‘His story’
Andrew DiDonato quotes scripture as easily as he calls the plays for the Grove City College football coach.
While he talked about the revitalization process that has taken place with the Wolverines under his coaching, DiDonato also shared the story of his personal relationship with Jesus Christ during the 21st annual Washington County Prayer Breakfast held April 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe.
The South Fayette High School graduate enthused about what he called “Thee Story.” The four-part saga contains drama, disaster and death but above all a happy ending.
“Everything you want in a story,” DiDonato said. “It’s a story about all of us and for all of us. But it’s my story and what happens at the end is probably the greatest moment of my life, even from a standpoint from being the head coach at Grove City College.”
The story, DiDonato said, points us to the vision as to why we were created; why he was created. Immediately, he cites Genesis and recites passages that reveal the answer. DiDonato was created in God’s image to reflect His glory. He calls this Part I and continues to expound with passages from Isaiah, Corinthians and Psalms. DiDonato delights in God’s plan because it assures fullness forever simply by being in a relationship with Christ.
“There is nothing more filling than full and there’s nothing that last longer than forever,” DiDonato said.
Like any great story, he reminded the audience of more than 600, that, although he wished it would, it didn’t end there. He used the movie “Remember The Titans” as an example. “Every time things start to turn around, ‘BOOM,’ something happens.”
Part II, DiDonato calls his problem. As in Romans Chapter 3, Verse 23, DiDonato says he and all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
While at South Fayette High School, DiDonato was a standout in football and basketball. He passed for more than 6,700 yards and ranked among the top quarterbacks in state. He was lauded and praised and garnered many honors, including The Almanac’s Athlete of the Year.
“When I got five minutes to talk here as a senior,” he told the crowd, “I told everyone I cared way too much about how many points I scored or how many yards I threw for. It was always about me.”
DiDonato realized the horror of living for things of this world. For this exchange, he had to pay a price. “For the wages of sin is death,” he cited Romans.
While Part II of the story concludes with the penalty of death, Part III begins with “encouragement” says DiDonato. In fact, it starts, he adds, citing John and Corinthians again “and the word became flesh” and “we’ve seen God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
DiDonato likened that to when he is trying to teach a freshman quarterback how to execute the three-step drop the way it’s supposed to be done. In those instances, he will engage his starter to help the newcomer.
“Now, we have a model of what that looks like for the glory of God,” he said of Jesus.
“This death thing, is still hanging over my head,” he said.
However, Romans and John clear that up for DiDonato. Christ died for him and whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
“Christ not only showed me what it looked like to life for Gold’s glory but he also took the place that I deserved,” DiDonato said. “He redeemed me and put me back in the same position I had in Part I.”
While Part III makes for a good ending, DiDonato cautioned the story does not conclude until one enters into Part IV, which boasts the power or the Spirit. DiDonato employs Galatians and Ephesians among other Biblical passages to make his point.
“Through faith, Christ lives in my heart. Through faith, his spirit comes into me,” DiDonato quoted. “When he’s my fulfillment, when he’s my satisfaction,” he continued. “If you abide in me and I in you, then you will bear much fruit.”
DiDonato went on to note how the Spirit provides the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self control he needs as he attempts to navigate his life as husband, father, coach, recruiter and professor. At times, he provides peace for his wife, Andrea. At times, he needs patience when his daughter, Gabriella, makes a mess of her cereal at breakfast. On other occasions, love and joy may be required when providing inspiration for a senior playing facing his final practice and game after nine previous defeats.
“I tell my guys ‘don’t derive fulfillment from your job, take it to your job,” DiDonato. “So when I stand in front of that player and that 0-9 team heading into week 10, I approach it the same way when I coached our state championship practices,” he added of those back-to-back titles at South Fayette in 2013-14.
“Through faith the spirit of Christ comes in me, gives me fulfillment and satisfaction and from that, overflowing fruit bearing for others,” DiDonato concluded.