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NFL Pro Bowl Player-Turned-Pastor Urges Christians Not to Take Sides in Ferguson

Tom Buehring : Aug 28, 2014  The 700 Club

Aeneas "I looked up the name Michael; I looked up Darren, the officer's name. Michael means, 'who is like God?' The name Darren means 'agent of change.' Wouldn't it be the enemy himself to take these destiny names and bring out something just horrendous through it? So what I want to do is take the original purpose of the names and bring the focus to it." -Aeneas Williams

(Ferguson, MO)—Uncertainty and unrest linger in Ferguson, Missouri—a community inflamed and scarred by pending questions after an unarmed black teen was fatally shot by a white police officer. (Photo via CBN.com)

"All of a sudden you're thrust into something that you wouldn't have volunteered for," says Aeneas Williams.

Williams is one of St. Louis' most beloved sports figures. The former eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback has lived in the area since his trade to the Rams in 2001. He now pastors at a vibrant, neighborhood church in Ferguson.

"As tragic as this is, it's exposed a tension that's been there for quite some time," says Williams. "Two people (stand) on separate sides of the street. There are narratives on both sides—what it's like to be a police officer. Also, what's it like to be in different parts of the community."

Just one week before the Aug. 9 shooting, Williams was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His induction speech is best remembered for this:

"I've got two statements, if you don't remember anything I say. Begin with the end in mind, and die empty. Begin with the end in mind, and die empty."

Williams explains what he meant: "Begin with the end in mind simply means live a life of intention. What you believe God has put in your heart. And then dying empty, overcoming fear. Overcoming the challenges. Having exhausted all of the gifts and potential that the Lord had given me. I truly believe the greatest amount of wealth you could find is at cemeteries. I believe most people die with their potential. Potential books, potential cures for cancer, just so many things."

Just 2 1/2 miles down the road from Williams' church, 18-year-old Michael Brown died. A makeshift memorial covers the blood-stained street.

"I looked up the name Michael; I looked up Darren, the officer's name. Michael means, 'who is like God?' The name Darren means 'agent of change.' Wouldn't it be the enemy himself to take these destiny names and bring out something just horrendous through it? So what I want to do is take the original purpose of the names and bring the focus to it. Who is like our God, but to bring reconciliation and healing in something that has been going on for years. And who is like our God except to allow anyone one of us that decides to be agents of good, to bring about good in the midst of something bad," says Williams.

It is fitting that a former defensive back like Williams is one to champion reconciliation, much like those interceptions, it's a principle that brings dramatic change."

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