Ohio University’s Athletes in Action hosted its fourth annual “Thankmas” dinner and added a new ingredient to the event by bringing in a guest speaker to share words of faith.
Clark Kellogg, lead basketball analyst for CBS Sports and vice president of player relations for the Indiana Pacers, spoke about how he became a Christian to a crowd of about 275 athletes and ROTC cadets in Baker University Center Ballroom Sunday night.
The annual dinner provides an encouraging atmosphere for all the athletes and cadets to have a shared fellowship, said Mark Heflin, director of Athletes in Action.
“This dinner was open to people of all beliefs,” Heflin said. “Really, this was a way to give thanks for our athletes, cadets, coaches and their families. This was a way to express our gratitude and to give them an opportunity to hear about God’s message and love.”
Kellogg spoke of his journey in faith, which began when a chaplain approached him after his career-ending knee injury in November 1986.
“Basketball was the driving force of who I was,” Kellogg said. “I was acknowledging God in my head and treating people the right way. I had lived my life in that regard.”
God became a prominent figure in his life, Kellogg said, impacting how he perceived Christianity.
“I’m not solely successful on my own efforts,” he said. “God was responsible, but I didn’t know. I needed Christ to intercede.”
The dinner and testimony was a positive experience, said Miles Chapman, long snapper for OU’s football team and a junior studying exercise physiology.
“I think what he had to say was very informative. I came to this dinner last year when the whole football team was encouraged to come,” he said. “I’m really glad that I came (tonight).”
Nine local churches donated food, including 24 turkeys, 140 pounds of mashed potatoes and 440 servings of stuffing, and more than 50 students and local residents volunteered to help prepare the event and serve the athletes and cadets.
“It was a joint effort between the churches to help with student athletes and ROTC,” said Wendy Merb-Brown, a volunteer from the New Life Assemblies of God Church.
The testimony of faith was meaningful and gave perspective of her own beliefs, said Maggie Murnane, forward and midfielder for OU women’s soccer and a junior studying exercise physiology.
“What hit me the most was the way (Kellogg) lived his life before accepting Christ,” Murnane said. “Being a part of Athletes in Action gave me more insight into what God is trying to show me. He did a really good job.”
hy135010@ohiou.edu
