Quarterback-turned-baseball player Tim Tebow may have started spring training with the New York Mets organization, but 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."
When asked if his charitable organization, the Tim Tebow Foundation, could be affecting his career as an athlete, Tebow said: "Not at all. I find all of those things help me so much more playing sports and playing baseball more than you could possibly imagine."
Tebow also shared how his organization, which recently held its annual "Night to Shine" program that gives a prom celebration opportunity to those with special needs, has taught him how to succeed under pressure, which really helps "because so much of handling sports is about handling pressure."
"Well, what pressure do you have if you are 0 for 12 and you're at the plate versus someone [who] is fighting for their life versus someone we picked up on the side of the street in Haiti because they are crippled or going through garbage?" he asked. "How do you compare those things?"
Tebow added that those things are actually incomparable, and while he hopes to continue his career as a professional athlete, he's far more interested in honoring God by helping others.
The Tim Tebow Foundation website reveals that the organization was "primarily created to show God's love to children around the world. "
As reported, this year's "Night to Shine" prom was attended by 75,000 "queen and king" teens with special needs across 375 host churches in 50 states, 11 countries and six continents. Tebow attended several of those events, where he met fans, walked down the red carpet, posed for pictures and helped shine attendees' dress shoes.
Following the event, Tebow said in a video posted to Instagram: "Tonight was life-changing. For me to be able to dance with all of these kids [and] have so much fun cheering them on, and just love them and show the love of God to every single one of them, because love He loves us all so much."
