While signing autographs at an Arizona Fall League game in October, Tim Tebow saw a fan having what appeared to be a seizure and, without hesitating, prayed over him until paramedics arrived. However, what the Christian athlete didn't know was that the fan, who suffers from frequent epileptic seizures, had rededicated his life to Christ just hours before his collapse.
The fan, Bandon Berry, told The Christian Post: "I got to the game and before the game actually started, I saw this guy in a Tim Tebow jersey. His name was Daniel. He was talking about God and how He has changed his life. It was a really heavy burden on me because I was really mad at God for all my health issues."
He continued: "It put a burden on my heart because I have always thought I was saved. I had talked to him about Christ. I said, 'Do you really believe that God helps people?' He told me a story about his son, who has seizures too. I said we could pray and I rededicated my life to Jesus before the game started."
Video footage of what happened next went viral: Following the game, Berry collapsed and had a seizure. Tebow, who was signing autographs nearby, made his way over to where people had gathered, and sat near the Berry, praying quietly while Daniel Kelly, a former Jets scout who left football to become a debt counselor and minister, prayed out loud. Witnesses say seconds after he was touched by Tebow, Berry jolted up and gasped for air, coughing loudly.
"It was a miracle," Kelly later recalled.
The athlete then engaged Berry in conversation while waiting for paramedics from the Phoenix Fire Department to arrive. After discussing sports, movies, and other topics, Tebow informed Barry that he'd be praying for him - by name.
When asked how the incident impacted him, Tebow told ABC News: "You just remember what's important. Baseball's awesome it's something I'm so excited I get a chance to pursue, but what's important is lives matter, people matter. This young man, he mattered. So my first instinct was to just be with him, put my hands on him and pray for him.
"We get caught up in so many different things, things that we're pursuing and we forget about what matters most is the people around us," he added.
In turn, Barry told CP that he wants to dedicate his life to serving God - and has not had a seizure in over a month: "I feel a lot less stressed and less anxiety and stuff," he explained. "I feel like now I want to do more things with my life and I want to serve God more."
