Clarett shares journey to God at annual Men's Rally

May 17, 2015 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

While many men in prison exercise to build their muscles, former Ohio State University Buckeyes running back Maurice Clarett worked to build his mind.

“I found out that I enjoyed reading,” he told an estimated 3,000 men and boys who attended Saturday’s sixth annual Men’s Rally in the Valley event at the Covelli Centre. “I probably read 250 to 300 books.”

The seven-hour gathering, themed “Called to Lead,” was to encourage men of all ages “to step up to the plate and to be what [God] wants us to be in our homes, churches and communities,” noted Walter “Bing” Newton, organizer.

Offerings included motivational speeches, 54 ministry tables and plenty of fellowship, music and prayer. A variety of religious and motivational books, compact discs, DVDs, T-shirts and bracelets also were available.

The 31-year-old Clarett helped guide the 14-0 Buckeyes to a national championship during his freshman year in 2002, when he scored the winning touchdown in the title game against the Miami Hurricanes during a second overtime. Three years later, he was a surprise third-round pick for the Denver Broncos in the NFL’s 2005 draft.

Nevertheless, he had many off-the-field challenges, including problems with drugs and alcohol, and spent more than three years in prison as part of a plea-bargain deal after having been convicted of robbery and concealed-weapons charges in Columbus.

While incarcerated, Clarett said, he drew strength and worked to transform his life and priorities partly by reading self-help books and portions of the Bible such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. His readings also included an inspirational book by James Allen, a British philosophical writer, Clarett continued.

Later he penned a book titled “My Life. Story. Redemption.,” a collection of his thoughts on everything from facing adversity to receiving a good education to drawing hope.

“I feel God’s increasing my platform to serve others,” Clarett told his audience, adding that he also feels called to espouse leadership skills to young people, many of whom can relate to aspects of his story.

Clarett, who owns a commercial cleaning business in Columbus, received cheers when he recalled having found God in June 2012 while in Omaha, Neb., where he played one season for the Omaha Nighthawks.

Sharing the stage with the former football star was Tim Brown, director of sports camps for the Columbus-based Fellowship of Christian Athletes and author of a motivational book called “Boys Won’t Be Boys: Empowering Boys to Live Uncommon in a Common World.”

The rally’s other speakers were the Rev. Alonzo Waters, pastor of Victory Christian Center in New Castle, Pa.; the Rev. Sean Kelly, Greenford Christian Church’s lead minister; the Rev. Dan Perkins, pastor of WestGate Church in San Jose, Calif.; J.C. Watts Jr., a retired Baptist minister and former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and U.S. congressman; and Dr. Dave Roever, a Fort Worth, Texas-based evangelist.

Roever, who’s also a Vietnam veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, founded Operation Warrior RECONnect, an organization that seeks to help wounded veterans and their families.

At the rally, Roever spoke about his work assisting and trying to provide hope to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who have been suicidal and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Also at the rally were four crosses, three of which had been brought 18 miles, one each from the north, east and west. That distance is significant because it marks the mileage between Jericho and Jerusalem, noted Newton, the organizer.

The fourth one traveled 36 miles and is named after Joe White, who spoke several years ago at the rally, Newton added.