Former NFL player Jeff Kemp was one of the keynote speakers when Care Net hosted the second annual Called and Missioned Pro-Life Men’s Summit at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas on March 3-4, 2023.
In his message to the assembled men, Kemp, a quarterback for 11 seasons with the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, and Eagles, focused on “receiving” rather than passing. Men must accept their true identity and vision for true manhood and masculinity from the Lord.
“The ability to be a good person comes from the Father. Even Jesus, who was perfect, did it through humility, trust, and a connected relationship with the Father. I call this the principle of acceptance.”
The Called and Missioned conference Also featured were keynote speakers Dr. Tony Evans, Care Net CEO and President Roland Warren, and breakout sessions. Mac Powell, former frontman for Third Day, led the worship.
At the conference, Care Net is calling men to serve in the organization’s Pro Abundant Life vision to provide compassion, hope, and help to anyone considering an abortion. Attendees included men’s ministry leaders at pregnancy centers, believers interested in how they can serve women and men at risk of abortion in their communities, and pastors and church leaders (including lay leaders) who have an interest in life service.
At the Summit, the men left inspired to become Pro Abundant Life advocates in their communities.
“The goal of the pro-life movement should be that children not only have life, but have an abundant life in accordance with God’s design (John 10:10),” said Roland Warren.
Kemp, an ambassador to Paternity Commission and the author of Coping with the Blitz: Three Strategies for Turning Trials into Successes, shared several scriptures from the book of John during his keynote address, including John 5:19, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing on his own , but only what he sees. the Father does. For whatever the Father is[ does, that the Son does likewise.”
In speaking about how men need to receive from the Lord, Kemp gave an example of how Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Largent would catch passes.
“They tucked the football away. They covered both tips and held on to it for dear life,” he said.
Likewise, men should be diligent with their faith and not be meek, casual Christians who occasionally attend church and rarely study the Bible on their own.
“Receive your faith as a gift from God…If you are married, you should receive your wife as a gift from God,” Kemp said.
The Dartmouth alumnus exhorted the men to be bold in their faith and in their leadership, especially in the Pro Abundant Life movement.
“If we don’t protect life, we’ve damaged the image of God. Men are meant to be strong for others, not for themselves. Don’t be intimidated by how to be a great husband, how to be a great dad, how to be a better man, how to be a great Christian, how to be great in the pro-life movement. Instead, the focus should be on “humility and dependence upon the Father.”
“Practice the receive principle and he will do it through you. Go to the Father and say, ‘I’m your son, I want to hear from you.’ If we listen to Him and do what He says, guess what? Abortion rates will drop, out-of-wedlock pregnancy rates will go down, marriage rates will go up, divorce rates will go down, financial honesty will go up…Churches will have leaders in the seats instead of just up on the stage.”
Kemp also stressed the importance of teamwork, brotherhood, small groups, and accountability as the way of Jesus. He talked about the strength found in key relationships between men versus the weakness and shame that permeates men who try to make it alone.
“[The Bible says], ‘Confess your sins to one another.’ When you confess horizontally and reveal yourself, you suddenly become not only transparent, but vulnerable. And when you are weak, God’s spirit comes in and strengthens you.”
However, “If we exclude ourselves, Satan wins the game because shame keeps the Christian community from being a team and we cannot be honest and true. If we cannot be honest and true, then we do not know how to care and we lose the courage to go in and save lives and lead souls to Jesus.”
Kemp concluded his message by quoting the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “Not everyone can be famous but everyone can be great because greatness is determined by service.”
“If you turn to the ways of God, it will lead to blessing and [abundant life],” Kemp said. “Let’s save the marriage. Let’s revive fatherhood. Let’s rebuild masculinity. And what could be more important than loving God’s creations by finding your niche, by listening to him in saving babies and women who are in desperate places, and the young men that we ignore…Everyone needs grace. Let us receive it from the Father and give it to them.”
