BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

“Football isn’t your purpose,” he insisted. “It’s your platform.” In June 2016, the Lord shoved Ted out of the nest. The baby steps he and Dawn had taken to learn how to walk by faith had grown into giant steps, as the couple became pastors of The Family Church in Voorhees, a 120,000-square-foot facility on 11 acres in New Jersey. Ted is also now in his 19th year as a volunteer chaplain with the Philadelphia Eagles. “It hasn’t always been easy,” Ted admits. “I’ve been discouraged at times, but the Lord never released me. Some chaplains are on staff, but I’m a volunteer with a day job. I like volunteering my time because the players don’t have to doubt my loyalty to them. I teach a Bible study and couples classes, and do individual mentoring. Inside the church or outside, my goal is to be an influence. “NFL players are creatures of habit, which is why the owners prefer that I travel with them. If they’re used to having Bible study on a certain day, they get it. If one of them is used to meeting with me at 5:30 a.m., I’m there.” Revival in the Team One thing Ted says he has discovered while working with the players, is that the life of the team is often tied to the player who is the spiritual leader. In 2016, quarterback Nick Foles was that spiritual leader. “An outstanding quarterback, he was also strong spiritually,” Ted said. “Things jelled that year and revival broke out among many team members. They were sold out to God. “Nick and several of the other players asked me to baptize them. I explained that I would schedule a time at the church, but they didn’t want to wait. They wanted to be baptized in the cold tub. I baptized five players that year. “The team played so well in the 2017 season that everyone thought we were headed to the championships—and maybe even the Super Bowl. Then a number of our first-string players, who were in our Bible study, suffered season-ending injuries. Our starting kicker was out, our special-teams captain and linebacker were hurt. One after another, five starting players were injured—out for the season. Nick Foles had been traded to another team. Our starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, was on track to be named MVP. Then, in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, he tore his ACL. He was out. Everyone was so negative. They thought without Wentz, we didn’t have a chance. But the players in our Bible study knew God was up to something big! “I got excited, knowing that if we won now, God would get the glory. Nick Foles had been brought back to the team to be our starting quarterback. “I was in Minneapolis on Feb. 4, 2018, when the Eagles played against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. They were our giant, having won five Super Bowls. We were the underdog who’d never won one.” That year, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl. When the team was awarded their coveted Super Bowl rings, Ted was included. “I was handed a Super Bowl ring with my name engraved on the side,” Ted said. “Diamonds glittered in the light as I stared at it. Normally, only staff chaplains got Super Bowl rings. The players had demanded that I get one. “I never imagined that God was going to make my childhood dream come true. It was over abundantly above anything I could ask or think. Looking back, I can track the blessings in my life to learning to live by faith. KCM has been a game changer for me. I’m grateful to say that those teachings have been game changers for many players in the NFL.” V Join Ted & Dawn in teaching believers how to use their faith. KCM.ORG/PARTNERNOW ******************************************* ******************************************* ******************************************* SEPT Read Through the Bible Old Testament / New Testament Tue 1 Isa. 1-3 / Phil. 1 Wed 2 Isa. 4-6 / Phil. 2 Thu 3 Isa. 7-9 / Phil. 3 Fri 4 Isa. 10-12 / Phil. 4 Sat 5 Isa. 13-15 Sun 6 Ps. 105; Prov. 22:1-16 Mon 7 Isa. 16-19 / Col. 1 Tue 8 Isa. 20-24 / Col. 2 Wed 9 Isa. 25-27 / Col. 3 Thu 10 Isa. 28-29 / Col. 4 Fri 11 Isa. 30-32 / 1 Thess. 1 Sat 12 Isa. 33-35 Sun 13 Ps. 106; Prov. 22:17-29 Mon 14 Isa. 36-37 / 1 Thess. 2 Tue 15 Isa. 38-41 / 1 Thess. 3 Wed 16 Isa. 42-43 / 1 Thess. 4 Thu 17 Isa. 44-45 / 1 Thess. 5 Fri 18 Isa. 46-48 / 2 Thess. 1 Sat 19 Isa. 49-51 Sun 20 Ps. 107; Prov. 23:1-28 Mon 21 Isa. 52-55 / 2 Thess. 2 Tue 22 Isa. 56-59 / 2 Thess. 3 Wed 23 Isa. 60-63 / 1 Tim. 1 Thu 24 Isa. 64-66 / 1 Tim. 2 Fri 25 Jer. 1-2 / 1 Tim. 3 Sat 26 Jer. 3 Sun 27 Ps. 108-109; Prov. 23:29-24:22 Mon 28 Jer. 4 / 1 Tim. 4 Tue 29 Jer. 5-6 / 1 Tim. 5 Wed 30 Jer. 7-8 / 1 Tim. 6 *************************************** 16 : BVOV

• Cover