Basketball great Steve Stipanovich tells his surprising story at the Congressional Prayer Breakfast

Hear brief radio with Steve Stipanovich and Gary Tedrick … in their own words …

Steve Stipanovich teams up with Congressional Prayer Breakfast founder Gary Tedrick to tell his surprising story. Steve tells his fascinating story as the speaker in the 2014 Breakfast in the Collinsville, IL, Convention Center on Monday, April 28, 7:15 AM. Hosted by three area Congressmen, 700 – 800 typically attend this high-spirited and inspirational gathering. (Ticket sales for the 2014 Breakfast close on April 23. For ticket information call 618 463-6850.)

From his high school days, 7-foot-tall Steve experienced every kind of basketball success imaginable … but ongoing happiness eluded him. Basketball was fun … but it wasn’t happiness.

As a basketball star at the University of Missouri, he was the second player nationwide selected that year in the National Basketball Association draft. During his junior year in the University, he was surprised to hear a campus “street” preacher proclaim the good news of Jesus and His power to forgive and save. Other students made fun, but not Steve. Right then and there he received Christ into his life. As they say, the rest is history!

One of the many current highlights in his life is supporting his wife Terri in her many mission trips to Ethiopia to feed the poorest of the poor … and to rescue girls and women out of sex trafficking. He went with her on her last trip.

Brief Radio with Terri titled … “Terri Stipanovich: taught Bible book of James – Began ministry to homeless, sex trafficking slaves “ … is available at http://haroldhendrick.com/content/view/267/5/ … and

“Terri Stipanovich of a famed MO athletic family reports powerful results of restored relationships” can also be accessed by clicking on http://haroldhendrick.com/content/view/107/5/ .

Steve Stipanovich, a St. Louis Missouri native, was the second player selected in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft, behind only Golden State’s Ralph Sampson. Steve missed just six games in five years in the league and had career high 34 points vs. L.A. Clippers on March 14, 1985. He was a first team all-rookie team selection in ’84…Had a triple double vs. Boston, Nov. 16, 1985: with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists…Great outside shooter for his size and gets up and down the court quicker than any other big man in the league…Ranked in top five of Pacers’ NBA career lists in several categories…Pro career was cut short due to injury to left knee…Steve retired from the NBA in 1989.

In college at the University of Missouri Steve was named college player of the year by UPI and CBS-TV and wound up his career at Missouri as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,836 points), rebounder (942) and shot blocker (149). Named to first team of several all-American squads and was an academic all American…Led Missouri to four Big 8 championships and four straight NCAA tourney appearances…Two-time first-team all-Big 8 performer and a second teamer as a sophomore. Steve is a member of the University’s Hall of Fame.

Was a consensus high school all-American at DeSmet high school in St. Louis area where he led DeSmet to two state championships his junior and senior years along with a 60 game winning streak. Steve played under legendary high school coach Rich Grawer and is a member of DeSmet’s Hall of Fame