Tim Tebow, a former quarterback at the University of Florida who won the Heisman Trophy and is now a starter for the Denver Broncos, recently accepted the Sports Impact Award at the K-LOVE Fan Awards.
While accepting the award, Tebow gave a passionate speech about caring for the most vulnerable and saying that Jesus Christ is the only MVP.
Tebow started his speech by thanking the crowd and the presenters, and then he made a couple jokes about the presenters. Let’s be honest, Matthew: you’ve never considered running a marathon. And those shorts you were wearing proved it.”
He said, “Guys, it’s such an honor to be here among so many legends and people who have inspired me.” Just being able to sit down with Toby Mack, Chris Tomlin, and so many other heroes of the faith.
Tebow then turned to the crowd and said, “Guys, I just want you to be encouraged because I know it gets hard for so many of you. But you inspire so many people, and I want you to keep going because you don’t know how many people you’re helping around the world.”
“I want you guys to know that and be encouraged. You inspire people. Do you know what it means to inspire? It means to make someone want to do something, and that’s what you do. You make people want to follow Jesus, and you don’t stop doing that. So, what you are doing is important. “That’s why it’s important to be here,” Tebow said.
After thanking K-LOVE, Tebow told a personal story that began, “When I was 15, I met a boy in the jungles of the Philippines who was born with his feet turned around. Because of this, people in his village thought he was cursed, not important, and something to throw away. But on that day, I realized that God didn’t just throw him away, and neither should I.
Tebow continued, “And, you know, up until then and so many times after that in my life, I’ve been chasing dreams to be the best, to win championships, to win MVPs, and to try to be the best. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but in the end, on that day and many days after, God showed me what it means to really be the most valuable player, if you do it.
“Because, in the end, He changed my heart that day. That the most vulnerable people around the world should be the MVP I should be going after,” he said.
The winner of the Heisman Trophy then said, “Because, in the end, there can only be one MVP. And on a mission to save people, He died on a cross. And He has told us to go protect the weak, help the poor, and help those who are hurting.
“Let me tell you something else: there are a lot of hurting people in the world. That means we have a lot of work to do. Let’s go get our job done. “God bless you,” Tebow said in the end.
When he spoke at the March for Life in 2021, Tebow talked about one group of people who were especially vulnerable.
Tebow started his speech by telling the story of how his mom chose to give birth to him even though many people told her she should have an abortion.
After telling the story, he said, “I’m so glad my mom gave me a chance at life because there were many times she could have done something else.” But because of her story, I now have the chance to talk about mine. But I only got a chance because my mom gave me one.”
Later in his speech, Tebow said, “I do believe that God cares about every single life. Who else do I think stood and still stands for life? Is our savior, Jesus. You know that in John he said, “I came to give life, and I came to give life in abundance.”
“You can see, he was on a mission,” Tebow said. “We went on that mission to save people. That mission was to come to earth, die on the cross, and win over death and the whole world. His job was to do that.”
Tebow also said this at a Valentine’s Day banquet for Kansans for Life in 2020: “It really does mean a lot more than winning the Super Bowl. When you look back on your life one day, people will say, “Oh my god, what are you going to be known for?” Will you say Super Bowl or “we saved a lot of babies?”
He also explained why he calls the work of Kansans for Life a “rescue mission.” “You know why we call it a rescue mission? Because saying that gives it a time frame.”
“When was the last time you heard about a rescue mission happening in the next month or two? “No, a rescue mission has to happen right now,” he said. “It makes you feel like time is running out. It says that we have to leave, not because it’s our time, but because it’s their time. I have to act quickly because even though I may have time, they don’t.”
