“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” — 2 Timothy 1: 7-8
Don’t Be Timid
Many of the best athletes in sports today played at colleges without high-profile programs known for producing pros. Antonio Brown (Central Michigan), Adam Thielen (Minnesota State) and Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois) come to mind in football. Basketball examples include Damion Lillard (Weber State) and Steph Curry (Davidson). Even though they weren’t recruited by traditional powers, they continued to trust in their abilities and kept working to improve their game.
These players, and plenty of others in similar situations, refused to let the disadvantages that come with going to smaller schools prevent them from pursuing professional careers. At some point, they were given a chance to show what they were capable of. When the opportunity came, they proved they could play with the best of the best and belonged at the highest level sports can offer.
Even though we don’t have the answer to every question and may not feel qualified, God calls us to be bold in our faith. He sent the Holy Spirit so we can share our testimony and spread God’s love fearlessly. God offers hope and eternal life to everyone — that’s a huge deal!
With the Holy Spirit’s help, we don’t have to be ashamed or timid when talking about what the Lord has done.
— Joshua Doering
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to jason@sportsspectrum.com.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives past a Bucks defender, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
The Indiana Pacers have improved on their regular-season record each of the three full seasons star guard Tyrese Haliburton has been with the franchise. A year ago they made the postseason for the first time in four years, won a playoff series for the first time since 2014, and advanced all the way to the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals.
This spring, with a 50-32 regular-season record and the No. 4 seed in the East, Haliburton and the Pacers are positioned for another deep playoff run.
Haliburton had a relatively quiet game in Indiana’s 117-98 Game 1 victory Saturday against its first-round opponent, the Milwaukee Bucks, yet still nearly compiled a triple-double; he scored 10 points, dished out 12 assists and snagged seven rebounds.
Drafted No. 12 overall by the Sacramento Kings out of Iowa State in 2020, Haliburton was traded to the Pacers mid-way through the 2021-22 season. In Indiana, he’s become one of the best passers in the NBA and a two-time All-Star (2023, 2024). He averaged 9.2 assists per game this regular season (the third-most in the league) in addition to his 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
Haliburton was a member of Team USA’s gold medal-winning basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and as his fame has grown, he’s continued to speak about the importance of faith in his life. At a press conference earlier this month, he was asked about the chapel services NBA teams hold before games.
“Chapel is a big part of my game-day routine,” Haliburton said. “It started my rookie year with Harrison Barnes. As my vet, he always made sure I was going to chapel. … That 15-20 minutes I get every day to step aside and talk about what really matters — which is my Lord and Savior — I think it’s very important for me. I think we’ve built a little bit of a community within our locker room too.”
He continued later, “It’s a super cool thing that we do here in the NBA and I always appreciate it. So (chapel has) been a big part of my success and, honestly, my sanity throughout this year. It’s been an up-and-down year, but I know that coming back to the [Bible], coming back to my peace really there always makes me feel at peace and knowing the bigger picture.”
Haliburton writes “To Him be the glory forever” in his X bio, and this summer in an interview with GQ said his Bible was the first of 10 items he can’t live without.
“Over the last two years, my religion has become very important in my life,” he said in the video. “Just understanding that I’m made in the image of God, in a world where you have a bad game and they’re killing you on social media, or confidence goes up and down, I can always come right here. [The Bible] is my peace.”
Haliburton admitted he’s never truly read the Bible until recent years, knowing only the isolated verses athletes commonly reference. However, as the 25-year-old Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native has established himself in the NBA, God has been at work in his heart to draw him closer to Himself.
“Growing up we didn’t go to church a lot, but we understood God’s place in our lives,” Haliburton told NBA.com last year. “Now that I’m an adult I guess — I own a house now and live on my own — I go to church on Sunday every chance I can. I go to chapel before games.”
God has even used Haliburton’s life as a witness to his own parents, John and Brenda.
“Tyrese is humble and very blessed,” John told Andscape in December 2023. “We give God the praise and the glory. Tyrese is nothing without the mercy of God. He knows how to handle it. He knows where he comes from.”
Tip-off for Game 2 between the Bucks and Haliburton’s Pacers is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, as Indiana will try to secure a commanding two-game lead in the best-of-seven series. And one thing is for certain: 60 minutes before tip, Haliburton will be in chapel, learning about and worshiping God.
From left to right: Carter Coughlin, Annabelle Hasselbeck and Yossiana Coughlin. (Photo by Sports Spectrum)
THIS IS SPORTS SPECTRUM’S WHAT’S UP PODCAST
WITH ANNABELLE HASSELBECK
On today’s episode of Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast, we have Carter and Yossiana Coughlin.
We’re so excited to talk to the Coughlins about the fun hobbies they have together, their time playing college sports, and how they’ve leaned on their faith throughout their professional football and volleyball careers.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9
Everybody wants to hold up the trophy at the end of the season, but the most important blood, sweat and tears are shed in the offseason, long before the season starts. The best and most productive players focus on proper nutrition and avoid overeating during this period of time. They are relentless in weightlifting and running, and perhaps swimming too for additional aerobic exercise. If they wait until the first day of training camp to run or build their muscles, they will get left behind and not get any playing time in games. Unselfishness and sacrifice are necessary to be a true team player.
Jesus gave up everything to come to earth, and we benefit from the infinite, spiritual riches of His incredible sacrifice. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
As we reflect on the insults, disrespect, unfairness and cruelty endured by Jesus during His first visit among us, we should be eternally grateful for the blood, sweat and tears poured out on our behalf to rescue us from our own wrongdoing. We get to truly know acceptance from God based upon Christ dying as our substitute and taking upon Himself what we deserved because we’ve wandered away from God’s commands so many times. When we compare Christ’s commitment to us with our flimsy faith, we should feel challenged to make a deeper and more lasting covenant with God. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
The covenant offered through Christ has fewer “rules” than the Old Testament covenant, but the standard is the example of Christ, who lived out God’s ways to perfection. Christ lived a perfect life as the spotless Lamb, and offered His own life as payment for our sins. As Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples, He established a new remembrance by having the first Lord’s Supper (communion) with them. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'” (Matthew 26:26-28).
During this Easter season — and every day for that matter — let us be more mindful of the blood, sweat and tears shed by our dear Savior as He poured out His life for us. He gained nothing for Himself, but we were richly rewarded because Jesus washed away every sin for believers. If we lived well for the rest of our lives, we couldn’t repay him. Christ died for us, the least we can do is to live our lives for Him.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE & JASON ROMANO, FEATURING DERWIN GRAY
Derwin Gray played five seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers. He is currently the pastor of Transformation Church in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. His latest book, “Lit Up With Love,” is out now.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Derwin Gray about the “naked preacher” who led him to Jesus, how his scars have helped him help others, and being an “everyday missionary” who is led by love as a follower of Christ.
