Sharing the word: Sanders a
visible part of Cowboys' bible-study group
11/29/98
By David Moore / The Dallas
Morning News
IRVING - His voice thunders from above,
filling the Cowboys locker room with the message
almost every Thursday during the regular season.
Call it a divine invitation.
"For all of yea laboring in the
training room, come on," Deion Sanders
exclaims over the loud speaker. "This is
the second call for bible study. Brother, come
one, come all.
"If you're sitting on the couch,
confused, longing for love and acceptance. Things
just aren't like they used to be at home. The
liqueur don't even taste the same. You don't
dance like you used to in the clubs. I'm talking
to you. Meet me in the defensive meeting room and
may God bless you."
The solicitation elicits a few chuckles. But
this is no joke. And it's not just about Sanders,
although he's become a sort of spiritual
ringleader for these weekly gatherings.
Every week, anywhere from 12 to 15 players
will carve 30 minutes out of their lunch break to
study God's word. Different speakers are asked to
attend. Area pastors and members of the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes will drop by
Valley Ranch to take part.
"Sometimes, it's the only time we get an
opportunity to discuss issues like that and to
discuss Christ. It's been good," running
back Emmitt Smith said.
"We get a nice, well-rounded study,"
center Clay Shiver said. "There is no real
topic for the week. Whatever the speaker is led
to share with us."
The players say there is interaction. But this
isn't simply a session to share personal
testimony. Sanders and others say it's a time for
serious study.
"We can sit up there and talk about
testimony all day," Sanders said. "These
guys and myself need to learn the word of God.
"The bible says man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out
of the mouth of God. You need to learn the word
so you can stand on the word and stop fighting
with sticks and stones. The enemy comes to kill,
steal and destroy. That's the truth.
"Fellowship is way down the line, bro. We're
there to learn the word of God."
"You've heard these two words in a bar
before," Sanders says, his voice once
again reverberating through the halls. "Last
call. Come to bible study, and yea shall receive.
We don't charge you $10 for a table dance. We don't
charge you $5.50 for a drink. We want to get your
soul. We aim to please.
"Bible attendance has been decreasing
while cafe attendance has been increasing. . . .
Last call."
This isn't the first season a core of players
has convened at Valley Ranch to study the bible.
Meetings last year took place at 7:30 or 8 a.m.
every Wednesday.
Only about four to five players regularly
attended. It was decided to move the meetings to
the middle of the day, after the morning position
meetings and before practice, to increase
attendance.
It's worked. Safety Darren Woodson. Linebacker
Randall Godfrey. Center Mike Kiselak. Kicker
Richie Cunningham. Punter Toby Gowin. These are
just a few of the regulars.
But Sanders, as always, seems to be the most
visible. His entertaining calls to bible study is
one way he celebrates his new-found Christianity
with his teammates.
It's something he takes seriously. Sanders is
aware that if he's going to talk the talk, he has
to walk the walk.
"You've got to be a walking testimony for
these men," Sanders said. "You can't
fool them. The way you carry yourself, when you
score a touchdown or you are injured, what's
going to come out of your mouth. Is it going to
be profanity, or are you going to glorify the
Lord, knowing that all things strengthen you,
work together for those who love the Lord? God is
sitting up there watching you.
"Some guys are bleeding inside. I've
articulated this with some of the guys in this
locker room. Some are on the brink of suicide,
who are hurting, in pain, don't even want to go
home after practice. You don't know what they're
dealing with. A lot of people don't even care.
They just see them as a commodity. You [media]
see them as an interview. I see them as something
different than that."
"This has been a blessing," Sanders
said. " To know you have teammates that will
pray with you, that will help you, that will give
you some good advice and it's not his own advice.
. . . That is a blessing. It really is."
The players aren't alone. Cowboys coach Chan
Gailey has a bible study available every Friday
morning for anyone on the coaching staff who
wishes to attend. He had nothing to do with
helping organize the players.
"That's all on their own," Gailey
said. "If they want to do it, I'm happy for
them. I'd love for them to be involved. But I'm
not setting it up for them or anything."
On a recent Thursday, Sanders took the
microphone one last time. Smith broke away from
his game of dominos to join the group. A few more
players sauntered through the locker room on
their way to the meeting. This really was last
call.
For this day.
"I know comfort, and his name is Jesus,"
Sanders coos. "God bless you and have a
nice day."
Power, Money & Sex :
How Success Almost Ruined My Life -By Deion Sanders w/T.D.
Jakes
![](http://img.crosswalk.com/sports/fb/chad_hennings150.jpg)
This Cowboy Keeps His
Commitments
by Tim Waits for Crosswalk.com Sports
If there's one thing that Chad Hennings knows
plenty about it's commitment. You could even say
he wrote the book on it.
The Dallas Cowboys' 6-foot-6, 291-pound defensive
tackle fulfilled his commitment to serve his
country as an Air Force pilot during the Gulf War.
He is committed to excellence on the football
field, he is committed to being the leader of his
family and, most importantly, he is committed to
serving the Lord.
And, yes, he did write a book entitled "It
Takes Commitment." You get the feeling that
making a commitment is something Hennings takes
very seriously.
"What I try to epitomize spiritually, at
home and at work is a holistic being," said
Hennings, "like God modeled for us when he
sent his son Jesus Christ. I try to exemplify a
commitment to my wife and family and to my work
life."
From simple, sturdy beginnings, Hennings has
gained a global perspective of the world that few
might have imagined growing up on a farm in rural
Iowa.
His decision to join the Air Force Academy took
him into third world countries where freedom is
not taken for granted and civil unrest is the
norm.
Hennings was an A-10 tankbuster pilot during the
Gulf War in 1991 as part of "Operation
Provide Comfort." The object of that mission
was to drop supplies to the Kurds in northern
Iraq and southern Turkey. Hennings put the
comparatively tranquil life of being a solid
defensive tackle and nose guard for the Dallas
Cowboys on hold for four years after winning the
Outland Trophy in 1987 and setting a Western
Athletic Conference record with 24 sacks.
He was a 26-year-old rookie when he reported to
the Cowboys in 1992 after being an 11th round
draft pick in 1988.
"I gained a different perspective of the
world, of the different cultures in different
parts of the world," said Hennings of his
military experience. "It makes you realize
the benefits of living in this country, our
freedom of speech, our freedom of religion."
Cowboys' defensive coordinator Dave Campo calls
Hennings a typical Air Force guy, and that's OK
with Hennings.
"Chad Hennings is obviously one of my
favorite guys because he's been around for a
while and I like guys who pay their dues,"
Campo told The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle. "He has
a leadership quality about him. It doesn't come
from necessarily being a great player. It comes
from being a leader."
Like a high-flying Air Force pilot, Hennings'
spiritual life has taken off over the last
several years. Just as he flew over war-torn
countries, neither is he shy about sharing his
faith, though he doesn't consider himself a
particularly vocal leader in that area. It's
something that has always been with him and has
continued to mature within him.
"I'm not one of those people who can name a
time and a date for when became a Christian,"
he said. "Faith has always been there. I
rededicated myself to Christ after the Gulf War
in 1991."
His faith is right there in his perspective of
his sport and his livelihood. Since joining the
Cowboys, Hennings has been a part of all three
Super Bowl championships of the 90's, but has
also seen his team slip to a losing record in
1997. He has seen a little of both in this topsy-turvy
season for the Cowboys, who were 7-6 through Dec.
13.
"It's all about consistency of play and
mental errors," he said. "But that's
what life is all about. God gives you obstacles
to overcome. A loss does affect me, but you can
bounce back and learn from it. There's always
another opportunity.
"The great thing about it is that it's a
team sport and everybody is committed to each
other," Hennings added. "We've had some
ups and downs. There are so many variables on a
53-man roster. It's not just one spot, but it's
as a team. You have to have a holistic approach."
Hennings is now 34 years old and is entering the
twilight of his career. Players like
Charles Haley, Jim Jeffcoat and Tony Tolbert were
entrenched on the Cowboys' defensive line when
Hennings first arrived. These days, he has
assumed the role of the crafty veteran.
"Experience means a lot in this league. I've
seen a lot of things on the field of play. When
you've seen everything, nothing surprises you."
Hennings has two more years remaining on his
contract and that's another commitment he intends
to keep, adding that he would like to round out
his career at the 10-year mark. Beyond his
playing days, he's not sure whether he'll pursue
some sort of ministry or join in the media. What
he is sure about is that God has a plan for him,
his wife Tammy, son Chase and daughter Brenna.
"One of the great things about walking with
Christ is that you can't fight it," he said.
"The sooner you get in line with Him the
better."
Hennings has done that and you can bet he'll keep
that commitment to the end.
It
Takes Commitment
by Chad Hennings, Dave Brannon
Tim Waits is a writer who lives in Temple,
Texas.
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