Tim Tebow recently spoke at a Florida College leadership program held at the Tampa Convention Center this past September 16, 2021. My wife and I attended. I got a chance to hurriedly speak and shake hands with the famous Christian athlete icon. He made mention that we (table mates, I guess) were just talking about you. I responded, Yeah, right. I thanked him for all the notoriety he brought to Gator football by his wonderful example.

A couple of weeks later while conversing with my preacher on his front porch, his daughter, Amanda, approached to show some photos of her son, Jennings, in the mix with Tim Tebow. She said to her son at the time, “Wouldn’t you like to get Tim Tebow’s autograph? To which he replied, “Why would I do that? I’ve already got one of Mr. Gagner.” Jennings, I can’t possible tell you in words what your statement means to me (but I’ll try).

In your eyes, I’m at least on a par (and possibly greater) than the revered Tim Tebow. Now, I’d be the first person to admit to the Christian world (especially) that I’m in no way, shape or form, even remotely close, to being a like representation of a Christian athlete of his statue. But, one fact remains. Apparently, somewhere between putting on my Thee Righteous Relays venue for Jennings and his birthday buddies and being a member of Henderson Blvd. church of Christ in Tampa for nearly a decade, I must have made an important, positive impact on this particular youth. We were both equally blessed by our Godly intersections–(Devine providence?).
PS: This graphic image is a close second to the real plywood cutout I propped up at the relay venue for the kids to have their helmeted-head shots taken through. Jennings is pictured here. God bless him. He’s an inspiration–in deed. (Jennings and other youths of his age are “High-Flyers” (express lane to salvation, if they were to die unexpectedly) simply because most of them aren’t yet to the age of accountability. My college number was actually 72, but I changed it to a one to reflect Jesus all-righteousness).