My heart breaks for the Bryant family. Millions have taken to social media and flooded it with posts expressing shock, sadness, and confusion over the horrific death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

Players and fans are grieving, contemplating the brevity of life, and stewing in the reality of God’s holiness and judgment.

NBA Christians need our prayers as well. They have a mission field ready for harvest.

The Black MambaKobe Bryant cast an incredibly long shadow over the sports world, and his influence only seemed to grow after his retirement. Pray with me that as everyone mourns this horrible tragedy, the Gospel of Free Grace spreads like wildfire through the National Basketball Association and beyond.

There was just something about “the Black Mamba” that resonated with Millennials and Gen. Z-ers. He was at times awkward. He was way more driven than you and I were, and, for a generation like mine who had largely been coddled and spoiled as kids, he was kind of an inspiration; even if we didn’t want to admit it.

It seemed like he was always chasing the ghost of Michael Jordan.  As a Bulls fan, it was a bit offensive. Every championship he won inched him closer and closer to the Greatest of All-Time, so rooting against him was personal.

After he retired, I began to appreciate his drive, his talents, and the fact that he never took a night off.

I was incredibly blessed to have seen his game-winner at the 1:03 mark in the tweet above. Pray for his girls and his wife. May they receive the eternal comfort that only Christ can provide.