamic and charismatic public speaker,
Neil was afflicted with a severe stutter. He was quite shy though he was a thoughtful, wise,
and intelligent young man. Surprisingly Neil was chosen to speak at an FCA national
conference. Over a thousand young athletes were in attendance as Neil stepped onto the
platform and began to speak. Many in the audience didn't know about Neil's speech
impediment, and some, thinking his performance was a joke or a skit, began to laugh.
On the platform, however, Neil continued talking. It took him about twenty minutes to say what
you or I could have said in five or ten minutes. Yet at the conclusion of Neil's talk, something
amazing happened. Neil offered an invitation for those in the audience to give their lives to
Jesus Christ. All across the audience, young men stood and began to walk forward. More
young athletes made a commitment of their lives to Christ at that moment than at any other
FCA conference. Neil was not eloquent, perhaps, but he was passionate, and his passion
stirred those young men's souls.
God does not call us to be articulate, but to simply share our savior.
(1 John 4.14
NRSV)
As national president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, James Jeffries was one of the
most articulate and dynamic Christian spokesmen in the country. In many ways, Jeffries' son
Neil was a lot like his dad--strongly built, athletic, good looking, and with a deep commitment to
Jesus Christ.
Dear God, give me the courage to share my savior. Amen.
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