Spiritual Giant

Duke Preston is a giant among men.  At 6-foot-5 and over 300 pounds, one glance hints at his NFL past, where he played four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Dallas Cowboys at center, one of the toughest spots on the offensive line.

What isn’t obvious at first glance is the strength of his faith and character.  As exciting as a career in the NFL is, Preston turned his back on a million dollar offer from the Cowboys at age 28 to follow a higher calling.  He is currently attending the Dallas Theological Seminary and pursuing a Master’s Degree in Christian Education, and working as a representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Dallas.

“A lot of people kind of don’t get it, and I know it’s a tough thing to understand,” Preston said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News.

“It doesn’t make sense, but in my mind and knowing what I feel and the process of things that happened to lead me to that decision, I couldn’t speak to anything but God being a part of it. It’s been hard to explain to people, but it’s the truth.”

Preston’s father Ray played with San Diego for nine years as a linebacker, so Preston was raised with football in his blood.  He was drafted by the Bills, and played in 60 games over his five years in the league.  He seemed to have reached the culmination of his career, but something was missing.

Preston explains, “A lot of people have this conception that the NFL is full of guys who have it figured out, but we don’t. Four out of five players end in divorce, bankrupt, unemployed or addicted when they’re done. … Even in NFL locker rooms there are guys searching and looking to make sense of it.”

He started to realize he wasn’t alone in these feelings while listening to Dr. Tony Evans, the senior pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, at Bible study classes at Valley Ranch.  Evans explained how it had taken him 15 years of college and 30 years of ministry to even begin to really understand the Bible.

Talking with quarterback Jon Kitna and other devout Christian players helped.  “People that aren’t necessarily walking with the spirit don’t understand the things of the spirit,” Kitna said.

“As a Christian, we are to be peculiar people. It should look weird. It should look different. I understand why people would be like that, but the great thing when you’re walking with the Lord is there’s no better place to be.”

When Preston decided he wanted to go to the Seminary, Evans asked him why he thought this was the route he wanted to take.  Evans said, “His answers were basic and simple but solid: He feels compelled by God to do this, so therefore I would never discourage anyone who says God is compelling them to do something.”

Although many people may not understand Preston’s decision, he has had the full support of his wife Lisa, who has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy.  His father understood his decision as well, because after playing nine years of professional football, he understands how fickle the NFL can be.  The people close to Preston understand that to him, building a career based on God, the rock in his life, was more important to him than money.

Now, instead of a million dollar contract and playing Sunday’s in the NFL, Preston is working for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for $30,000 a year and spending his Sunday’s in church. And he is a man at peace, secure in the knowledge that he absolutely made the right decision.

“One thing I learned in the NFL and living my life as a Christian and following God is hold your plans lightly,” Preston said.  “You never know when He will show how powerful He can be.”