We were so very happy to read the
article below, which was printed in
the 12/13/04 edition of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, concerning
our Brother who plays for the
Philadelphia Eagles: Jermane
Mayberry. I don't know about all of
you, but I know who I'll be rooting for
on Sunday Feb. 6th!!!
Enjoy......
article below, which was printed in
the 12/13/04 edition of the
Philadelphia Inquirer, concerning
our Brother who plays for the
Philadelphia Eagles: Jermane
Mayberry. I don't know about all of
you, but I know who I'll be rooting for
on Sunday Feb. 6th!!!
Enjoy......
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A massive man tries to come up big for
his faith
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
It is a mysterious faith that is known to most outsiders as the
religion that goes door to door. And, yes, Jermane Mayberry does
his part to spread the gospel according to the Jehovah's Witnesses.
"All the time," he said. "I enjoy talking to people about it."
You'd think that a man who stands 6-foot-4, weighs 325 pounds,
and plays for the most popular team in Philadelphia would regularly
be recognized. But Mayberry, who along with Brian Dawkins has
the most seniority among the Eagles, said he often isn't.
"People even come to the door with Eagles stuff on, but I think
they just don't put it together or expect me to be at their door," he
said.
Mayberry, who grew up a Baptist in his native Texas, said he was
baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 2002.
"I started to learn about what it was in 1999 and 2000," he said.
"My wife [Danielle] being one, it kind of sparked my interest. At that
time, it was really good for me because I was going through so
much on the field. It was nice to have some peace in my life and to
understand that there are things a lot more important than
football."
Mayberry has also experienced trying times in the last two
seasons. He missed the final 11 games of last season with an
elbow injury that required surgery, and he has missed two games
this season with a nagging calf injury.
Those injuries, combined with his age - he turned 31 in August -
and the fact that he will be a free agent after this season could
spell the imminent end of his career with the Eagles.
"It's been tough," he said. "But it's not like the elbow injury last
year. That was serious. The biggest thing this year is that I feel like
when I've been out there, I've been doing a good job."
Mayberry said his new religion has definitely helped him handle a
lot of situations.
"I've always been pretty laid-back," he said. "But I've really learned
not to worry so much. I've learned to let things go and to put my
trust in Jehovah and to know what I can do and what I can't do."
According to Mayberry, the biggest misconception about the religion
is that its adherents don't believe in Jesus.
"We believe Jesus is God's son, but we address God as Jehovah,"
Mayberry said.
And why do church members feel compelled to go door to door to
preach?
"In the scriptures - Matthew 28:19-20 - Jesus told his disciples to
go out and preach the good news," Mayberry said. "Being a
Witness in a nutshell is really practicing Christianity the way it was
practiced in the first century."
his faith
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
It is a mysterious faith that is known to most outsiders as the
religion that goes door to door. And, yes, Jermane Mayberry does
his part to spread the gospel according to the Jehovah's Witnesses.
"All the time," he said. "I enjoy talking to people about it."
You'd think that a man who stands 6-foot-4, weighs 325 pounds,
and plays for the most popular team in Philadelphia would regularly
be recognized. But Mayberry, who along with Brian Dawkins has
the most seniority among the Eagles, said he often isn't.
"People even come to the door with Eagles stuff on, but I think
they just don't put it together or expect me to be at their door," he
said.
Mayberry, who grew up a Baptist in his native Texas, said he was
baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 2002.
"I started to learn about what it was in 1999 and 2000," he said.
"My wife [Danielle] being one, it kind of sparked my interest. At that
time, it was really good for me because I was going through so
much on the field. It was nice to have some peace in my life and to
understand that there are things a lot more important than
football."
Mayberry has also experienced trying times in the last two
seasons. He missed the final 11 games of last season with an
elbow injury that required surgery, and he has missed two games
this season with a nagging calf injury.
Those injuries, combined with his age - he turned 31 in August -
and the fact that he will be a free agent after this season could
spell the imminent end of his career with the Eagles.
"It's been tough," he said. "But it's not like the elbow injury last
year. That was serious. The biggest thing this year is that I feel like
when I've been out there, I've been doing a good job."
Mayberry said his new religion has definitely helped him handle a
lot of situations.
"I've always been pretty laid-back," he said. "But I've really learned
not to worry so much. I've learned to let things go and to put my
trust in Jehovah and to know what I can do and what I can't do."
According to Mayberry, the biggest misconception about the religion
is that its adherents don't believe in Jesus.
"We believe Jesus is God's son, but we address God as Jehovah,"
Mayberry said.
And why do church members feel compelled to go door to door to
preach?
"In the scriptures - Matthew 28:19-20 - Jesus told his disciples to
go out and preach the good news," Mayberry said. "Being a
Witness in a nutshell is really practicing Christianity the way it was
practiced in the first century."
A SUPER Player goes to the
SUPER Bowl! -- Our Brother!
SUPER Bowl! -- Our Brother!