"Bro
you need to Man Up." I can't tell
you how many times I heard that in my first month as a freshman at the University
of Washington. The mornings were always too
early. The walk to the meal hall was too long and too cold. Who does this? The hardest practices I could
ever imagine. The hardest hits and
fastest pace. Day after day after
day. Swollen joints lead to ice baths;
twisted ankles lead to treatment and wraps.
My fingers broken, my knee is sore, back hurting, and neck to stiff to
turn. All those injuries can only mean
one thing; Does that really mean I have to get up an hour earlier? Yes!!! Treat
so you can compete. Weights after
practice, so we get stronger for seasons not even promised to us, for years far
off. Questions running through your
mind? Is it worth it? Can I make it? We’re
in game week but I’m lifting heavy doing long
hard workouts in preparation for a season a year, or two, or three. When if ever will I even get my chance?. We don’t
even know who's on the schedule next year cant we wait to lift until 2 a days
are over? No cant risk getting weaker.
moving your place in line, that line backer hits to hard, "man
up" an older running back laughs, my facemask twisted, ear pads and mouth piece
laying on the ground, one 10 yards away, I’m
on my back. I hear a coach “move the
drill" and I'm crawling, is it to find my ear peace or my dignity. I can hear big hits and grown men warring,
preparing for their moment. The cold has
given way to sweltering mid day heat, is it really 90 degrees, 102
degrees. Did I really miss that block,
that assignment, what was that play. Too
tired to think but I don't know my playbook so an hour earlier and an hour
later to study. Film sessions until late
in the night. Tape, treatment,
conditioning, weights, study study study.
Recently a new Christian, God requires of me time, devotion, and my
commitment. Not much time, but I need His presence I want to quit, I'm hurting,
so tired, just a moment to pray, I need it. Just a little word, ok some
fellowship. Feeling stronger but fatigue
it's still there. At each turn, even the slightest hint of compliant or
uncertainty a voice now permanently etched as an echo somewhere deep down in
the DNA of who I'd become. Somehow
through the hardships a voice no one else could hear had become alive in me;
"MAN UP."
I
remember limping out of the locker room, after one of our summer scrimmages, my
beautiful girlfriend, now wife, waiting for me.
Her smile warmed my heart. My
mind drifts towards the comfort of her smile…
the question echoing like a lost hicker deep in the woods hoping to be rescued;
Why am I doing this when I could spend my time with that beautiful woman? As usual her sweet voice interrupted my
contemplations. "You're bleeding
baby," a cut on my neck had bled through my bandage, "are you ok you
look different." Was it defeat,
fear, failure, had my face finally given away the secret feeling inside me that
all this was just too much for me, could she tell all I want to do was
quit? Her eyes locked onto mine
"football is what God is using to make a man out of you isn't it? You know
there's nothing sexier, stronger, or man better than a Godly man." A swagger returns to my step, a smile, a deep
remembrance of my passion for the game. You
know I've always loved sports, particularly football, but I think it's because
it is where my gift gave the most joy to the most people. But in that moment I knew what I really
wanted was to be the kind of man, she and my future children would admire.
It
doesn't need to be football. It could be
computer programming, or ROTC, or an under paying job, or hard relationship but
God uses people, things, challenges, and difficulties to make men out of
us. To reach into our lives and to lift we
with this whisper "Man Up."
Left to our own we all have crippling fears, weaknesses, and iniquities
that leave us paralyzed and broken. But
God wants to lift us up to a place where the empty areas of our lives are
filled and we are ready for our moment.
I've never meant a man where God hasn't given them moments in their
lives of significance. Moments if acted
upon that will impact their entire legacy.
That
is what Man up Ministries is all about making men ready for their moment.
Founder Richard Thomas Bio -
This is “My Story”
Richard
Thomas is a gifted and anointed minister of the Gospel. A man who despite his early beginnings has
emerged as a messenger of hope. Refined
by fire and patience Richard has a testimony of love. Through life challenges, failures, and
hardships he has been blessed by Gods grace and calling to turn what seemed to
be an unavoidable life of tragedy into triumph.
Born
and raised in the inner city of Los Angeles Richard faced what most assumed to
be a life destined of failure Born with
broken legs and life threatening medical conditions doctors told his mother he
would never “walk, run, or play sports, in
fact he may not even survive." But
he did to only be surrounded by violence, drugs, moral and spiritual
corruption. It seemed his story was written. But raised in adverse situations
God had a plan and despite his broken beginnings Richard became a Blue Chip
Athlete and accepted a scholarship to the University of Washington in
1991. The obstacles, doubters, and
hardships had made him stronger. God was
turning the mess of Richard’s life into
a message. Truly in God all things are
possible.
However,
amid the cheering crowds, media attention, and all the trappings of impending
football stardom, hopelessness still griped Richards' life. He still stood at the brink of losing it all.
Publicly a success but inwardly empty, Richard longed for the kind of purpose
only God could provide. Mere weeks before embarking upon his freshman year at
the University of Washington, Jesus changed his life. Richard responded by
embracing the Great Commandment (Matt22:36-40) and joyfully shared in the work
of the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) with the same determination that fueled
his success as an athlete.
Nearly
immediately Richard began heralding the good news of the Gospel at a wide
diversity of evangelistic events. God
was able to use him and his position of influence to bring others to Christ. In
the birthing stages of the ministry Richard accepted nearly every opportunity
he could to preach the gospel. While
juggling the demands of football, earning two Bachelor’s
degrees, and serving his family as a devoted husband to his wife Christie and
loving father to his firstborn, MaRyann.
Today part of Richards’s message
is raising MVP MEN. Men that balance the
unbalance able pressures of life. Deeply
acquainted with the consequences of burn out Richard equips the body to
gracefully live a life based on Gods Mission, Values, and Priorities for their
lives. When you prepare your character
and skill God will provide your platform.
And that is just what God has done Richards entire life. Richard’s
platform while at the University of Washington, enlarged as he won several
Pac-10 Championship, played in two Rose Bowls, won the National Championship,
and won numerous team and league honors. He rose among the ranks to become the
team’s
co-captain and won the team’s Most
Inspirational Player Award, the honor Richard took greatest delight in.
He
has always sought to use that platform to enlarge Gods message in the
earth. During his senior season, in
1995, he planted his life and family in the soil of the City Church. Then pastored Wendell and Gini Smith. Initially serving as a junior high leader in
Generation Church. Being one of the
largest youth churches in the Pacific Northwest it afforded Richard many opportunities
to herald the gospel and Richard used that platform while continuing his
athletic pursuits. Despite lacking some of the talent and skills recognized
necessary for the NFL, primarily size, speed, and athleticism, Richard was
known as a consummate professional on and off the field. Character, integrity and work ethic have
long been war cries of Richards’s life. As
a result of that reputation and a tremendously coach able spirit Richard was
picked up by the Baltimore Ravens in 1995 and realized his dream to play in the
NFL. That season, Richard mentored
youth, reached the lost, and began to feel a call to go into full time
ministry. His lifelong dream to make it
to NFL realized Richard heard the whispering of God’s
call on his heart to equip believes for the work of the ministry. He ministered throughout Maryland, Virginia,
and nationally as he juggled the birth of he and wife Christie's second child
Richard IV, aka BLUE, the responsibilities of being a professional, and
ministry passions. That year Richard
launched what would become Richard on Campus with the goal of educating,
empowering, and winning young people to Christ through the vehicle of School
assemblies. A program still being used
on campuses nationally. He later founded
Coaching the Champion as a mission minded company designed to create inroads
into the public sectors while still imparting Godly Principles and establishing
opportunities for Mission mentorship and relationships. Today Hundreds of Thousands of young people
have been positively impacted by these efforts and many won to Christ. In this process Richard became first the
Junior High Youth Pastor, and then Youth Evangelist at The City Church where he
served nearly a decade in various roles of ministry and soul winning,
discipleship, and pastoral duties.
Richard
and his family then took a youth pastorate and developed a youth center in
California where their family was finally made complete with the birth of their
second son and youngest child Payton Judah Jakes (no not after Manning but
Walter). While on the central coast of
California, under Pastor Rocky Tannehill Richard expanded his ministry tackling
not only reaching youth but became the Associate Pastor. Adding to his duties of ministering to “tHis
Generation” the Thomas’
expanded their roles by ministering to the emerging issues of young adulthood,
marriages, and families.
The
Thomas' then took a major leap of faith.
Relocating to the Midwest where they served under Ray Allen Berryhill at
Evangel World Outreach Center. There
Richard ministered to families in both the inner and suburban metropolitan
region of Chicago. As one of the city’s
most ethnically, culturally, and socio-economically diverse churches Richard
ministered alongside a team of devoted men and women to radically impact the
youth of Chicago. He discovered under
the weight of the socio economic difficulty of the climate of that city, to
impact the child you must reach the family, particularly the father. Richard expanded the scoop of his ministry to
families particularly into men’s
ministry. It was there that the beginnings
of MAN UP Ministries were birthed.
Richard and his family have since traveled as evangelists and
missionaries impacting the world with the Gospel. His wife Christie has been a devote social
activist and minister. Establishing
youth centers, advocating on behalf of underage human trafficking victims, and
uniting people around the world to love mercy, do justly and walk humble with
their God. The Thomas children have all
been actively involved each step of the way.
In
July of 2012 Richard’s wife of
20 years, Christie, suffered an aneurism and has battled daily in faith for
victory over death. Miracle after
miracle God has shown Himself faithful to the Thomas family. Showing that even in the midst of hardship
His loving kindness can empower us to stand in faith, live in hope, and
experience God’s overwhelming love. From his current home in Sammamish, WA,
Richard ministers extensively within the faith community, on public school
campuses, coaching and at corporate events all over the nation. He exercises
his gift and call to encourage people of all ages, instilling the life-altering
truth of God’s word. Proclaiming the gospel
message with authority and passion, his dedication to the salvation of people
and earnest desire to see “tHis
Generation” fulfill the call of God has
made him a sought-after communicator.
HIs wife Christie continues to heal and recover and three Children
(MaRyann, Blue, and Payton) invest their lives daily both in their own
communities and abroad. The Thomas'
stand in faith, making an impact in the world we live. These three remain, faith, hope and love, but
the greatest of these is love. There
family mission statement "we are one and our love never fails."
