Former NFL linebacker shares gospel during Hall of Fame speech

Randy Gradishar, who played linebacker for the Denver Broncos, shared a gospel message during his NFL Hall of Fame induction speech last weekend.

At one point in his speech, he praised his wife and his pastor for being his “key prayer warriors.” But it was former NFL running back Archie Griffin, with whom he attended the Ohio State University, whom he credited with extending the “best invitation I ever had,” which was to join him for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible study on campus.

Gradishar said that despite growing up in church, he never sat through a gospel presentation until attending that FCA meeting, where the message of salvation was explained to him. “At age 22, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior,” he said.

Gradishar shared four truths he learned at the FCA meeting in 1974:

• Human beings are made in the image of God, according to Genesis 1:27, and the Lord “loves us and offers a plan for our lives.”

• The origin of humanity’s problems is that have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, he explained, referencing Romans 3:23. “Therefore,” he said, “we cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives” apart from a salvation relationship with Jesus Christ.
• God “made a way” for human beings to be reconciled to him, as it’s written in John 3:16. “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross — the darkest day in history — and Jesus’ resurrection earned Jesus the right to proclaim, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes the father but through me,” a reference to John 14:6.
• Salvation comes only through surrendering to God, repenting of sin, accepting his forgiveness and “asking Jesus by faith to be your personal lord and savior.” That, he said, “is the only way to be right with God and to live out his plan for our lives — not ours.”

During his speech, the camera frequently panned over to Griffin, who was smiling during Grandishar’s speech, and many in the crowd were cheering the former Denver Broncos player for his gospel message.

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice