Michael Cobb

Nassau, New Providence - For the second consecutive year, Sports World Ministry is bringing its Go Positive Tour to the Bahamas.

Sports World Ministry, led by Dr. Ira Lee Eshlemas, who founded the organisation 30 years and now headed by Devon McDonald, is a seed-planting ministry, which uses former professional athletes to share personal life experiences with students while challenging them with hope.

“Our goal is to help local communities to encourage, equip and empower the youths to make positive choices,” McDonald said. “We tell them ‘You are not born a winner, you are not born a loser, but you are born a chooser'.

“We do school events that last up to 45 minutes and we touch on relevant issues, for example, alcohol, prescription and illegal drug abuse, sex, bullying, suicide and dropping out. We speak in jails, correction facilities, public schools, private schools and youth groups at Churches.”

Last year, McDonald, a former outside linebacker with the University of Notre Dame who went on to play in the National Football League from 1993-2002 with the Indianapolis Colts (1993-95), Arizona Cardinal (1995-96) and the Tampa Bay Storm (2000-02), came to town with three other professional players as the Go Positive Bahamas Tour was introduced to the Bahamas.

This year, the Go Positive Tour will be back from October 27-30 and representing Sports World will be Michael Cobb, a graduate of Michigan State University who was drafted in the NFL in the first round in 1977 by the Cincinnati Bengals, but went on to play for the Chicago Bears (1977-81) and then in the United States Florida League with the Michigan Panthers (1983-84) and the Birmingham Stallions (1984-85).

McDonald, the captain and member of the champions Notre Dame collegiate team in 1988, has given his full endorsement of Cobb as he made his initial appearance in the Bahamas.

“Mike is a very special man. He is from Youngstown, Ohio and now lives in Chicago, Illinois with his wife Sandy. He has been with Sports World Ministry for over 25 years and has spoken to over 3,000 schools and over one million young people,” McDonald disclosed.

“He not only ministers in the United States of America, but he does ministry in Africa and Israel just to name a few. We believe he is the man for this season in the Bahamas. We believe the youth will be challenged and blessed by the message.”

Cobb, who was an All-City in both football and basketball while in high school and went on to play on the championship team for the Panthers in the USFL, said he’s excited about coming to the Bahamas.

“I believe it to be a great opportunity to be able to share with the students the why it is important to make good positive choices and more importantly to share Christ, the reason why I know God birthed this ministry through Dr Ira Lee Eshleman,” he stated.

A local organising committee, comprising of the Rev. Geoffery Wood, Minister Clinton Minnis, Jacqueline Bain and Brent Stubbs, have been meeting with Apostle Carlos Reid in planning a series of activities for the week when Cobb makes his appearance.

"I'm excited because we are dealing with a crisis when it comes to the development of young people in this country," Reid said. "To have a person of Mr Cobb's caliber and the Sports World behind it, I think it's going to be positive for the Bahamas."

Reid, who is involved in a number of programs to help curtail the scourge of crime, said as a result of having Cobb address the schools, there will be an infusion of some positive vibes to motivate them.

"When we look at our schools, a lot of young people are turning to smoking, drinking and getting into the gang culture," Reid said. "I believe if we can address some of these issues, even if we don't reach all, I think it will go far in the development of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas."

While McDonald said they are accustomed to having their 12 pro speakers engage in about 9-12 speaking sessions over a three-day period, they were blessed to have been afforded the opportunity to address the many groups that they interacted with last year.

He noted that Cobb is eager to represent Sports World this year on a solo journey.

“They will be hearing from someone who honestly cares about their well being and try to connect with them through some more of my experiences, hoping that it might mirror things that they have experienced or will experience,” Cobb projected.

In addition to speaking at a number of schools during his visit, Cobb will also participate in a Go Positive Family Rally, organised by Reid, on Wednesday, October 29^th at 7 pm at the Hope Center, next to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Among the special guests expected to perform at the event, which is free of charge, are the Gospel Boys, DJ Counsellor and ACL.

"We want to give young people an exciting time, but at the vend of the day, they get an opportunity to come to know Jesus, Christ as their Lord and Saviour," Reid stressed.

"I believe that despite everything that we do, we all have a common denominator and that is being Christ centered. We want to present Jesus is an exciting forum where the young people will come in and ear from a professional athlete, who have his life together as we encourage them to go positive."