Former pro player speaks to FCA
By Kelly Griffith news@bullardnews.com

Murphy

Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

On Thursday, Terrence Murphy, retired Green Bay Packer, accepted an invitation from FCA coordinator Ryan Tomlin to attend Bullard High school's FCA meeting and share his testimony.

After a time of fellowship over a breakfast provided by the many athletes and their parents, Murphy shared his testimony of trials that began when he was an infant.

"I was born two months premature," Murphy said. "I died once or twice and had to be revived when I was a baby."

Murphy's lungs were not developed as well as they should have been when he was born -- leaving him with asthma attacks through out his early years. Murphy also suffered from seizures through this time.

"It hurt me to see other kids play because for the first five years of my life I could because you never knew when I was going to have a seizure," Murphy said.

From six years old, Murphy explained he had a relationship with God and spent much of his time praying God would heal him.

One night Murphy said his prayers were answered and to this day he has not had another seizer or asthma attack.

"So I took full advantage of what God gave me and played sports all the time because I know what it feels like to just watch," Murphy said.

Murphy's second trial came when he was 17 years old and his best friend -- his mother -- had a slight heart attack.

Murphy at the time was attending Chapel Hill High School and knew that his mother was unable to work, so he would have to make his own way to college.

"I wanted to give myself a two-way goal: academics and football," Murphy said. "I worked my butt off, and I made it."

Murphy persevered through his second trial saying that while his mom was sick he had a lot of time to spend with God.

Murphy graduated and found himself at Texas A&M University where he switched from quarterback to wide receiver and returned kickoffs and is the Texas A&M record holder in the vertical jump, for all varsity sports including basketball, with a jump of 41.5 inches.

Once proving himself in a larger arena, Murphy gained the recognition of the Green Bay Packers.

Murphy was selected in the 2nd round of the 2005 NFLDraft by Green Bay.

He played in three games in the regular season and was injured in October of his rookie year on a helmet-tohelmet hit during a Monday night game against the Carolina Panthers during a kickoff return.

"I was paralyzed from the neck down," Murphy said recalling the most pivotal trial he's faced, the trial that has reinforced his relationship with God.

"On that night I said, 'Lord forgive me, I don't need anything else. I need you right now.'

"Three days later there was a little movement. I had to go through rehab, but look at me now. I'm moving my arms, walking, talking - give me a basketball, I'll dunk it," Murphy said.

Murphy then shared some scriptures from Matthew telling the story of how Peter stepped out in faith to walk on water with Jesus but when the waves began crashing around him he began to doubt and the started to sink.

Paralleling himself with Peter Murphy explained how you must press forward when trouble comes your way.

"You're faith must be strong even when troubles come, you must remember who runs the show," Murphy said.