Father To The Fatherless
From the Archives: 2009
Written by Cortez Gilbert
Moving to North Carolina probably saved my life! At least, when I think back on it and the path my life has taken, that’s the way I see it now.
I was only 6 years old, living in a rough part of Detroit, when my mama stopped to get gas for our car. As she went to pay her bill, a man got into our car with a gun and asked me where my mama’s purse was. He got away with the purse. Not long after that, my mama decided then and there to move to North Carolina. Her sister lived in Fremont so that’s where we moved. I believe it wasn’t just to get away from Detroit, but so my mom could get some reinforcements to help in raising her three children, of which I was the oldest.
To go from living in a drug infested, rough part of Detroit to a place where my aunt took me to church every Sunday was a welcome change. Hearing about God and His love made a strong impression on me.
Cortez played as All-American Corner Back for the App State Mountaineers. Photo by Keith Cline, ASU Athletics
Early on I began to play sports, and I still remember how I felt when I saw the other kid’s parents come to their games. It made me long for a Father like they had. I remember distinctly, when I was 12 years old, reading my Bible and seeing God described as a Father. At that very moment, I asked God if He would be a Father to me and something happened in my heart that changed me.
As I watched my mom work to support us and go to college where she got not one, but two degrees, it inspired me. I got my work ethic and my passion to succeed and not give up from my mom. That’s what paved the way for me to get a scholarship to play football here at App State.
I wish I could say I stayed strong in my Christian faith when I came to App State as a freshman, but that’s not what happened. I didn’t stop loving God, but I did stop serving Him. The party scene became a part of my life, but was an empty part. After doing that for a while, I realized in my heart this was not the path for me. It was at about this time that Coach Moore introduced me to a person who would offer me an opportunity that has brought real change in my life. The man’s name was Ricky Jimmerson and the opportunity was working as a counselor at a summer athletic camp for inner-city kids.
The work I did at camp that summer was rewarding and fulfilling. I saw kid’s lives who had come from rough neighborhoods like the one I came from change for the better. We taught them about the life of Christ through sports and we gave them the kind of positive role models that they needed.
As I invested in these kids’ lives I realize that the reason I could do this is because of the investments people had made in me. I’m grateful for my mom and my aunt and the Christian influence of the church she brought me to. I’m grateful to Coach Moore and to be playing on a team where many of the guys love God too. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Ricky Jimmerson gave me to be a counselor at this camp. And I’m particularly grateful to my mom who set an example for me to follow and for having the wisdom and courage to do what was best for the family.
