“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10
Our lives are filled with hope, desires, and dreams. When we are young, we have dreams of being great athletes, successful musicians, or one of the many careers we admire. Our dreams are important because they help guide us to develop our skills and explore our talent and passion. One challenging truth we all know is that our dreams don’t always come true.
Growing up in Houston, TX, Jake Bates loved sports. His sport of choice was soccer. He was a talented competitor and was awarded a scholarship to play soccer at Central Arkansas. While in college, Jake decided that he might try football. Although he grew up in Texas, he never played under the Friday night lights. Because of his soccer skills, Jake was a natural kicker. He first kicked for Texas State University and eventually kicked at the University of Arkansas. He was a kickoff specialist. Jake was excited when he earned a tryout with an NFL team but was quickly cut from the roster.
Did you know only 1.6% of college football players make an NFL roster? Out of thousands of players, only a few hundred make it each year, and many of them are out of the NFL in less than two years. When Jake Bates was cut, he decided his dream would not come true. He would not become a professional athlete. He started looking for a future career. He moved back to Houston and began selling bricks.
While training to be a salesman, Jake continued to kick. Another opportunity came his way when the Michigan Panthers of the UFL called and offered him a chance. Although he had never kicked field goals, he worked hard and was able to do both kickoff and field goals for the team. His exceptional performance in the UFL earned him another chance. He was signed by the Detroit Lions, and last week, Jake returned to Houston to kick against the Houston Texans. He helped lead a comeback win. With little time on the clock, Jake Bates kicked a 58-yard field goal to win the game for the Detroit Lions. He was awarded the game ball and received the Special Teams Player of the Week Award.
Jake reminds us all that we should not give up on our dreams. His hard work and determination helped put him in a place to see his dreams become a reality. His faith has led him as he has been on this journey. Jake told the press, “I think it shows how good the Lord is; He’s so faithful. My story, if anything, I hope people can see Jesus through it,” Bates said after the game. For him, the journey has been a testament to his faith.
God has given each of us passion and dreams. We can do great things with our eyes focused on God and a willingness to persevere. And, when we achieve those things, like Jake, let us give glory to God and point others to Jesus.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
