Seeing Dreams Come True

August 2nd was the day of the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) Annual Rookie Draft.

We want to share with you today the amazing work that God has done.


CHARLES LAMONT WATERS

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)


Photo Credit: Margaret Tipton

Lamont is a former officer of the United States Air Force who had a dream of one day playing in the PBA. Lamont is one of my best friends in the world and I have known him since we were in high school.

He is 29 years old and the odds are so against him especially because he didn’t play college ball. He decided to get out of the military and pursue his dream of one day playing in the PBA and making a difference.

Over the past year there were a lot of obstacles that he had to go through in order for him to get to this place. He was faced with so much discouragement, doubt, failure, and every other feeling you can think of.

To make the long story short, on August 2, 2009, his dream came true. He couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it, but one person who could was Jesus.

We have been dreaming of this day and it actually came to pass. We were both filled with so much excitement. God is faithful and is so good.


CHRIS TIMBERLAKE

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
(Psalm 46:10)


Photo Credit: Chris Timberlake

I met Chris about a couple of months ago and he has regularly been attending our weekly bible study. I first saw Chris doing a interview on television after he won Finals MVP honors during the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) championship.

Samantha and I were watching it together and I told her I really like that guy. He was extremely humble and simple in his ways. I thought he might be a Christian.

I got his number from a friend because I heard he was interested in joining a bible study. I immediately called him and invited him.

We met up and instantly became friends. We came to find out we have mutual friends and he attended our Every Nation church in Jacksonville, Florida -- Southpoint Community Church.

We have been spending a lot of time together and our relationship has been growing. Chris graduated from the University of North Florida and, like Lamont, had dreams of joining the PBA.

He got picked by my former team Ginebra but later got traded to Purefoods, another one of my former teams. He is still in awe on how good God is.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for him. Chris has so much wisdom and depth, and definitely knows who he is in Christ.


MICHAEL BURTSCHER

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)


Photo Credit: Lizette Claudio

This has to be one of my favorite success stories. I met Mike a few years ago but he has been attending our Bible study just this year.

He is half-Filipino and half-Swiss. He grew up not knowing his real father and going from foster home to foster home.

He found himself here in the Philippines a couple of years ago. Before coming here he was telling us that he was working 4 jobs and the last one was putting tiles on bathroom floors.

He said that one day at work, he just thought to myself, "I don’t want to do this all my life." So he quit.

Eventually, while he was in the Philippines, some scouts and coaches took notice of him because he was 6’6" tall and could run and jump like a deer. He was so athletic but really not with a lot of basketball skills. He was raw.

He bounced from school to school and from team to team. His only source of income was when he would get invited to play in these tournaments and he would get paid 500-2000 pesos to play.

He found out that he was able to enter the draft this year a week before the deadline. He was the biggest draft surprise.

He had an amazing showing at the rookie draft camp and he ended up getting picked the 5th overall to Alaska, another former team of mine. When they called his name his face lost color and he was the most surprised person in the entire place.

He said the first thing he is going to do when he signs a contract is go to the grocery store and by some food for his family. He has a 2-year-old little boy named Darin.

Mike has unlimited potential with a heart that is in passionate pursuit of God. He is continuing to grow in his relationship with the Lord and I believe one day will become a Pastor.

God is so amazing. There is nothing that brings me so much joy than seeing others dreams come true.

I know God is going to use these guys to really make a great impact on their respective teams and this nation. More basketball players are coming to our Bible study and a lot of it is because these guys can’t stop talking about on how great our God is.

I count it a priviledge to see these men grow in becoming the men that God has called them to be. Nothing is impossible for those who believe!


Photo Credit: Samantha Johnson. Photo taken right after the men's Bible study.

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12)