Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow delivered a powerful gospel message to 45,918 college football fans during a pre-game prayer at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
We know how many times we have missed opportunities to share our faith with others. Maybe it was at work or with our friends. We worry about what people might think or react.
But Tim Tebow wasn’t worried about nearly 46,000 people watching him. He boldly shared the gospel and what happened next will move you.
A Prayer That Surprised the Crowd
The crowd came to watch Tennessee play Syracuse. They expected a simple prayer about keeping players safe and having a good game. Tebow had different plans.
He started his prayer with these words: “Good and gracious heavenly Father, we love you today, because you first loved us. We love you because while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Right away, he quoted 1 John 4:19 and Romans 5:8.
Most sports prayers stay safe. This one went straight to the heart of the gospel.
Tebow Boldly Preaches the Gospel
Tebow did not hold back. He told the entire stadium about Jesus and salvation. “And we thank you today that you sent Jesus on the greatest love story rescue mission of all time to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. To go to the cross, to defeat sin and death, and do it for us on our behalf, and we thank you for that.”
He talked about how we cannot earn salvation. “We cannot earn it. We do not deserve it, but today we say thank you. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your grace,” Tebow said.
An Altar Call in the Stadium
Then he did something amazing. He made an altar call right there in the stadium. “And if anybody does not know you, we pray that today they would say yes to you because you said yes to them on the cross.”
The crowd loved it. They clapped and cheered when he finished his minute long prayer.
The 45,918 fans did not sit quietly. They erupted in applause and cheers. This rarely happens when someone shares the gospel at a major sporting event. But it happened that day in Atlanta.
Tebow covered what Bible teachers call the Romans road to salvation. He talked about sin, death, forgiveness through Christ, and how people can receive Jesus by believing the gospel.
Living Out His Faith
Tebow has never hidden his faith. People remember him kneeling in prayer before games. They called it “Tebowing.” He always speaks about Jesus when he gets the chance.
Tim Tebow didn’t take a knee in protest, he took a knee in prayer and was called “controversial.”
LET THAT SINK IN pic.twitter.com/1HuDO766H4
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 25, 2017
On Monday, he posted this on social media: “You don’t have to do everything, you just have to do what God’s calling you to. God calls us to be faithful with what He puts in front of us. Start small. Step forward. Take the first action. When we do something with love and purpose, He multiplies it far beyond what we can imagine.”
First Miracle in Tim Tebow’s Life
Tim Tebow’s life began with challenges. In 1985, while living in the Philippines, his mother Pam became sick with dysentery and had to take strong medicine. She did not know she was pregnant at the time.
Doctors told her to have an abortion because the medicine could cause brain damage to the baby. But Pam and her husband Robert trusted God and prayed. They chose life, and Tim was born perfectly healthy.
A New Chapter as a Father
Tebow and his wife Demi-Leigh welcomed their first child this July.
Pro-life NFL legend Tim Tebow and his wife Demi-Leigh announced their first child was born.
Get married. Have kids. Follow Christ.
This is what will change culture.
— Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) July 7, 2025
“We’re over the moon to step into parenthood together!” Demi-Leigh wrote on social media.
“Thank you, Jesus, for this incredible blessing and privilege of becoming a mom and dad.”
We may think we don’t have the courage or wisdom to share our faith with others. But when we surrender ourselves to God and trust in His strength, He will fill us with His Spirit that empowers and guides us to speak with boldness and lead others to salvation in Christ.
WATCH: Tim Tebow Turns Pregame Prayer Into Gospel Message That Has Crowd Cheering
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Video not working?
