Friday, May 05, 2000
Faith, football and family values
Ex-Bengal testifies at prayer event
By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — The message Anthony Munoz delivered to the crowd at the Courseview Restaurant Pavilion was as powerful as any block he ever threw as a Cincinnati Bengal.
More than 220 people, in cluding dozens of elected officials and educators, gathered Thursday for the fourth annual Warren County Mayors Prayer Breakfast at the Golf Course at Kings Island to hear the NFL Hall of Famer speak about “true commitment.”
The breakfast is held every year in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, a time dedicated to pray for local, state, national and international leaders. Breakfast proceeds go to charity.
An offensive lineman for the Bengals from 1980-92, Mr. Munoz played in 11 Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls and was named Offensive Lineman of the Year six times. He has received numerous community awards, including the 1991 NFL Man of the Year Award and the Ohio Governor's Award.
He drew a few “amens” and ample applause from listeners as he talked about his spiritual growth.
He also spoke about “true commitment” by elaborating on his three biggest commit ments: sports, marriage and God.
“All of the things that I've been able to accomplish, I've got to give God all the glory for because he's made it all possible,” said Mr. Munoz.
“All of my physical abilities were privileges and gifts from God,” he said.
As a child, Mr. Munoz acknowledged, he didn't attend church often. “God wasn't on my priority list back then,” he said.
But as he grew older, Mr. Munoz said he still felt an emptiness on the inside that could not be filled by all of his awards and accomplishments.
That's when he decided to turn his life over to Jesus Christ, he said.
“God has really allowed me to know what true commitment is all about,” Mr. Munoz said. “He let me see that I can use the platform that the NFL has given me to have a positive effect on people.”
His story inspired Mason Mayor John McCurley, who says he relies on prayer as a guide in leading his community daily. Mr. McCurley said he focused his prayers Thursday on the importance of Christian family values.
“I read somewhere recently where less than 25 percent of families today are traditional Christian families,” he said. “I think that's a shame. ... I think as government leaders we need to recognize that the family is the nucleus of our nation and nurture that.”
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