Useful For His KingdomCampione

My good friend Tony Dungy, the famed former coach for the Indianapolis Colts, used to call me every week during the year he won the Super Bowl. Each week we would talk on the phone about a variety of subjects. We’d always end in prayer. Once Coach Dungy made it to the playoffs, his prayer became focused on this new venture. When I would ask him what he’d like for me to pray with him about, he would inevitably reply, “My prayer is simple, Tony—that win or lose, I will make His name great before this expanded national audience.”

Once Coach Dungy made it into the Super Bowl game and his team was slated to face the Chicago Bears, I thought that his prayer might change—not much, but some—toward winning. Yet when I went to ask Coach what he wanted me to pray for, he simply said, “Tony, the world is watching. Win or lose, I want to make it inextricably clear that I belong to Jesus Christ. I do not want to miss this moment as a witness for Him.” What’s my point in sharing this story with you? Coach Dungy had made a kingdom connection to coaching football.

Kingdom, and God’s agenda, correlates with everything He has given us to do. Nothing sits outside of His direct rule and intended purposes for it to bring Him glory and expand the reach of His name.