Jermane Mayberry--Philadelphia Eagle--JW since 2002

by blondie 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  blondie

  
  

  	Posted on Sun, Dec. 12, 2004
  	http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/10395173.htm 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." Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at 215-854-2577 or [email protected].
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  anuva

  perhaps human mind will always remain suspectible till they themselves suffer the pain that they cannot understand when told by others experiances .
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  Axelspeed

  Stories like this make me believe that the WT is mainstreaming, whether some at the top like it or not. Some may quietly be hoping and waiting for it while others grit there teeth, reluctantly tolerate it and wonder "what the hell ...?". The reason it is happening is that its mainstreaming from the bottom up, not the top down. So while the doctrines may be mainstreaming at a snails pace, the attitudes of the new JW are changing much faster. They are not buying a lot of this stuff whole hog anymore, its much more pick and chose ? belief ala carte. They love the ?built in friends?, but a lot of the crap that we put up with years ago is not flying, especially when it comes to careers and education. For a lot of the older ones, I know they cannot help but notice the change -- but they have nowhere to go they feel, don?t have the courage to leave, or use the JWs as much more of a social thing?while turning a blind eye to unmistakable changes, acting like nothing has changed and looking dumbfounded if you dare bring it up.

  The JW that we know and grew up with is quickly fading. In a way that?s a good thing, maybe fewer will suffer as we did. A few strategic moves and a couple of drastic ones and the WT will be back in business again, growth-wise. I hate to say it but I think that ultimately we are going to have to get over it.

  I knew someone in a very similar situation as above and gave it all up ? it was just expected and they were applauded and paraded around on the assembly circuit for it. The new JW ?aint giving it up? and they will still be a JW, no problem. The information available now, but especially the attitudes now are forcing the change. While people can still be gullible, they are a lot less compliant nowadays. All the JW of yesterday can do is shake their head. Change is coming, but maybe not from where we expect it. In a lot of ways, it is coming from the bottom up.

  Axelspeed (of the Animal Farm class)
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  DanTheMan

  Kinda raises the same questions that Prince's conversion does - would they ever have achieved their status and success in the world if they had committed to JW's when they were 13 years old? They would have had to fade or DA or get DF'd to do what they've done in life. Don't they think about that? What does Prince say to a young person in his cong who shows exceptional musical abilities and asks him about a career in the biz? What does Jermane say to the athletic kid in the cong who's high school basketball coach is begging her to try out for the team?
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  Axelspeed

  What does Jermane say to the athletic kid in the cong who's high school basketball coach is begging her to try out

  Actually I already know of a few who let there kids play sports and other extracurriculars that JWs used to not get a sniff at. I honestly believe that many are so new, they don't know any better, ..and I mean that in a good way and believe its a good thing. They are creating change. Many have no idea, or care to know, about the unwritten rules that we knew like the back of our hand.

  Axelspeed