Focus on the Family Magazine - April/May 2023

SERVICE / COUPLES
CREDIT TK
Lauren and Tony
often run 5K charity
events together.
“God gives
everyone gifts.
Wouldn’t it be a
shame if we didn’t
share them with
others?”
—Lauren Dungy
platform to support faith-based causes.
Whether Tony is speaking at the March
for Life rally or defending Florida state
legislation that helps nonprofits serving
fathers, Tony makes it clear that he
is serving the Lord.
Together, the couple have adopted
eight kids and have cared for several
children in foster care, as well as
having had three biological children.
They continue being there for kids,
even though Tony and Lauren are
now in their 60s. Lauren also serves
as the vice president of the Dungy
Family Foundation and is a soughtafter
speaker.
Yet the same fame that led to a large
platform also has its downsides. In an
article for the nonprofit All Pro Dad,
Tony wrote that when his oldest daughter
was in middle school, she didn’t
want to be in public with him because
of people’s interruptions. Even now,
moving through an airport can be an
exercise in patience.
“It’s not always convenient when
someone wants to talk football, especially
when you’re in a hurry to go
somewhere,” Lauren says. “At times,
you don’t want all eyes on you. But
God has placed us in this arena where
Tony is recognized just about everywhere
we go. So we have to use that
opportunity to point others to Christ.”
A small platform
Tony and Lauren emphasize that you
don’t need a large platform to influence
others for God as a couple. What
you need, Lauren points out, is to be
obedient when God places opportunities
before you.
“God gives everyone a platform,”
Lauren says. “God gives everyone gifts.
Wouldn’t it be a shame if we didn’t
share them with others? Not everyone
can sing; not everyone is artistic or
is able to work with children. But we
all have gifts, so we should use those
gifts to build the body of Christ. I love
it when people recognize and understand
the gifts they have and then
start using them.”
Tony and Lauren’s influence in
God’s kingdom isn’t confined to the
national level or to when they’re
together. For example, Lauren likes
to go running with a group of other
women in her community. “We
decided that we’re a Christian running
group,” she says, “and we want
to bless everyone we come in contact
with.”
When the group is out on the trail,
Lauren says, they pray for the people
around them. “When people walk by
and say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ we
invite them to join us, or we ask for
prayer requests. We’ve never had anyone
turn us down.”
An opportunity to share Christ
might be as small as a short conversation
in a barber’s chair. Tony
remembers five-minute discussions
with people who encouraged him and
Lauren at just the right time, as well as
regular chats with his childhood barber
that helped him grow.
“He asked me how I was doing in
church and what I learned in Sunday
school. He taught me just as he was
doing his job cutting my hair,” Tony
recalls.
Tony points to two passages as
motivation for serving. Matthew
25:35-40 encourages us to serve
others and provide care for the downtrodden.
In doing so, we are serving
Christ. He also draws inspiration from
James 2:14-17, and the warning of
sending people away with only a wish
to be warm and well fed.
“God gives us opportunities if we’re
on the lookout for them,” Tony says.
“There are very, very small things we
can do.” >>>
APRIL / MAY 2023 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY 23