2 of 4

Growing up in a church-going family, Green was confident that he and God were on okay terms, even when he stopped attending church regularly. His relationship with God just wasn't anything personal. Life revolved around basketball and hanging with his brothers and best friend, Lee Johnson.

The summer after graduation, a group of friends invited Green on a weekend road trip to visit a former high school teacher, Rod Bragato and his wife, Karen. Green knew that the Bragatos were Christians, and he enjoyed their company. That Sunday the students accompanied their hosts to church.

"Do you want to go to heaven, or do you want to go to hell?" Green couldn't shake off the question that the preacher was basing his sermon on that morning. Suddenly, he knew he wasn't okay with God. He was a sinner in need of forgiveness and a new direction.

"One of the first things that happened was God gave me a desire to read the Bible. I never wanted to read it before. But now I wanted to find out all I could about Jesus. I also realized that I needed to get back to church," Green says. The 17-year-old who was headed to Oregon State University cleaned up his language and began "to think less about myself and more about other people."

"One of the first things that happened was God gave me a desire to read the Bible. I never wanted to read it before. But now I wanted to find out all I could about Jesus. I also realized that I needed to get back to church," Green says. The 17-year-old who was headed to Oregon State University cleaned up his language and began "to think less about myself and more about other people."

At OSU, Green met Greg Ball, a former football player turned evangelist who was holding a week long revival. Ball became one of the freshman's spiritual mentors. Within a few weeks, Green's best friend, Lee Johnson, accepted Christ at one of Ball's meetings. As more college students responded to the gospel, a Bible study group formed, eventually becoming a church pastored by David Elian.

Green grew physically ("I started college at 6'8-1/2'' and was over 6'9'' by the time I joined the NBA"), academically ("I didn't want to get through college solely on my basketball skills"), and spiritually ("I wanted to show people what the power of God could do for a person").

Soon after becoming a Christian, Green started a regular devotional time. He didn't want to just read God's word, he wanted to memorize it.

next page... |  2 of 4

	What did you think of this story?
	Please to give us your feedback.

Home  |  People of Faith  |  Stories of Hope  |  Today's Culture
Build Your Faith  |  Laughing Matters  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless. Give Christianity Today as a gift Order a gift subscription!