By Mallory Mattingly
Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao led a Bible study every night before he stepped into the ring for his fight week in Las Vegas earlier this summer.
The Bible study was open for “anyone who wanted to join him,” according to Relevant Magazine.
“I’m here in the Word of God because this is life, this is eternity,” Pacquiao said to the group one night. “All that we have in this world — material things, positions — it’s nothing, just temporary. But the Word of God is alive and forever.”
No matter what went on during that week, Pacquiao made sure to never miss the Bible studies.
“The fight is second,” he declared. “The most important thing is, can we invite all our friends to attend the Bible study? We love God, we love God. Because God is good all the time in our lives.”
The Filipino fighter’s faith has been at the forefront of his career for years.
Related: Boxing Hall of Fame Legend Knows There Is Power in Jesus’ Name
“I have a lot of dreams and visions,” he told The Guardian in 2014. “I even heard the voice of God. When I heard the voice of God, I am trembling and melting. I feel I have died. It was an amazing, amazing experience.
“I’m happy because I found the right way, salvation, born again,” he continued. “We are required to be born again, all of us. Christ said unless we are born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God. So it’s very important to me. Jesus Christ said: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ There is no other way. The only way is through Jesus.”
Freddie Roach, who trained Pacquiao for years, shared just how important God is to the athlete.
“It’s more vital to him now than ever before,” he said in 2014. “He was born a Catholic; now he’s a born-again Christian. His mother [Dionesia] hates it. She’s always trying to force the Rosary on him. The only worry about it is that maybe it could hurt his political career, because 90% of the Philippines is Catholic and he’s a born-again Christian.”
“There is this other side to him, though. He’s very different to a lot of boxers. He always is keeping busy, like playing basketball in the village and so forth, but he discusses the Bible when we’re flying somewhere, asking what does this really mean, what does that really mean. I listen. Sometimes it’s quite funny. Sometimes it makes sense,” Roach continued.
While many other boxers use their off time to hit up clubs or squeeze in extra training, Pacquiao’s commitment to his faith is commendable.
Read Next: Boxing Hall of Famer Andre Ward: ‘My Faith, Trust, Hope is in Jesus Christ’
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