WASHINGTON — Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL4) on Monday announced Heisman-winning University of Alabama running back Derrick Henry will deliver the closing prayer at the upcoming National Prayer Breakfast, a yearly event in Washington, D.C., attended by every sitting U.S. President since Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s.
“As co-chairman of this year’s event, I’m pleased we were able to have this talented young man of faith give our closing prayer,” said Aderholt.
Henry, an outspoken Christian, rushed for an Southeastern Conference record 2,219 yards during the 2015 season, on the way to the Heisman trophy and a National Championship.
“I just want to thank God for bringing me here,” Henry said during his Heisman acceptance speech. “He’s been so good to me in my life and I have been honored and blessed with this opportunity. Since I was a kid, it has been my lifelong goal and a dream of mine. I am just so thankful.”
Henry went on to urge the next generation of football players to prioritize their faith over their athletic pursuits.
“God is everything; always keep God first,” he said. “Always pray; don’t be afraid to pray. He always hears you cry. If you have dreams, chase them. If you believe it, you can achieve it and God will be there every step of the way. I am a living testament.”
Henry was raised by his grandmother, Gladys, a devout Christian who had a significant influence on his life.
“(S)he raised him like one of her own,” Latrease Terry, one of Henry’s uncles, told the Florida Times-Union.
Although she could not attend Henry’s Heisman ceremony in New York City, he spoke directly to her through the camera.
“I want to thank you so much,” he told her. “Even though you couldn’t be here, I feel you in spirit and I love you so much. You made me into who I am today — hard work, dedication and just doing what I wanted to do. You always told me to keep God first and pray that I always make it far. I just want to thank you and let you know that I love you and that I am praying for you.”
Gladys’s influence and Henry’s faith have shone through on some of the sports world’s largest stages.
This Thursday the National Prayer Breakfast will give him a new stage on which to shine. An estimated 3,500 guests will be at the event, including members of the U.S. House and Senate, foreign diplomats, influential members of the media, business leaders, and more.
Congressman Aderholt is co-chairing the event with California Congressman Juan Vargas.
