The Real Winning Edge

program #3

Dale Jarrett

Daytona 500 Champion - 1993, 1996, 2000
Brickyard 400 Champion - 1998
Winston Cup Champion - 1999

Testimony

I grew up in a Christian home. My parents made sure that we were in church, but as I grew up I got sidetracked and didn't live my life as I should.

But things changed when I started driving for Joe Gibbs. Here was and is a man that is very strong in the Lord and his influence on me helped get my life back to where it should be. My wife and I dedicated our lives to the Lord and we know that our children are growing up in a Christian home and that they have Christian friends.

There's a lot of different ways to live your life but there's only one right way and that's to live for the Lord.

It is my faith in the Lord that has gotten me through the loss of Dale Earnhardt. I believe Dale is in a better place. We are all going to that better place when you have Christ in your life. It's that faith that gets me through, knowing Dale had a wonderful life and that he believed in Christ.

(Used with permission of TheGoal.com)

Mary Joe Fernandez

Former Top WTA Tennis Player
Current ESPN Tennis Commentator
Olympic Gold Medal, Doubles, 1992, 1996
Ranked 4th in World, 1990, 1991

Testimony

I grew up in a very faithful home and a great environment. We went to church every Sunday. My parents taught me morals and values, and passed their faith down to me.

But when I was about 19, a friend started asking me lots of questions about Christianity, like, "Why do you believe what you believe?" I started thinking, Why DO I believe these things? I realized I believed them because my parents believed them.

That's when it hit me that I needed to make the faith my own. Even though I had been around it all my life, I had to make a personal commitment. So I started reading my Bible a lot, starting with the Gospel of John. I had never read the Bible much before then, but as I read, it really started hitting me: This is my faith. It's all right here in the Bible.

I had been playing really well. I was about to make a big breakthrough. I was ready to challenge for No. 1 in the world. And then, boom, the endometriosis. I didn't know what was going on. All I knew is that I had a lot of pain in my pelvic area. And I was really scared. Fortunately, it turned out to be something that's treatable, and now I can manage the pain very well.

I didn't know if I'd ever be able to play again. I thought I was going to lose everything I'd worked for. It really shook me up. I prayed a lot, and my family prayed a lot. I really think I would have lost it by now if it weren't for my faith. But God has used those tough times to make me stronger, to help me grow spiritually.

(My favorite Bible verse is:) "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1) I've learned I can't do anything on my own, but I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.

It's not important whether or not you reach your dreams. What is important is that you trust in God, try your hardest, and do your best. That's the best way to chase your dreams.

Darren Henry