Posted by Rebecca Leland
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Recently Chicago CEF’s teachers asked for a Black History lesson for some of our Bible clubs on
Chicago’s South Side. “These kids need to hear stories of how God used Godly African American
Christians to change the world,” was the request. Who better than Ricky Byrdsong, a Chicagoan African American Christian who was the first African American basketball coach at Northwestern University? Ricky Byrdsong’s life resonates strongly with many of our Bible Club children, who have survived broken families, economic challenges, and violence. Ricky was tragically murdered in a hate crime 16 years ago, but his wife has continued his legacy, lecturing all around the world about loving others, no matter their ethnicity.
After a Chicago CEF missionary wrote this children’s lesson, they had the privilege of teaching it to multiple Bible clubs. The last picture in the story is a photograph of Ricky Byrdsong. The children jumped up from their seats, ran up to the visual, and passed the picture among each other. “This story really happened?!” they exclaimed. How incredible to watch the eyes of children light up as they realized that just like Ricky Byrdsong made a difference by trusting God and choosing to live in a way that pleased him, and that they could do the same.
