New England Patriots wide receiver Jordan Matthews has made it abundantly clear that his life matters most if it’s dedicated to Jesus Christ.
“If we really do believe and follow Christ, He must increase in our lives,” he wrote for The Increase. “And He can’t just be the bigger thing, He needs to be the only thing. If I’m not on this team and with this organization to impact lives and show Jesus Christ to the men I’m in the locker room with, then I’m not worthy of this platform at all.”
It’s only natural, then, that Matthews is spearheading yet another selfless fight for the type of compassion embodied by Christ.
On Saturday, the fifth-year wideout hosted his second annual Vanderbilt Legends Charity Softball Game at the university’s Hawkins Field. And besides featuring more than two dozen former Commodores, the event will direct every bit of its proceeds to YWCA, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace; and AMEND Together, a program meant to challenge domestic violence and the culture that sustains it.
“It’s really near and dear to my heart,” Matthews told Sports Spectrum. “I have great women in my life from my mom to my wife, to my cousins to my aunt to my grandma. I want to make sure that as men, in this society, we need to be protecting the women and we need to be respecting them.”
The game is also a product of the receiver’s own Matthews Mission foundation, which exists to “feed the children, educate the children, empower the family and donate to those in need.”
With a home run derby and an actual game between Vanderbilt alumni and the “Real Heroes of Nashville,” the Legends showdown featured former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler, former Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett, former St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy, former Dallas Mavericks draft pick Shan Foster, former Bears cornerback D.J. Moore and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Myron Lewis, among other celebrity guests.
“We did offensive Vandy legends against defensive Vandy legends and we crushed them 8-3. It wasn’t even close,” Matthews told us. “I’ll tell you who the sleepers are when it comes to baseball and softball. Austyn Carta-Samuels and Jordan Rogers. They were amazing.”
2nd Annual Vandy Legends charity game was a success! I want to thank all of the volunteers, players, fans, friends and family for making all of it possible. 100% of the proceeds go to YWCA & AMEND! We’ll continue to spread awareness & aid the end of domestic abuse in Nashville! pic.twitter.com/hwtGZuhZ4n
— Jordan Matthews (@jmattjmattjmatt) July 9, 2018
Matthews has been operating his foundation and the Vanderbilt Legends Charity Softball Game since his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, when he first prioritized his faith alongside other vocal Christians like Nick Foles, Trey Burton and Chris Maragos. Drafted by the Eagles in 2014, he spent three years in Philadelphia before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2017 and then signing with the Patriots this offseason.
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