Tebow a man on a mission

No matter the outcome of tonight's AFC divisional playoff game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, this much will not change:

Right now, it's good to be Tim Tebow.

This week, the Broncos' miracle-making Christian quarterback — who won two national championships at the University of Florida — created more buzz than any presidential candidate or A-list celebrity.

Beyoncé's baby? Mitt's momentum? Katy Perry's breakup? None could hold a candle to the off-the-chart Tebow-meter. Followers are in a Twitter tizzy about the charismatic young man raised by a missionary dad and home-schooling mother on a farm outside of Jacksonville. Internet searches inquiring about every aspect of his life have surpassed a whopping 400 million.

Consider the events that unfolded in just seven days.

The second-year pro threw an 80-yard pass that capped a thrilling wild-card weekend defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers — the fourth overtime win he's led this season. His final passing total: 316 yards. Call it a coincidence or call it divine providence, but his favorite Scripture is John 3:16.

More than 42 million people tuned in to the game, with more than 54 million switching over to catch the short overtime. NFL playoff ratings have been good in recent years, but the Broncos-Steelers matchup had 14 million more viewers than the wild-card playoff game on CBS last year. 

Jockey unveiled its new ad campaign showing a shirtless and very … ahem … buff Tebow promoting its brand of sports underwear. And ESPN just announced that Tebow is now America’s favorite active pro athlete.

"There's nothing manufactured about this feel-good story," said Mark DeMoss, head of the nation's largest public relations firm that caters to evangelical clients. "All he's done is go to college, play well, get drafted and taken his talents to a bigger stage in Denver. Through it all, he's stayed true to his faith and his core beliefs."

Though DeMoss doesn't represent the 24-year-old Heisman Trophy winner, he sure wouldn't mind it.

"There's so much wrong with sports these days, both professional and at the college level," he said. "Tim Tebow is an example of what is right with it."

But Tebow's public demonstration of his devout Christian faith is polarizing — for both believers and skeptics. His signature celebration posture — dropping to one knee and bending his head in prayer — is copied by faithful followers and mocked by late-night comics, including a recent bit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

After a well-executed play, Tebow often points heavenward. Postgame conferences always start with thanking God. And he's made no secret of his commitment to staying a virgin until marriage. Admirers swoon over his Boy Scout image, while detractors dish on him at tebowhaters.com.

He's not the first high-profile athlete to use his platform to profess devotion to Jesus. The sports world is full of them, including former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, marathoner Ryan Hall, coach-turned-TV analyst Tony Dungy.

So why is Tebow generating so much talk?

"Because he's successful right now," said Zenon Andrusyshyn, a former pro football player who now runs the Tampa-based Zenon Ministries, a discipleship peer program in 16 local schools. "He's performing and he's delivering. That puts him in the spotlight.

"But that also means he's got a giant bull's-eye on his back. Every move he makes is going to be scrutinized."

After retiring from his football career, Andrusyshyn spent 20 years as an area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Several years ago, he met the young quarterback at an FCA chapel meeting in Gainesville. He worked with Tebow's older brother at FCA and met Tebow's father at a function at Tampa's Idlewild Baptist Church.

"These are good people," he said of the Tebow clan. "Tim had a solid upbringing where faith was the center of their lives. What he's doing now is something he's always done. It's just that more people are watching now."

Shay Dawkins, author of "The Good News: How Revealing Delusions in Christianity Will Bring Peace to All," has mixed feelings about Tebow's zealous displays of faithfulness. On one hand, he says, if other players are doing end-zone dances to celebrate a score, Tebow has the right to drop to his knee. But Dawkins also understands how some people might feel as though Tebow is "bashing them over the head" with his beliefs.

Tone it down, Dawkins says (which, by the way, was the theme of that SNL sketch). Good intentions don't always translate in the public arena.

"He's making people cringe and uncomfortable with all that Jesus talk," Dawkins said. "If Jesus was here today, he'd prefer not to be mentioned. Instead, give a message of love and thankfulness. That's where Jesus wants the attention."

In "Through My Eyes," his 2011 bestselling book with Florida author Nathan Whitaker, Tebow recounts the example set by his parents and explains how those values affected his life.

"That's how we were raised, with a joy in getting to tell people about Jesus. For as long as I can remember, this was instilled in me: to have fun, love Jesus and others, and tell them about Him," he wrote.

He also was taught about the importance of serving others, and is making good on those lessons with his Tim Tebow Foundation. Among its programs: granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, building playrooms in children's hospitals and supporting his uncle's orphanage in the Philippines. And he doesn't just write checks; Tebow spends quality time with his beneficiaries. He gets them tickets, books them a hotel, treats them to meals, and visits with them before and after games.

"He's just what you would hope he would be, that his private self would match the public persona," said Whitaker, who worked closely with Tebow on the book in 2010. "He's fun-loving and very joyful. He's sensitive and caring. He's just an authentic person."

But Tebow's humble nature made Whitaker's job more challenging. Getting his subject to share stories of his behind-the-scenes humanitarian work or his professional accomplishments was like pulling teeth, he says. So the writer had to rely on outside sources more than he had anticipated.

When Tebow learned that one of Whitaker's childhood friends was dying of cancer, he called the person to offer spiritual support. Whitaker didn't know until the friend told him.

"That's the kind of person he is. He doesn't like the focus on himself," Whitaker said. "I can honestly say that he's the real deal."

Rob Taylor understands just where Tim Tebow is coming from. An offensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for eight seasons, Taylor served as a player chaplain for the team. He shared his faith when he spoke in schools and at community functions. He joined in prayer huddles after games. And when he retired from football, he followed his calling and got ordained. Now he's an associate pastor at Idlewild.

He says critics of Tebow don't always understand his motivation.

"Tim isn't thanking God for a win. He's thanking God for the opportunity to play, to use his talents, to be part of a team," Taylor said. "I think he's been an incredibly positive example on and off the field. It's good to see a young man who is staying on course with such grace and poise."

In a high-profile business that makes millionaires and celebrities out of young people who don't have the maturity to handle it, Tebow's steadfastness is a refreshing change, Taylor said. But he will need to continue to surround himself with mentors who share his values and have his best interests in mind, Taylor cautioned.

And when his playing days are over, "I'm convinced Tim will keep sharing his love of Christ. He'll just do it on another platform," he said.

What advice would Taylor give Tebow today, before the biggest game of his NFL career so far?

"You're going to be hearing a lot of noise. Some of it adoration and some of it not," he said. "Don't forget that you're playing to an audience of one. Your job is to please the Lord. Keep your eyes on him and you're going to be just fine."