In an evening filled with laughter, cheers and some tears, Tabor College Bluejay athletes, coaches and fans were challenged and inspired by the message of a professional football player during the athletic department?s Spring Celebration Feb. 10 in the chapel-auditorium.
Former Denver Bronco Steve Fitzhugh, now an accomplished motivational speaker, poet and rap artist, has been referred to as ?The Chaplain to the Pros? because of his inspiring talks to professional and collegiate athletic teams. He is a national spokesman for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
?It was a blessing to have Steve Fitzhugh on our campus,? said Rusty Allen, vice president for athletics. ?Steve is gifted in his ability to communicate the truths of God?s Word and what it means to follow Christ.?
Fitzhugh, who lives in Washington, D.C., regularly performs concerts in high schools, colleges, juvenile detention centers, national conventions and correctional facilities.
Before speaking at Tabor, he presented anti-drug assemblies at Hillsboro public schools earlier in the day.
According to Allen, the purpose for the Spring Celebration was to highlight the accomplishments of Tabor athletes and teams from fall and winter, and preview the spring sports seasons.
The keynote speaker scored a touchdown, Allen said.
?Steve challenged everyone associated with Bluejays athletics to discern God?s plan and gifts, and then use all we?ve been given to have a positive sphere of influence,? Allen said. ?His combination of humor, personal testimony and challenging personality really resonated with our athletes.?
When an injury ended his playing career after two seasons in the NFL, Fitzhugh turned his attention toward ministry. He got involved with FCA in the Washington, D.C., area, where he currently resides with his wife and two daughters.
Today Fitzhugh serves as the national spokesman for One Way 2 Play?Drug Free, which spreads a drug-free message to high schools, colleges and juvenile detention centers across America.
Fitzhugh also is the founder and executive director of PowerMoves, a national youth organization that uses athletics, academics and the arts to inspire young people to succeed.
At Tabor, Fitzhugh closed the evening and brought down the house by reciting the FCA Competitor?s Creed.
To hear Fitzhugh perform the Competitor?s Creed go to fcaresources.com/files/Competitor?sCreed.mp3.
