S3 Episode #22- Pam Tebow
THE ONE WITH PAM TEBOW
This week, we are thrilled to welcome Pam Tebow to the podcast! As the daughter of an army colonel, Pam lived all over the world until she was 17, when she entered the University of Florida. Her goal was to gain influence with an impressive resume of accomplishments, only to discover the emptiness of exalting self. Through a series of what she calls “God stories,” Pam discovered the joy of investing herself in the lives of those in her sphere, shaping her passion for life-impacting influence. She graduated with honors from UF’s College of Journalism and Communications.
While in college, Pam met her husband Bob through a Christian organization, CRU, that he helped establish on their Florida campus. She was intrigued with his courageous faith and still is! Bob and Pam are thankful for the Biblical foundation for life and ministry they received during their college and grad school years. Their faithful God and His infallible Word have sustained them through many adventures during 50 years of marriage, five children, and ten grandchildren.
Known as “homeschool pioneers,” Bob and Pam began teaching their children at home in 1982, before the term “homeschool” was coined. Pam thought if she submitted to her husband’s “crazy” idea to homeschool, God would surely change his mind. But twenty-five years later, Pam retired. By God’s grace, all five of their children were homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, and all five received college scholarships and earned degrees.
The Tebows lived for a number of years in the Philippines, where Bob continues to have an ongoing ministry, through the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. BTEA supports 60 nationals, who preach the gospel throughout the Philippines and stimulate church planting. Through the preaching of the national evangelists and the Americans who accompany Bob on numerous mission trips, over one million people a year are professing their faith in Jesus Christ. Bob and Pam also fund orphanages and a safe house for rescued girls in other Asian countries where they minister.
Pam loves speaking for women’s events, pro-life and other non-profit groups, and for a variety of functions in many cities across the country. Her notoriety increased when her youngest son Tim, quarterback for the Florida Gators, became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. During the nationally televised Heisman broadcast, ESPN aired a portion of an interview that focused on her refusal to abort “Timmy” when she was advised to do so. She was given an instant national platform to encourage the prolife message. In 2010, Pam and Tim appeared in a Super Bowl commercial that celebrated family and life, which, according to a Barna Survey, resulted in 5.5 million people “having cause to rethink their stand on abortion.” Pam has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, Life Today, March for Life, Hallmark Home and Family, and more. She has won National awards, including the “Hope and a Future Award,” Eagle Forum’s “Woman of the Year,” “Witness in the Public Square,“ Commission for Women’s “Inspiring Woman of the Year,” “Extraordinary Woman of the Year,” and “The National Pro Life Recognition Award.”
Pam is passionate about encouraging people of all ages to trust the Lord with all their hearts for all their lives and use the incredible influence God has given them to eternally impact their world. This is the subject of her first book RIPPLE EFFECTS (Tyndale House Publishers 2019).
Her second book was written as a response to her interactions with crowds of women following speaking events. As women shared their stories, the common theme was the quest for “hope.” Pam’s passion to encourage women during this unprecedented season resulted in HOPE FOR A WOMAN’S HEART, 52 Encouraging Devotions” (Tyndale House Publishers 2021).
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READ
Growing up, Pam’s mom was a Christian, but faith was never really talked about in their home. She had a longing for something more, and when she was 12-years-old, she took her siblings to church. This was the first time that she heard that God loved her and had sent Jesus to save her-- all she had to do was believe. She decided that day to believe. She was never able to return to that church, but she saw God’s protection throughout the rest of her young adult life.
In college Pam saw herself becoming someone that she didn’t want to be. She didn’t know how to pray, but she said, “Lord, I want to change. Can you please help me?” Right after that, 2 girls knocked on her door and invited her to CRU.
She wanted to make an impact on the world. She began leading a Bible Study and realized for the first time that her life counted.
God called both Pam and her husband to the mission field on the very same night, even though they were in two different places.
Jeremiah 32:17“Lord God, behold, you made the Heavens and the Earth by your outstretched arms. Nothing is too difficult for you.”
As we trust God and He surprises us with the most wonderful provisions, our faith grows. This allows us to trust Him for the next thing and the next thing. All of the little things prepared Pam to trust God when the biggest challenge arose. She was told she would die if she carried through with her pregnancy. This was so far outside of her original plan, so all she could do was cling to the hope that God had a different plan and He could be trusted.
We serve a big God. Yes, there will be challenges and difficult situations that we never signed up for, but God can use it all for His plan. Even when the story doesn’t feel good, God is good. Our hope is in Him-- our resurrected Lord, not the circumstances.
Psalm 62:5-8
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
We have great challenges in life that we may never recover from until we get to Heaven. The world will not understand our hope because they don’t know our Jesus. We are blessed, there is great hope! There is something that takes place in our souls when we trust God with our pain and sorrow-- It may not go away, but we know God is a faithful God.
Breaking Free From Bitterness
It’s never too late.
Pam shared the story of her Mom turning 70-years-old and she felt like her life hadn’t mattered or turned out the way that she expected. For the next decade, she started praying for people, using her gift of encouragement, and sharing her story. When she realized God could use her right where she was, everything changed! At her 80th birthday, the room was filled with the people whose lives she had touched in the past decade!
The Lord knows your gifts and the season that you are in. He can use you in all of it! When we are faithful to what God has in front of us, we never know the ripple effect that it will have on those around us.
We are created for God’s glory-- we are made to show Him off with our lives. There is no “one size fits all”, God knows exactly what He has specifically for you!
Final Thoughts
Life is hard, but God is good. We can trust Him in the midst of the hardships. We get to know Him better in the middle of the trials. He is real and He can be discovered anew in His Word. He gives us hope on our brightest days and on our darkest days.
A Word from Jes
This world is not all there is. When we put our hope in the things of this world, they will fail us because there will be suffering and hardship-- God warned us of this. God also reminds us that He has the victory! He has overcome the world. When the world feels so heavy and hard, there is more going on than what we can see. Our hope is in the things of Heaven and the things of God.
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We were not able to record this week’s episode. We hope to have them up and running again soon!
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