Mack Strong to Speak at Illinois Governor's Prayer Breakfast

For a number of years, Champaign, Illinois disciple Tom Andryk has volunteered for the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast. As this year's Head Coordinator, Tom secured Seattle Seahawk veteran and faithful disciple Mack Strong as the keynote speaker!

Below is the official press release for the event. Please contact Tom by May 1st if you are interested in attending at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (217) 414-0377.

47th Annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast

Featuring longtime Seattle Seahawks and Pro Bowl fullback,

Mack Strong

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

7:30 a.m. • Crowne Plaza Hotel

Tickets for breakfast $20 (Seating is limited)

Known as one of the longest-running and best blocking fullbacks in NFL history, Mack Strong played 14+ years for the Seattle Seahawks. He is second in Seahawks history for the number of games played (201), and was part of the starting lineup and a major contributor to the Seahawk’s journey to Super Bowl XL. He holds the Seahawks team record for the longest rush in a playoff game with a 32-yard run during the 2005 divisional playoff game against the Washington Redskins. He was twice selected to the NFL Pro Bowl (in 2005 and 2006) and was also chosen as an Associated Press All Pro (in 2005).

Mack twice received the NFL’s Unsung Hero Award for excellence on the field and invaluable contributions to his organization. In 2001 he received the Ed Block Courage Award, given to the player who has overcome adversity to perform at very high level for his team. He is the only multiple recipient of the Steve Largent Award, given to the Seattle player who best exemplifies the Seahawks in areas of character, integrity and sportsmanship. Serving as team captain in 2003 and 2007, he was also selected as the Seahawks NFL player representative from 2003 through 2007.

Equally remarkable are Mack’s achievements off the field both before and after a career-ending neck injury in 2007. In 2002, Mack and his wife Zoe started the highly successful TeamWorks Academy program for under-privileged youth, providing much needed mentoring, tutoring and training (www.teamworksacademy.org). Mack also sits on a regional fund-raising board for Hope Worldwide, an internationally acclaimed relief and support organization for the poor (www.hopeww.org).

For the past seven years Mack has devoted time to fundraising efforts for Childhaven, an agency for severely abused and neglected children, and continues to support many other charitable endeavors in a host of ways. After helping coach the Seahawks for a short time after his injury, Mack continues his sports interests by working as a sportscaster for Fox Sports Northwest, and by bringing many other well-known sports professionals into the charitable work he and his wife do together. He currently resides in Seattle with his wife Zoe and their two sons, Isaiah (age 7) and Evan (age 5).

Others who have worked with him and known him well have this to say: Clarence Shelmon (former Seahawks running back coach and current offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers): “Mack is the most fundamentally sound player I’ve ever come across in my 17 years coaching at the professional level and 15 years in college”; Stump Mitchell (former Seattle running back coach and currently a coach with the Washington Redskins): “He just outworked everyone else and became better and better every year.. Mack would make linebackers quit in the middle of a game because of his great blocking”; Mike Holmgren (former head coach for Seattle): “He is the epitome of what a professional player should be … inspiring to the team and to the coaches”. Matt Hasselback (current starting quarterback for Seattle): “Mack is a man of deep integrity. He’s like a moral compass for all of us.”

To purchase tickets for the event:

Please contact Tom Andryk at 217-414-0377 or by e-mailing him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by no later than May 1, 2009. Two tables have been reserved toward the front for the ICOC family of churches and their guests. The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois.