Evangelist Franklin Graham has called Tim Tebow, who is now playing for the New York Mets, a "class act" and said he appreciates the "bold stand" the Christian athlete takes for his faith in Jesus Christ.
"Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is now playing baseball for the New York Mets," Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote in a post on his Facebook page.
"It sounds like he had a good game on Wednesday! I hope he does well," Graham wrote. "Tim is a class-act-I appreciate the bold stand he takes for his faith in Jesus Christ!"
Along with his remarks, Graham shared a link to an article about how Tebow, batting seventh and playing right field, collected hits in his first-two at-bats on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins.
"Tebow now has three hits in his last six at-bats. For the spring, he is 3-for-14 with four strikeouts," reads the report. "The former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback now has more hits as touchdown passes he threw against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2012 AFC wild-card game."
This is not the first time Graham has voiced his admiration for Tebow; back when the athlete played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the evangelist called him a "true leader both on and off the field" who "lives out his Christian faith at every turn."
Tebow regularly speaks about how his faith impacts his personal life as well as sports career and recently said he'd rather be known for his mission work than his skills on the field.
"I want my life to be so much more than that," 29-year-old Christian recently told WPTV of his athletic career. "I want to be known as someone who brings faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day during their darkest hour of need, and that is something that is a life calling for me. So it's so much bigger than sports."
He added, "But I am so grateful for sports because it has given me a platform."
Tebow, who was born in the Philippines to missionary parents, started a hospital in his native country. The Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City, Philippines provides care to low-income children with critical orthopedic needs.
Tebow is also the author of New York Times bestseller Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms, his second book in which he describes his faith sustained him after he found himself unexpectedly unemployed after getting cut by the New England Patriots.
