Story behind the verse on the BACK of the t-shirt

After Jon’s accident, God provided many opportunities for the Just and Erbach families to share about Jon’s life and the important role that his faith played in who he was.  One of those opportunities was through a video created by the MN Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for their 50^th anniversary celebration.  Twin City area “huddle leaders” and athletes were interviewed, one of which JUST happened to be Bob Downs, Jon’s soccer coach and huddle leader at Chaska High School.  As the FCA board viewed the rough draft of the film, one of the members, Jeff Nicholson, was touched by his own personal memories of Jon as he listened to Bob Downs share the impact that FCA had on Jon’s spiritual journey.

Jeff suggested that incorporating an interview with Jon’s parents, David and Cindy, might make the video even more powerful.  They were asked to come to the studio prepared with a scripture passage and a favorite song that they felt defined Jon.  As Cindy was praying that morning, God laid the verse in II Timothy 4 on her heart – about running our Christian race with perseverance.  As she opened her devotions for the morning, that verse was the topic of her devotions – so she felt fairly certain that this was the verse she was supposed to use for the video!!

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the FCA banquet and the verses he chose to speak on that evening came from II Timothy 4 - the very same verses that Cindy had chosen to highlight in the video that would be played immediately following the governor’s address!!  This was completely the Holy Spirit’s guiding as Governor Pawlenty and Cindy had never discussed the verses prior to the night of the banquet!! 

The verses read, “I give you this charge:  preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction…The time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Governor Pawlenty‘s message emphasized the fact that Paul wrote these words to Timothy, like he was passing the baton of faith on to him.  Paul’s turn was done and now it was up to Timothy to carry the baton, to continue the race and complete the work that Paul had started.  The race wasn’t over simply because Paul was leaving; Timothy had trained for it, in season and out of season, and it was now his turn.

Jon fought the good fight.  He was trained and prepared – and even though his race was more like a sprint than a marathon, he has passed his baton to us.  It is our turn now – and what is in store for us at the finish line is an amazing prize!!!