FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WordNews.org) Jan. 13, 2012  —  For some, Broncos’ quarterback Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure, making some question their own faith and what role spiritual matters have in secular life.
But some ministry groups see Tebow as an opportunity and illustration for their cause.
For example, Steve Karges, founder and president of Children’s Ministries International Inc. says Tebow’s testimony – his story on how and when he became an Christian, which is in his book – supports the emphasis of his ministry: lead children to faith in Christ at an early age.
“Tim Tebow’s moral and spiritual foundations were developed long before he became a celebrated quarterback with the Florida Gators in college, and the NFL’s Denver Broncos,” Karges said. “His story begins with an introduction to faith during childhood.”
“When I was a boy, I had been going to church, and I (had) been hearing about Jesus and how He died on the cross for my sins,” Tebow shared with an audience at the University of Florida in 2009, “but I had never put my trust in Him, I didn’t know what that meant.”
And in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Tebow said: “I had been… talking to my mom and dad and I wanted to trust Christ with my life. And I was thinking, ‘you know, if I get in a car wreck (tomorrow)… and I die, I don’t think I’m going to heaven.'”
“And I was scared,” Tebow told CBN. “And so the next morning I woke up, and I grabbed my mom, and I (kneeled by) the couch and I said, ‘Mom, I want to ask Jesus to come into my heart, and forgive me of my sins, and make me a child of God.’”
Tebow was six years old, he says in his book, “Through My Eyes.”
Karges says that falls into what he calls the 4/14 Window.
“In 1992, Dr. Bryant Myers, then Director of World Vision’s MARC Ministries, (now with Fuller Theological Seminary in California), presented his research which showed that 85 percent of people in the United States who make a decision for Christ, do so between the ages of 4 to14. That new evidence confirmed that children and teens under age 15 were receptive to the gospel and “ripe for harvest.”
From that, the term 4/14 Window was coined in 1995.
“Tim Tebow’s childhood faith supports the 4/14 Window,” Karges said. “There are 2.3 billion children on earth under age 15 and they represent the largest unreached people group in the world.”
Karges is calling for an international day of prayer and fasting for these children on Global 4/14, Saturday, April 14.
Meanwhile, Randall Terry, an anti-abortion advocate who is running for president as a Democrat, is raising money for a Super Bowl ad by invoking Tebow’s name.
Terry said Sofia Brugato, a blogger for a group that called the Abortion Gang, urged people to send $5 to $10 to their local abortion provider every time Tebow scored a touchdown. She calls it 10forTebow.
Terry wants to respond with graphic pro-life TV ads during the Super Bow in 40 cities.
Terry said Sophia Brugato has admitted she has animosity toward Tebow for his faith in Jesus and the pro-life Super Bowl ad he was featured in in 2010.
“Did you know that the Abortion Gang is raising money in Tim Tebow’s name to kill babies?” Terry asks. “Let’s use a pro-life 2012 Super Bowl ad to show millions of Americans what the Abortion Gang does: It murders babies. Let’s make the Abortion Gang rue the day they used Tim Tebow’s faith in Christ to raise money for murder.”