Longhorns legend shares powerful faith message at Tarrant prayer luncheon
At Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare’s third National Day of Prayer luncheon, the keynote speaker reminded the largely-Republican crowd that they shouldn’t wait for life to fall apart to lean on God.
The apolitical messaging was a shift from the prior year’s event when speaker Kevin Sorbo, a Christian conservative actor, focused on the need for God-honoring governance.
Colt McCoy, former Texas and NFL quarterback, stepped away from the discussion with O’Hare about his football career and took to the main podium to say God has a plan for everyone and anything that does not fit into the final destination, he takes away.
“Walk with him now in the ordinary moments, in the successful moments, in the uncertain moments,” McCoy said. “Because following Jesus, at least for me, was never about having complete control. It’s always been about trust. I’ve found that even when God strips away our comfort or our identity, or what we think is our identity or our clarity, he never strips away his presence.”
McCoy spent his time at the podium reminding the crowd of roughly 700 that prayer is a continual reminder to stay close to God. The Texas Sports Hall of Famer used the story of his career-changing elbow injury to highlight that it’s more important to trust God than it is to understand the why.
“Most of the disciples seem confused most of the time, and I actually find encouragement in that, because faith was never about having this perfect clarity,” McCoy said. “It’s about deciding who you’re going to trust when the clarity disappears.”
The first Thursday in May was designated as the National Day of Prayer by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Prior to that, an official Day of Prayer was established by President Harry Truman in 1952.
It is meant as a day to gather and pray for the nation.
Before lunch was served, Republican county leaders Commissioner Matt Krause, Sheriff Bill Waybourn and District Attorney Phil Sorrells opened the event with the pledges and a prayer of thanks for the United States.
David Blease, director of the Center for Israel at Gateway Church, then came to the stage to promote affiliate marketing program Patriot Mobile Faith. Patriot Mobile was the top sponsor of the luncheon.
The Tarrant County National Day of Prayer Luncheon was put on by O’Hare’s office with no taxpayer money used, he said. The event raised $30,000 to benefit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Southwest and Academy 4. Both are faith-based nonprofits.
Before O’Hare brought up McCoy, about 10 minutes were spent in prayer, led by Anglican Bishop Ryan Reed, Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader Ken Butler and Essential Church Pastor Jay Caprietta. The men prayed for family and church; government and military; and businesses.
The event closed with a prayer from Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton, a Galveston Republican running for attorney general. He has fought in the Legislature to prohibit men in women’s bathrooms, restore prayer in schools and display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
O’Hare, who is running for re-election against Democratic challenger Alisa Simmons, said if he is not chosen as county judge in November, he will leave the seat content, knowing he started the annual National Day of Prayer luncheon and erected the Ten Commandments monument on the county courthouse lawn.